The Dangers of laying underground cable

[westie101]

This is one we should all know!
We got a call about a customer that had been laying a new water pipe to his house, saw a pipe in the garden and thought it was the one he wanted

So he cut it!

And it went bang and he got an electric shock!

It was phoned into us as it was thought to be the service cable.
It wasn't it was a private cable to his garage and was a SWA laid in some alkathene waterpipe as a duct!

 

[JohnW2]

We got a call about a customer that had been laying a new water pipe to his house ...

What was a customer doing "laying a new water pipe to his house" - isn't that the territory of the water supply company?

Kind Regards, John

 

[westie101]

After the stop tap no

 

[ban-all-sheds]

he got an electric shock

Is he OK?

SWA laid in some alkathene waterpipe as a duct!

Recent and attributable enough for the culprit to be prosecuted?

 

[JohnW2]

SWA laid in some alkathene waterpipe as a duct!

Recent and attributable enough for the culprit to be prosecuted?

That raises interesting questions, at least for me. If depth etc. was satisfactory (although one imagines from the story that there was no warning tape), then burying 'bare' SWA would obviously be acceptable. It is apparent that hazards are created by 'disguising' it in a water pipe, but is that contrary to any regulations/laws - or are you just thinking of generic non-compliance with Part P?

Kind Regards, John

 

[Iggifer]

What did he cut said pipe with to not feel the resistance of the SWA inside?! I'm guessing a power tool.

 

[westie101]

then burying 'bare' SWA would obviously be acceptable

Better than laying it in alkathene water pipe

thinking of generic non-compliance with Part P?

I would suggest it was laid some time before Part P even existed

What did he cut said pipe with

Not sure, the colleague that visited the site didn't mention it

 

[JohnW2]

then burying 'bare' SWA would obviously be acceptable

Better than laying it in alkathene water pipe

Quite so.

thinking of generic non-compliance with Part P?

I would suggest it was laid some time before Part P even existed

... and you very probably would be right, but that leaves me even more wondering about the 'prosecution' that BAS was contemplating.

Kind Regards, John

 

[westie101]

Sorry BAS missed this

Is he OK

Apparently, but advised to visit A & E for a check over (standard advise we give in this case)

As regarding prosecution.
Householder working on own property so we have no jurisdiction and certainly Pre Part P introduction

 

[ban-all-sheds]

It is apparent that hazards are created by 'disguising' it in a water pipe, but is that contrary to any regulations/laws - or are you just thinking of generic non-compliance with Part P?

Yes - it is clearly not making reasonable provision for safety to disguise an electrical cable as a water pipe.

 

[JohnW2]

It is apparent that hazards are created by 'disguising' it in a water pipe, but is that contrary to any regulations/laws - or are you just thinking of generic non-compliance with Part P?

Yes - it is clearly not making reasonable provision for safety to disguise an electrical cable as a water pipe.

True - but as westie has pointed out, the work was almost certainly undertaken before Part P existed - was their legislation prior that under which one could prosecute (long after the event)?

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Recent and attributable enough for the culprit to be prosecuted?

 

[bernardgreen]

If you come across a length of tube, pipe or similar while digging in a garden then you treat it with caution. To just cut through it without considering waht it might be is not sensible.

Test it before you cut it. And if you cannot determine what it then dissect it carefully. If the plastic changes colour as you dissect then chances are it is cable. If you find steel armour it is cable. If you get a few millimetres in then probe with an insulated spike. If gas or water come out then treat accordingly to repair the puncture.

Above all never ever put your self at risk by relying on the assumption that the installer installed it properly and in compliance with whatever regulations were in place at the time it was "installed"

 

[JohnW2]

If you come across a length of tube, pipe or similar while digging in a garden then you treat it with caution. To just cut through it without considering waht it might be is not sensible.

Indeed. That is so obvious that it amazing that there are apparently still a good few people who behave otherwise. Nor does it only apply to digging in the garden - the same goes for pipes/tubes/whatever one finds buried in walls, in wall cavities, lofts, cellars or wherever.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

If you use 2 or 3H16 pyro for your wiring, it will look an awful lot like 15mm plumbing pipe. During installation slip a few yorkshire fittings over the pyro first, and solder them in place. Could always add a few tee's, with pipes and elbows running off to stopends somewhere, for added confusion.