In my student days I worked for a sparky, loved it but ended up in a desk job. From time to time I do work on my home and unpaid for family always to BS7671, I follow the on-site guide to the T and only do what is allowed (ie not under Part P). I take pride in my work.
My sister called me yesterday to say she'd tripped power in her new extension after trying to install a TV bracket she'd drilled through a cable. Oooopsie. They had a full re-wire and consumer unit done 3-6 months ago when they had a side return and loft conversion done. Easy repair I thought.
Anyway went over and they'd hit the ring in two places up the wall. They'd drilled above sockets so I explained safe zones albeit in her defence the cable is run in the gap between the sockets, also directly alongside the Cat 6 cable, no capping, not brilliant but OK I said. Sunk in a 25mm single back box, 5 wagos and the back box lug for one side of the earth ring, new 2.5mm down to sockets, all fine. Safe zone issue solved with the blank plate, fine.
Tested continuity when I was done, live and neutral fine, earth no continuity.
Started taking off other sockets on the ring, first one I looked in found only one earth connected, bit s**t I thought, whole socket looks shoddy but maybe a builder did this one.
Tested earth again, no contunity, started taking off more sockets.
Could not believe what I found. Behind one, earth had been sleeved in brown, taped up, marked 'damaged'. Test it and directly connected to live. WTF. So we had a ring with no earth at all in places and one burried length of 2.5mm T&E with a live CPC.
I can only presume done to avoid ripping the cable back out of new plaster. I couldn't find the next leg on the ring also with a live or disconnected CPC so I've left the circuit off and said you need a sparky in to fault find and re-do at the main contractors expense (some funds haven't been settled yet due to snagging).
The main contractor insists that the electrican signed off all of the circuits. BS I said, send the certificate so I can see the test results. Apparently he hasn't sent it yet. Main contractor said he would have an electrican there today (Sunday).
In my view this could have killed someone. Should they be as pi**ed off about this as I think they should be. Let me know thoughts please.
My sister called me yesterday to say she'd tripped power in her new extension after trying to install a TV bracket she'd drilled through a cable. Oooopsie. They had a full re-wire and consumer unit done 3-6 months ago when they had a side return and loft conversion done. Easy repair I thought.
Anyway went over and they'd hit the ring in two places up the wall. They'd drilled above sockets so I explained safe zones albeit in her defence the cable is run in the gap between the sockets, also directly alongside the Cat 6 cable, no capping, not brilliant but OK I said. Sunk in a 25mm single back box, 5 wagos and the back box lug for one side of the earth ring, new 2.5mm down to sockets, all fine. Safe zone issue solved with the blank plate, fine.
Tested continuity when I was done, live and neutral fine, earth no continuity.
Started taking off other sockets on the ring, first one I looked in found only one earth connected, bit s**t I thought, whole socket looks shoddy but maybe a builder did this one.
Tested earth again, no contunity, started taking off more sockets.
Could not believe what I found. Behind one, earth had been sleeved in brown, taped up, marked 'damaged'. Test it and directly connected to live. WTF. So we had a ring with no earth at all in places and one burried length of 2.5mm T&E with a live CPC.
I can only presume done to avoid ripping the cable back out of new plaster. I couldn't find the next leg on the ring also with a live or disconnected CPC so I've left the circuit off and said you need a sparky in to fault find and re-do at the main contractors expense (some funds haven't been settled yet due to snagging).
The main contractor insists that the electrican signed off all of the circuits. BS I said, send the certificate so I can see the test results. Apparently he hasn't sent it yet. Main contractor said he would have an electrican there today (Sunday).
In my view this could have killed someone. Should they be as pi**ed off about this as I think they should be. Let me know thoughts please.
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