Advice needed

[Sparks1996]

Looking for advice. I have some external lights supplied from an closed old folks home installed on the flat next door for a shared walkway.I’m working in the flat next door the lights have no cover and are still live, we can’t get ahold of the old folks home owners where so I stand on disconnecting the lights in order to make them safe! Can I do this without permission

 

[westward10]

How will you disconnect them if they are still live.

 

[telectrix]

cable vasectomy using VDE cutters. 1 conductor at a time.bit of gaffer tape, sorted. ?

 

[Dustydazzler]

Old 1000v insulated croppers , cut , bang , tape up , job done ...

 

[Mike Johnson]

Why tape up if the MCB has tripped? ?

 

[Wilko]

If the owner of the flat instructs you to do something in their flat then you are working under their instruction (and if it is reasonable for you to believe they have made a lawful request of you ...).

I won’t comment on the safety aspect as you are fully in charge.

 

[telectrix]

If the owner of the flat instructs you to do something in their flat then you are working under their instruction (and if it is reasonable for you to believe they have made a lawful request of you ...).

I won’t comment on the safety aspect as you are fully in charge.

too boring. where's the fun in that? ?

 

[James]

In the olden days, you would send the apprentice with an old pair of cutters to remove the old cables.
It taught them a valuable lesson about safe isolation and never taking someone’s word for it.

We don’t do things like that anymore. It considered dangerous!!

 

[Ray Pooley]

Looking for advice. I have some external lights supplied from an closed old folks home installed on the flat next door for a shared walkway.I’m working in the flat next door the lights have no cover and are still live, we can’t get ahold of the old folks home owners where so I stand on disconnecting the lights in order to make them safe! Can I do this without permission

If you have no way to isolate it then leave it alone until you do. It doesn't matter what the flat owner wants. You can't always have what you want. I would put the onus on the flat owner to contact those with access to the old folks home to come to the site and islolate it at source. Of course, if it presents a real and significant safety hazard then you don't need anyone's permission to deal with it so long as you can account for the dangerous aspects of the installation if required to. You have a responsibility to do so. How you deal with that is up to you. You are aware of the dangers associated with dealing with live cables. My personal choice would be to install a weather proof box in place of the light. Wearing a rubber suit. Having said that who is going to care if you tripped a breaker or blew a fuse at the source? So long as it doesn't start a fire of course.

 

[ipf]

My personal choice would be to install a weather proof box in place of the light. Wearing a rubber suit. Having said that who is going to care if you tripped a breaker or blew a fuse at the source? So long as it doesn't start a fire of course.

What if other, communal lights are fed from the breaker......with no access?

 

[Ray Pooley]

What if other, communal lights are fed from the breaker......with no access?

Hence my suggestions. 1) Leave it alone 2) If you can't leave it alone for safety reasons leave the circuit in tact and just remove the light from the end of it.

 

[gazdkw82]

Going to be even worst if you do the work but trip a protective device. How do you then plan to turn them back on?

 

[telectrix]

Going to be even worst if you do the work but trip a protective device. How do you then plan to turn them back on?

break in to the coffin dodgers home, nick all the copper and lead. reset MCB on leaving. sssimplesss.

 

[Ray Pooley]

Going to be even worst if you do the work but trip a protective device. How do you then plan to turn them back on?

It is my understanding from the OP's question that the property is closed and no longer occupied. Although shorting the circuit is not entirerly without risk.

 

[gazdkw82]

It is my understanding from the OP's question that the property is closed and no longer occupied. Although shorting the circuit is not entirerly without risk.

I understood the lighting the OP wants to work on is being supplied via this property that he has no access too?

If that is the case, my point stands, if he attempts the work and trips the breaker then how will he re energise?