DIOCESE OF LINCOLN GUIDELINES FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS INSIDE CHURCHES Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches Revised March 2006
Electrical Installations inside Churches As with all works in Churches, PCCs are advised to obtain 3 quotations for works to be undertaken. A faculty may be required and PCCs should seek advice from the Archdeacon or DAC Secretary. The Insurance Company which provides cover for the church building should also be informed of any electrical work to be undertaken. The following is a list of notes of guidelines for specifiers and electrical contractors installing electrical installations inside churches in the Diocese of Lincoln. Introduction 1. Any design of electrical installation should include an introduction describing the type of church and any particular features which are important to the re-wire. The design should mention any special areas which will require avoidance or protection. Schedule 2. The design should include a schedule of outlets and lighting points to be provided, together with a list of specific suppliers of equipment. Calculation Sheets 3, The design must always include calculation sheets, confirming that the cables and protection devices comply with the current edition of the IEE Regulations. Drawings 4. A drawing with plan and elevations should also be provided showing location of the various points and fittings. Visit to Site 5. Any quotations for electrical work should be checked to ensure that the provider of the quotation has visited the site before providing the tender. MICC Cables 6. It is recommended that either MICC (mineral insulated copper conductor) cable with a white LSF over sheath or FP200 Gold cable be used in all cases. The cables are to be installed in the church so as to be as unobtrusive as possible without damaging the existing fabric.
Painting 7. Cables should be painted to match the background material. Glands 8. All glands should be complete with necessary shrouds, brass lock nuts and steel lock washers. Seals 9. All seals should be earth tail seals which will provide a separate CPC at terminations. Switchgear 10. All switchgear should contain miniature circuit breakers, selected for the correct current rating, fault level and magnetic tripping characteristics. 11. A check should be made of the meter position to ensure that where multiple switch fuses and distribution boards are fitted and connected to a multi-way connection box and if at all possible be replaced at the same time as any wiring work. PME 12. All circuits should be adequately earthed using a PME system (protective multiple earthing) provided by the local electricity supply company and the installation should be completed bonded to any tape in accordance with PME regulations and the IEE regulations. RCDs 13. a. In addition to solid earthing it is recommended that 30mA RCDs be fitted to each individual outgoing final circuit using combined MCB/RCDs (or at least one RCD protecting each fuse board). Alternatively, a 100mA split load board with 30mA for sockets should be used. However, this does have a disadvantage that in the event of a fault the whole distribution board will be disconnected. Care needs to be taken in selecting the type of RCDs to be installed, bearing in mind the capital costs.
b. For heating, cooking and water heating systems 100mA RCD, should be fitted. Quartzray Installations 14. a. Where proposed it is recommended that Linear type Quartzray heaters be fitted at wall plate level and these be fitted with Phillips gold lamps. It should be noted that Quartzray type heating is not normally permitted in Grade I buildings. b. A controller should be fitted to reduce heat in Spring and Autumn. c. A timer must be fitted to provide a pre-heat period of at least one-hour before a service. Conduits 15. Conduits should generally not be used. However, where it is necessary to re-use existing conduits to light switch drops, these should be bonded and earthed to the system and in addition a separate CPC should be run down the conduit to the accessory/outlet point. Test Certificate 16. In addition to the provision of calculation sheets before the start of work, a test certificate should be provided at the end of the work and this should be fully completed and signed by the contractor then passed onto the parish, who should arrange for this to be kept in the parish files and readily available for inspection by the insurance officer, and the architect/surveyor carrying out the quinquennial inspection. Bell Towers 17. Bell towers should be fitted internally with floodlights and a socket outlet (RCD protected) for maintenance work. Lighting fittings should also be installed in tower turrets. Lighting 18. a. Pendant fittings should be avoided wherever possible. b. Wall mounted uplighter fittings (metal halide) together with electronic controller should be installed wherever possible.
c. Lighting fittings containing S.O.N. lamps or mercury vapour (MVFU) would not normally be recommended for churches. d. Floodlights should be fitted as low as possible (see para 20. below). e. Dimmers should be installed wherever possible. f. Where a particular lamp source cannot be dimmed care should be given to switching on groups of luminaires to allow reduction of lighting levels. g. Emergency lighting should be provided, particularly towards the areas of emergency doors. h. Localised emergency lighting fittings should be used and not the emergency exit type signs. i. Where costs are important, tungsten halogen floodlighting may be considered, but this has a disadvantage of high lamp failure and safety implications (see para 20 below). Load Approval 19. Should additional substantial electrical load be installed, the existing mains electricity service should be checked to ensure that it is adequate. This particularly applies in the case of heating appliances. Maintenance 20. Lighting design should always allow for ease of access for changing of lamps and switchgear. Delivery 21. Delivery to site should be carefully arranged and discussed with all parties concerned. General Specifications 22. The installation should be generally wired as per the general specification for The wiring of Churches - available from the Council for the Care of Churches.
Insurance 23. Details of his insurance policy should be obtained from the electrical contractor, for any work carried out on the church, to ensure that the contractor is fully covered to a minimum of 5,000,000.00 and checks should be made to ensure that the insurance certificate is valid and current. Designer s liability insurance should also be included in the prices proposed by the contractors. CDM Regulations 24. If it is envisaged that:- a) the work will continue for more than 30 days (5 weeks), assuming a six day week, or b) involves 5 or more men on site (more than 3 men and a supervisor of mixed trades), or c) will last for more than 500 days, or d) involves any demolition then the CDM Regulations will apply and you will need to obtain the help of an architect, and/or a planning supervisor before carrying out this work. The Health and Safety Executive need to be notified officially before any work commences on site. Hazard Analysis and Method Statement 25. a. Any tenders or quotations should also include copies of hazard analysis and proposed method statement for carrying out the necessary work. b. The Hazard analysis and Method statement must be checked thoroughly before any contract is awarded and before the commencement of work on site. Checks should also be made to ensure that the work will not come under the CDM regulations. Manuals and Manufacturer s Catalogues 26. Manuals, manufacturer s catalogue and copies of delivery notes should be obtained. This is to enable the parish to obtain names of suppliers, spare parts and codes.
Qualifications 27. All electricians working on churches should be JIB graded and have had experience in working in similar buildings. Contractors carrying out electrical work must be members of the NICEIC and preferably the ECA and carry out the work in line with the current edition of the IEE regulations. Periodic Inspection and Testing (Existing Installations) 28. a. It is recommended that churches and associated buildings are tested every 2 years, with a maximum of 5 years between tests. b. Test and inspection certificates should be kept in the parish file, available for inspection by the architect and church insurance officer. PAT Testing 29. All electrical appliances should be tested at least once per year or a maximum of every 5 years. This advice and information is given in good faith and is based on the DAC s understanding of the current law. The DAC cannot accept any liability whatsoever for any errors or omissions, which may result in injury or loss or damage including consequential or financial loss.
Also available in the DAC guideline series:- 1. DAC Members and Consultants 2. Churchyard Regulations 1986 3. Cremated Remains Areas 4. De minimis matters 5. Electrical Installations 6. Floodlighting of Churches 7. How to look after your Pipe Organ 8. Installation of Sound Enhancement Systems 9. Looking after your Church Clock 10. Maintenance of Church Bell Installations 11. Trees in Churchyards 12. Care of church textiles