Customers

[Jason Smith]

I have 4 kids, and the regs book becomes kinda important when theres them things called wires running through yer gaff which can catch light ...........

 

[ezzzekiel]

top and bottom - most people dont care, cost is there only concern.

 

[Andy17v]

I recently had two houses next door to each other which - to comply needed new CU installed - I priced the job only to find out on the day of the install that the electricity distributer wanted £80 for one house and £150 for the other - to fit isolating switches so that I could do the work safely. They argued that this was the only safe way to do the work as opposed allowing me to cut seals and inform them when the work was complete to let them seal the fuse again.
I raise this point as 10miles north the electricity supplier was quite happy to let do the work and for them to reseal it afterwards!
In my opinion these companied have the monopoly on this and are happy to make it as hard as possible for legal sole traders to try and make an honest living.Doing this they just lend themselves to letting cowboys into the industry that don't give a dam!

 

[Brian Boyd]

Additions & Alterations

There is no regulation in BS7671 that requires an existing installation to be upgraded to the current standard. However the requirements for carrying out an addition or alteration must be met. p4

Before an addition or alteration can be made to an existing installation it must be ascertained that the earthing and bonding arrangements comply with the current version of BS7671 and any existing electrical equipment including the incoming supply is adequate for the proposed addition or alteration. 131.8

Before an addition or alteration to an installation is energised, inspection and testing must be carried out to ensure the requirements of BS 7671 have been met and an appropriate certificate must then be issued. 134.2.1, 610.6, 631.1

Any defects found in the existing installation must be recorded on the Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate. 633.2

Therefore you only have to ensure that your alteration or addition complies to BS 7671 2008.

Thats what i`m saying. For instance replacing shower not protected by 30mA protection and advising them this also needs done would be on circuit and would be in line with what you say in line with certification but if the people aren`t prepared to pay for that and are adamant they just want shower done were do we stand. We can`t afford not to work but don`t want to leave things unsatisfactory.

 

[RexT]

Hi Phil7677,

It sounds good and I would vote for anything that made it easier. The simple languauge bit is a good idea as we all know the regs are not the best thing for the customer to understand.

Best wishes

Rex

 

[acat]

I always carry BRB, OSG and Building Regs with me and when the customer whinge o meter starts winding up I show them in black and white, therafter if the whinge o meter stills sounds I drive off into the twilight like all the heros and as others have said if they are going to whine about their own safety they will whinge about everything you do and watch them scream when the invoice is presented.

Chris

 

[Spudnik]

Thats what i`m saying. For instance replacing shower not protected by 30mA protection and advising them this also needs done would be on circuit and would be in line with what you say in line with certification but if the people aren`t prepared to pay for that and are adamant they just want shower done were do we stand. We can`t afford not to work but don`t want to leave things unsatisfactory.

Good example.

I have just replaced a shower fed from wylex rewireables.

I showed the customer the instruction leaflet that the shower came with which stated "should be protected by 30mA RCD".

As the regs state (somewhere), manufacturers instructions over rule 7671 in some cases.

 

[mars6394]

hi all had this argument the other week with a customer/friend i know with a cooker and electric hob being supplied by 1 6mm cable 30ma type b rewireable fuse for both appliances which were rated at 13 kw on ful load i said she needs extra circuit pulling in for hob conection gave her a quote she said i can afford tht i argued the hell with her told her the risks she did not care cause it cost her money how much do u value your life i said? she never replied i just walked of job,we should have some way of instructing and taking action over the safety of the install just like gas fitters do condemb the install but the governing bodies wouldnt give us that power as we will be powerful people and ritch with money

 

[Phil]

once had this with a guy that runs an mot station. he asked for a price and what it included, outside socket rcd protected etc. i dont need all that he said it`s too expensive thats just sparkies jargon to bump up the price. so i told him i would do it for him his way and cheaper if he would mot a car for me with 4 bald tyres defective break pads and a big crack in the windscreen in the drivers field of vision. he said are you mad i cant do that. looked at me and saw the light, yeh the job was then done as per regulation and i didnt try to tell him how to mot the cars either i love it when someone knows your job better than you do

 

[Jason Smith]

just noticed the screw fix catalogue shows symbols on some parts to say that it must be fitted by a Gas safe person etc. No such notice on the consumer units.......... This is not helping us at all with customers, many other examples.

 

[mogga]

Iv mentioned this before Jason There are some parts at certain wholesalers that Gas safe cards require to be shown to purchase

 

[Brian Boyd]

How do we make it the same with electrical goods. Just fixed light fitting today that girls brother put up purchased from B&Q. Oh disaster waiting to happen. It was only cause it wouldn`t work properly that she called spark to put it up properly.

 

[Johno]

I have 4 kids, and the regs book becomes kinda important when theres them things called wires running through yer gaff which can catch light ...........

I am with you on safety, but come on you can't worry like that, them things called wires can work safely in your gaff as long as you know what you are doing.