YAEN PUJOL - VILLENEUVE-LÈS-MAGUELONE: TIPS AND ADVICE
MANDATORY ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSIS
MED, Mandatory Electrical Diagnosis
Mandatory electrical diagnosis sale, pre-diagnosis apartment, and house rental
The mandatory electrical diagnosis (MED) is in force since 1 January 2009. It has the purpose of evaluating the risks involved in electrical installations older than 15 years and which may endanger the security of people.
THE MED, WHY?
A lot of old residences no longer comply with basic safety standards, and more than 2 million of them represent a significant hazard. All these installations are outdated and are not subject to any regulatory control measures.
The electrical diagnosis has a goal of :
- determining whether the installation involves risks which may endanger the security of the occupants of the house,
- precisely identifying these risks,
- informing the purchaser of the state of the electrical installation of the house he is purchasing.
WHO CARRIES OUT THE MED?
It is carried out by a person qualified by an accredited certification organisation. This accreditation is valid for 5 years and is based on theoretical and practical examination of knowledge.The electrical diagnosis in practice Procedure
The diagnostician carries out a precise number of controls, by visual examination and tests or metering. The latter relies on a standard reference base, standard XP C16-600, describing these control points. He does not move the furniture, does not disassemble the electrical installation apart from the access to the electrical box. Following the diagnosis, he issues a report indicating the anomalies spotted.
Parts of the house which are controlled
The diagnosis relates to the electrical installation downstream of the main breaker to the power terminals or the power sockets. Are therefore involved :
- private parts of the residential premises (kitchen, living room, bedrooms, bathroom…)
- outbuildings of the residential premises (garage, terrace, swimming pool…)
- verification is carried out only on visible and accessible elements
The common areas of multi-dwelling buildings are excluded from the mandatory electrical diagnosis
WHAT DOES THE DIAGNOSTICIAN CHECK?
- the presence of a main breaker, and its accessibility (in general the circuit breaker),
- the presence of at least one differential sensitivity switch suitable for grounding conditions, upstream of the electrical installation,
- the presence on each circuit of a protective device against excess current adapted to the wire diameter,
- the presence of an equipotential bonding and an electrical installation adapted to the particular conditions of the rooms containing a bathtub or a shower
- identification of older generation electrical equipment, unsuitable for use or presenting risks of direct contact with live parts,
- identification of physically unprotected conductors.
To be sure to have a positive MED, ask for a pre-visit to determine which parts should be brought into line in your residence or the place which you wish to sell or rent.
For more information :
- 6 golden rules to be in conformity
- 6 golden rules to be in conformity
- 6 golden rules to be in conformity
1. Circuit breaker
Electrical standards: generally, the main circuit breaker inside the house must be accessible in order to be able to cut off, in the event of an emergency, in a single area, known and accessible, all electricity supply. It must be installed at a height equal to 1.8 m or more from the ground (a recommended height ranging between 0.9 and 1.3 m for compliance with the regulation relating to disabled people). Its absence, inaccessibility or an unsuitable device, do not enable an emergency shutdown in the event of danger, fire or works on the electrical installation.
2. Differential protection device
This device (differential switch or differential circuit breaker), associated with a grounding network allows for the protection of people against the risks of electric shocks during a defect of the insulation of the electrical equipment. It ensures the automatic cut-off of the circuit or involved equipment. Risk of electric shock (electrification, or even electrocution) following a contact with metal masses abnormally under voltage.
3.Circuit breakers
The circuit breakers with cartridge fuse or divisional circuit breakers, at the beginning of each circuit, make it possible to protect the electrical conductors, cables against the abnormal heating due to overloads or short-circuits. The absence of these devices or an inadequate protection may cause fires.
4. Equipotential bonding
The latter equalises the potential of all the masses of electrical equipment and conducting elements of a water room. In case of failure, the potential difference is virtually non-existent; there is no risk of electrocution. In the case where this conductor is missing, there is a risk of electrocution when in contact with a metal part which is accidentally powered.
5. Several security zones
Electrical standards: they limit the installation of electrical equipment in a bathroom near the bathtub or the shower. The non-observance of these security zones may lead to electrification or even electrocution. The reduction of the electrical resistance of the wet or immersed human body increases electricity-related hazards.
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France deploys the electricity meter
6. Electrical equipment
Accessible electrical equipment whose live parts are unprotected (stripped electrical wires, old electrical equipment, broken electrical equipment, connection terminals not placed in a box equipped with a cover…) represent significant risks of electrification or even electrocution.
Older generation or unsuitable electrical equipment, broken electrical equipment, when in use, no longer ensure proper protection against the access to unprotected live parts or no longer have a proper level of insulation. When they are not fit for purpose, it becomes very dangerous to use them. In both cases, the equipment represents important risks of electrification or even electrocution. It is therefore of prime importance to replace these unsuitable and defective devices by a qualified electrician. Conductors must be placed inside ducts, mouldings or baseboards made of an insulating material.
92% of the French anticipate electricity increases
92% of the French anticipate an increase in energy rates
Only half of the French know that the gas and electricity markets are open to competition according to the annual survey on energy of the national energy ombudsperson (baromètre annuel Energie-Info du Médiateur national de l’énergie).
The regulated rates of electricity have increased by 2.5% on 1st November, and those of gas increased on average by 2.31% at the same date, after an increase of 3.9% in October. Something which is hard on morale and negatively affects household budgets. According to the annual survey on energy of the national energy ombudsperson, a survey carried out by the ‘Institut CSA’ with 1501 households interviewed over the phone in September, 78% of those interviewed declare that the energy consumption constitutes “an important subject” for them, or even “of great importance” for a quarter of them.
42% of the French used less heating
64% of the French consider their gas or electricity bills as a heavy burden on their budget and 13% of households state having experienced difficulties to pay some of them this year. Consequently, 42% of those surveyed have used less heating to reduce their expenses, despite the rather cold winter of last year.
Since 2007, the energy market is open to competition, but only 20% of the French benefit from this, against 14% in 2013. “If these increasing developments are encouraging, the overall figures remain low”, highlights the survey. And if 71% of households think that opening up to competition is “a good thing”, only 54% of gas-connected households and 50% of those depending on electricity know that they can change supplier at any time.
Ill-informed households
This lack of awareness is partly fuelled by the confusion between EDF and GDF Suez: 30% of those interviewed think that GDF Suez and EDF constitute a single company, when in fact, they are two competing companies. Similarly, 40% of the French say they have already heard about the energy transition, a flagship project of the five-year term of François Holland being currently examined by Parliament, but only 18% know what it is all about. Households mainly have the collective benefits in mind such as the protection of the environment (86%) and the job creation (73%), but 57% fear a rise in the prices of energy.