Yes, I've seen that sort of thing, and suspect that it is not all that uncommon.
Yes but you may or be surprised how many people (even tradesmen) who have never heard of electrical or gas safe zones
Not surprised at all - however, that merely underlines what I said. Since one cannot rely on cables having been installed in safe zones, and cannot rely on people subsequently 'working on' the building to even know about safe zones, it is really incumbent on anyone with a drill, screwdriver or hammer in his/her hand to do whatever is possible to satisfy themselves that they are not about to damage a cable!
I agree entirely. I've seen people advised about "safe zones" as though there's absolutely no chance of hitting a cable if one drills elsewhere, which, of course, is nonsense, for the reasons you've already mentioned. It would be interesting to know exactly how many people outside the trade and outside the more enlightened DIY circles have even heard of the concept. And I've even heard the advice offered without pointing out that the idea is a relatively new one anyway, so there are going to be plenty of homes which were wired completely to the current regulations at the time without cabling being in the so-called safe zones.
As is the interpretation that people are advised to put cables in the right places when what they are looking for is advice on where to drill.
Those who are competent to be installing cables. Those who have not heard of it are not competent.
And also those wired more recently but not in compliance with the regulations.
Don't call then tradesmen.
Even if we take that as being so, it doesn't help the person who is not installing cables but is merely drilling into the wall to put up shelves or a cupboard.
The point is - and I assume this is what John had in mind as well - that the whole concept could be considered somewhat flawed when (a) many people who aren't doing electrical work but are carrying out other DIY have likely never heard of safe zones anyway and (b) as you rightly point out, there's no guarantee that even after the concept was introduced cables haven't been run elsewhere.
It has to help more than a complete free-for-all. Whatever the chances are of hitting a cable in the wrong place, that probability diminishes the more cables are in the right place.
Please explain why that means that people should not be told to install cables in the right places.
Please explain why that means that people should not be told to install cables in the right places.
That would depend upon where somebody who has no idea about the concept was drilling, surely?
Where has anybody said that they shouldn't? Although personally in this particular case I'd be more concerned by this:
It was brown / blue so not an ancient installation.
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