Implications of outer sheath cable damage on household appliance

Milleniumaire · 28 Jul 2019

We found damage in our rental property recently and determined the tenants have a rabbit and it has been nibbling its way through carpet, skirting and plaster walls. However, it has also damaged the outer sheath on the power cable on the tenants own lamp and vacuum cleaner as you can see in the following photos.

It looks like the vacuum cable has been damaged and patched up a couple of times.

I have discussed the damage with the tenant and verbally warned them about using these appliances without replacing the power cables and I'm just about to put it in writing, however, a quick Google hasn't really found anything tangible about what this kind of cable damage could cause.

It seems to me that the damaged cables could result in electrocution if any of the wire cores are exposed (I couldn't see this) or fire, and it may also affect insurance policies (knowingly using an appliance with a damaged cable).

Am I correct to "forbid" the tenants from using these appliances in my house or am I being unreasonable? Could these cables actually cause a fire and if so, how would this happen?

Thanks for your advice.

flameport · 28 Jul 2019

Tenants own items = tenants own risk in using them.

Other than warning these people, there isn't really anything you can do.

AndyPRK · 28 Jul 2019

I wouldn't worry too much about fire.

In your shoes just make sure the house has RCD protection, and it has been tested by pressing the test button.
That should cover yourself I hope

Echo the husky · 28 Jul 2019

The tenants would have to be rather bloody stupid to not want the flexes replaced. I have no time for such stupidity so I'd just let them kill themselves.

The large damages to vacuum cleaner flex was possibly caused by being mangled by the brushroller.

Milleniumaire · 28 Jul 2019

Thanks guys.

I know it's the tenants own risk, but I wouldn't want the house to burn down, however, I'm struggling to understand how that might actually happen.

Unfortunately, I don't think the house does have RCD protection. It was built in the 1930's and although the wiring has been upgrade, it looks like the original consumer unit, with MCB's fitted, and other bits and pieces, which I suspect have been added over the years (power to garage for example).

20190630_180459

Milleniumaire
28 Jul 2019
1

I am in the process of arranging a test of the electrics and was thinking about having a modern CU installed, but it depends on cost as we've already spent a lot of money on the house this year.

Echo the husky · 28 Jul 2019

You need to have the wiring tested now, as well as on a routine basis. There appears to be no RCD protection on any circuit except that one feeding the mineral insulated cable (which I hope is an RCBO!)

The wiring should be tested/inspected every five years or change of tenant, whichever is sooner.

flameport · 28 Jul 2019

Milleniumaire said:
I am in the process of arranging a test of the electrics

The result of that will be Unsatisfactory, just due to the total lack of RCDs.

Milleniumaire said:
thinking about having a modern CU installed,

That was needed a couple of decades ago.

crystal ball · 28 Jul 2019

Have things changed, lack of RCD was always a C3

EFLImpudence · 28 Jul 2019

Nothing wrong with fuses.

Risteard · 28 Jul 2019

crystal ball said:
Have things changed, lack of RCD was always a C3

Except when it wasn't.

flameport · 28 Jul 2019

crystal ball said:
lack of RCD was always a C3

C3 is the minimum code for no RCDs, not the code for all instances of no RCD.

crystal ball · 28 Jul 2019

Can you elaborate, apart from outdoor equipment use

Astra99 · 28 Jul 2019

Speaking solely as a Portable Appliance Tester, that Dyson would receive a Fail, Do Not Use sticker. If ANY of the coloured cores of a sheathed cable/flex are exposed, that is an automatic fail.
HTH

Adam_151 · 28 Jul 2019

Echo the husky said:
There appears to be no RCD protection on any circuit except that one feeding the mineral insulated cable (which I hope is an RCBO!)

I suspecct that your hope is in vain, I can't quite read everything on it, but it looks very much like an RCD with 25A switching capability, I cant see any trip curve indicated. I suspect that at the time that was made (early 90s) that a 25A RCBO would not have been an off the shelf item, 25A remains a bit of a strange rating for overcurrent devcies, rarely specificed and at the time very few RCBOs would ahve been installed, and the mjaority would have been for ring final circuits. Hell, If I wanted a 25A RCBO these days, I'd still probably be in for a few days wait!

Adam_151 · 28 Jul 2019

crystal ball said:
Can you elaborate, apart from outdoor equipment use

Where it is needed for fault protection would be at least C2
Most instances where it is needed as part of a special installation or location would be a C2, EV chargers, swimming pools, etc

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Implications of outer sheath cable damage on household appliance

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