I was wondering if RCD's are required to be tested on a regular basis also?
Say 6/12 monthly
And whilst not a legal requirement, to maintain your hot water system and increase it's lifespan a plumber mentioned that we (DIY) should regularly test our hot water system pressure relief valve
Thanks for reminding me. I'll follow up that one too because we can't just be told to test it. That's not how it works. Are there user instructions? Can the test be performed by a user? Is that enough? Is there a lifespan? Where does it say that? Consumer Protection will eat that stuff up you would think.
The procedure for testing your RCDs and Smoke Alarms are in the instructions. As far as professional installation or verification is concerned that is one thing that I agree with. But once installed and verified we need to be reasonable.
e.g. An RCD needs to be tested once a month with the test button according to the instructions. I have four routine inspections per year so I can't do it. We can't send a sparky in a dozen times a year to press a button, the tenant will spit it. Well there's only one person left really. The tenant has to do it and it has to be part of your lease.
An owner cannot be reasonably expected to know or do any more than that which is in the instructions one would think. If the instructions are lacking, if an RCD or smoke alarm really needs ongoing tests that a user cannot perform then fair trading needs to be brought in to this. I will be writing formally to 2 manufacturers next week with that very question.
"Does your device need any further testing or maintenance other than that specified in it's instructions for a user to be assured that the device is going to function correctly during its lifetime?"
If the answer is no then that's fine. If the answer is yes, then we have to start asking some serious questions because the documentation that accompanies the device is incomplete and that can result in people having devices that they think should be working but apparently may not be. That negates the whole point of safety devices.