Selling real estate: the electrical wiring survey

A survey on the status of electrical wiring will soon be required.

A soon to be published decree will specify the effective date and the procedural requirements for this new obligation.

The XP C 16-600 experimental NF standard of August 2007 defines the inspection requirements of the condition of electrical wiring in residential buildings in France.

The scope of the survey covers the entire private, visible, and accessible electrical wiring system of the residential building, downstream from the system’s general control and cut out switch.

The survey concerns all associated circuits of every voltage and current type used for electrical power. The electrical wiring survey is conducted without moving any furniture, dismantling the electrical system, or destroying the electrical insulation of cables.

The order respecting the application of the electrical wiring survey is scheduled for the end of 2007, with its application in the 1st half-year of 2008.

The status of indoor electrical wiring

It is defined by articles R. 134-10 to R. 134-13 of the Construction and Housing Code.
Effective date: Articles R. 134-10 to R. 134-13 of the Construction and Housing Code enter into force on 1st July 2008.
Concerns: in event of the sale of all or part of a residential building, the status of indoor electrical wiring when it is over fifteen years old.
Validity : The period of validity for the present survey will be set by ordinary decree amending the Construction and Housing Code; it is extended to 3 years to be consistent with the indoor gas installation survey.
Standard: Application of the XP C 16-600 standard is assumed to meet the above mentioned methodological requirements.
It is conducted on the entire private electrical wiring system of the residential premises and their dependencies, located downstream from the general control and safety switch for this system up to the line terminals of the materials used or of equipment supplied by stationary lines, or up to power outlet sockets. The stationary material of the system however is subject to the status of the system in terms of choice and implementation.

Purpose : safety requirements, existence, and characteristics:

• of a general control and safety switch, as well as its accessibility
• of at least one ground-fault circuit interrupter of appropriate sensitivity for grounding conditions, at the origin of the electrical wiring
• of an overload protector adapted to conductor cross-sections, on each circuit
• of an equipotential connection and electrical wiring adapted to the special conditions of premises containing a bathtub or a shower stall

The status of indoor electrical wiring identifies:

• obsolete electric material, not adapted to the use or presenting a risk of direct contact with live power components
• conductors which are not mechanically protected.

Note : This survey is not a control of electrical conformity with regards to the currently applicable regulations, it is rather for information purposes.
Consequently, if a hazard is observed on the system, it is up to the owner to deal with the consequences, the surveyors are not qualified to intervene on the system or its supply.
The price for this survey should be in the € 100 to € 200 zone, depending on configuration (size of the home, condition of the system, etc.)

Method:

1. List of points – Visual examination – Test - Measurement
2. Identification of defects: (1) Reference defects according to the XP C 16-600 standard
3. Objective of steps taken and description of the risks incurred according to identified defects
For example = B1: General control and safety switch: Inappropriate device, does not ensure this cut-off function in case of an emergency, fire, or intervention on the electrical system.
4. Summary of the status of indoor electrical wiring

• The indoor electrical system has no defects.
• The indoor electrical system has one or more defects that should be subject to treatment.

Observed defects concern:

• The general control and safety switch, as well as its accessibility
• The differential protection at the origin of the electrical system and its sensitivity appropriate for grounding conditions.
• The overload protector adapted to conductor cross-sections, on each circuit.
• The suitability of the equipotential connection and electrical wiring for the special conditions of premises containing a bathtub or a shower stall.
• Obsolete electric material, poorly suited for use or presenting a risk of direct contact with live power components
• Conductors not protected mechanically.

The indoor electrical system was not supplied during the survey. Verifications in terms of the operation of residual differential current protection devices could not be conducted.
Source: http://www.optimize.fr