Paul Wilkins Electricien Blog

Consuel and Certificate of Conformity: when, why and how

3/1/2020

What is Consuel

Consuel is the acronym for Comité National pour la Sécurité des Usagers de l’Électricité. They are responsible for the control of an electrical installation whether that installation is carried out by the home owner or by a qualified electrician. It is also the name of the certificate of conformity. The certificate of conformity is compulsory when looking to connect with an energy supplier. It guarantees the safety of the installation and for those living in the dwelling. The most commonly used form is the yellow one for domestic electrical installations.

What properties does it apply to?

A certificate of conformity is required where there is no supply at the property. *
For example you have purchased a barn and you are converting it to a domestic dwelling.

The property is a new build domestic dwelling

A certificate of conformity is not required if you have purchased an older property and there is an existing supply coming in. Although it is prudent to make sure the electrics are safe and compliant and the incoming supply is sufficient for your needs.

* If you are renovating a property where there is no supply, you can request a temporary meter. This will be available to you right up to the point of connecting your supply to the energy supplier. And is dependant on a certificate of conformity. You cannot request connection without it.

What does it mean to the homeowner?

If you choose to do your own electrical installation you, as the homeowner, apply for the certificate of conformity. It is not unusual for homeowners to do their own installation. However, it must conform to NFC15-100 standard. And when you are ready to apply for your certificate of conformity it will be via consuel.com and your application will be made as a particulier. An inspector from the Consuel will visit your premises and if compliant you will be issued with certificate of conformity. If it is not compliant you will need to correct the work and request a new visit.

If a qualified electrician does the installation the work is installed to NFC15-100 standard and when ready to apply for certificate of conformity he visits consuel.com and applies via the professionnel space. As the qualified electrician is required to be aware of the normes and will no doubt have a number of applications submitted it is likely that an inspection is not required and the certificate of conformity issued.

Please note that a qualified electrician will not submit a request through his professionel space for an indiviudal. If an individual has carried out the electrical installation themselves, the request for certificate of conformity must be made by the individual. The professional tradesman’s insurance is to insure his work only, not the work of others.

What is the process

Once your installation is ready an application is requested for the yellow form via the Consuel site [consuel.com]. You can do this either digitally online or via the paper method. You will be asked to create an account and supply information.
Once the yellow form is submitted allow for about 20 days before an inspector will visit your dwelling to assess the install.
If the installation has no anomalies the Inspector will affix his visa to the certificate. You will receive this either by post or it is downloadable via the site and your personal space, depending on what you have opted for. You will need this certificate to present to your energy supplier for connection.
If any anomalies have been identified you will need to put these right and request a new visit. A certificate of conformity will not be granted until the Inspector is satisfied that the installation complies.

If in doubt always speak to a qualified electrician

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Have you got enough protection?

1/30/2020

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If like many of my customers your fuseboard has been upgraded, it will consist of rows of circuit breakers. Each row will be protected by an RCD which will be the larger size switch, normally at the start of the row on the left. An RCD is a Residual Current Device use for protection/earth [as per picture below]

Next door to the fuseboard is an independent box the main switch, the property of your energy supplier – see picture with the words 30/45/60A and in a glass window, ever so small, you will see a number either 30, 45 or 60A and this tells you the amount of supply you have coming into your premises. [as per picture below]

40A RCD serves up to 4 breakers
63A RCD serves up to 8 breakers

Over many months I have received calls from customers who have experienced regular tripping of the RCD which would suggest that an upgrade from 40 to 63A is recommended. And on subsequent follow ups, this has often been the case. As always, if in doubt, speak to a qualified electrician.

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Lot 20 new EU Directive for electric heating 2018

2/11/2018

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As of 1st January 2018 new energy efficiency regulations regarding electric heating have been introduced. Lot 20 legislation states that space heaters for sale in the EU will need to adhere to these new laws or be axed.

Lot 20 is a piece of legislation that most people have not heard of but massively effects the manner in which electric heaters are produced. It has been introduced by the European Ecodesign Directive which governs all energy using products including lighting, washing machines, vacuum cleaners to gas boilers and solid fuel burners. These are split into several 'lots' and Lot 20 applies to local space heaters including storage heaters, electric radiators, radiant heaters and underfloor heating to name a few.

Many heaters now include smart technology to help reduce energy consumption, electronic time and temperature controls, open window sensing technology, predictive start functionality and remote app based control. Old non compliant radiators can still be sold after 1st January 2018 provided they were manufactured before this date.

The use of electric heaters are still popular for home owners in France, French and non French alike. So for the home owner if you are thinking of upgrading or adding electrical heating to your home, use this information to help guide you, so that you are aware of what the legislation is and the choices that are available to you.

I have certainly seen new and efficient products on my travels and have installed these sleek looking glass radiant panels.

New products to the market will have price increases but the long term use of them, should see consumption being used effectively and therefore not compromise your bills.

For more information regarding this directive, please visit this English site https://www.lot20.co.uk/

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Useful guide to making sure you work with registered and insured trades in your French home

7/21/2016

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As a registered and insured tradesman myself, I hear lots of horror stories from customers and potential customers who have experienced unpleasant circumstances. As a registered and insured tradesman I have no qualms in presenting any details to any customer. For me, I want a customer to feel that they can do business with me that is legal.

When you are seeking the services of a tradesman the likelihood is that you will ask for recommendations from people that you know or from your local magazine. Don't take these at face value. There are a number of obligations that you need to consider before anyone crosses your threshold and commences work, as there are serious implications for the homeowner should you choose to use unregistered or uninsured trades people on your premises.

There are a number of sites that you can visit to check siret numbers :
https://www.infogreffe.com/societes/
http://www.manageo.fr/
http://www.societe.com/

However, please note that these sites will only provide details of the main and primary activity and not any subsequent activities. If in doubt, feel free to call your local Chambre de Metier and ask them to verify what they are registered as, or enquire with your local Mairie.

Don't be afraid to ask to see attestation or confirmation of the relevant insurances attributed to trades. Who is the insurance with? Are payments up to date? We all know France loves a law and insurance. Each activity needs to have the corresponding insurance. Insurance for one activity does not cover for all. Please note that there is difference between public liability insurance and decennale insurance and some trades are required to have both. If you have doubts, eliminate them from your research.

Artisan tradesman are required to have decennale insurance and a carte professionnelle – this provides confidence to a potential customer that they have had their qualifications verified by the Chambre de Metier and are appropriately insured. Plus artisan tradesmen are not allowed to register additional activities. For example as a registered artisan electrician you won't see me offering to cut your grass.

Devis and factures will need to show siret number and insurance details, these are recent requirements, so if you don't see this on any paperwork, again feel free to eliminate from your research.

Devis should be clear and set out exactly what will be done. Do not sign a devis until you are happy that everything you want done is included. There should be no hidden surprises between devis and facture. Be clear about when works are to commence, particularly when there are a number of trades involved.

A reputable tradesman will ask for a deposit or materials to be paid.

A reputable tradesman will clearly state how future payments are to be made.

A reputable tradesman will not insist on being paid cash.

A reputable tradesman will happily give you references of customers that you can contact if you request to do so.

A reputable tradesman will have more than just a mobile number to be contacted on.

It is not unusual to seek 2 or 3 devis and a reputable tradesman will be aware of that. You as a customer should be able to ask questions and feel confident about who you are dealing with, as ultimately they will be working in your home and you will be paying them. So any doubts or concerns you have eliminate them from your research.

Always work with a reputable tradesman, there are serious implications as a home owner should an unregistered or uninsured or not appropriately insured tradesman be working in your home. Should an accident or death take place in your home, you as the home owner will bear some responsibility.

Should you wish to sell your house you may be asked by the Notaire to provide invoices for major works that have been carried out within a certain timespan. If you are unable to do this, you may find yourself footing a bill should something untoward happen in the future once your home is sold.

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Consuel and Certificate of Conformity: when, why and how

Have you got enough protection?

Lot 20 new EU Directive for electric heating 2018

Useful guide to making sure you work with registered and insured trades in your French home

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