Extension

[telectrix]

Re: how not to wire your extension

just seen in his text. builders installed the cables... nuff said.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Re: how not to wire your extension

I cringed looking through that. No at the blog, at the workmanship. Or lack thereof

 

[jonwade]

Re: how not to wire your extension

Hi.

Is this is safety concern or just not up to current standards?

Cables are under a waterproof lining, under solid insulation (Celotex).

The building inspector has been out to see the site at all the required times but did not raise any concerns.

Screed due to go down tomorrow, so if it is something that is really bad, please let me know, and let me know what should be done in the morning.

Thank you.

 

[davethsparky]

Re: how not to wire your extension

Based on the pics there i'd say put the screed off for a bit, call an electrician and a plumber to come to site and advise on what you have there.

And report whoever has done your wiring to whichever part P scam they are registered with (yeah right) and trading standards.

 

[jonwade]

Re: how not to wire your extension

Can you elaborate at all? I have read all the comments here, but I am not clear on whether this is dangerous or just not as neat and tidy as it could be.

If I was to call Trading Standard what would I say to them?

 

[davethsparky]

Re: how not to wire your extension

You really need someone to attend the site and look over the installation and all of the pictures you have to give you an accurate report on the installation. But I would suggest that based on the pictures you've been done over by a cowboy!

A few points that stick out to me are:

You have cables installed across the floor which have no doubt been trampled by everyone working on site so the insulation and sheath will likely have been destroyed, possibly may even have short circuits in the cables already.

may need to install bonding to bridge the plastic joints in the copper pipe, cant see where it goes or what it does but this needs checking.

Cables installed behind the plasterboard not in the safe zones and not protected from penetration by nails, screws and the like.

There appear to be choc blocks stuffed in the wall where a socket has been removed.

An outside light point with the bricks hollowed out a bit and choc blocks in it next to the old extractor outlet.

The cables across the floor will be exposed to cement slurry when it is applied to the floor, that cable coming into contact with cement, especially whilst wet, is a big no-no as far as the regulations are concerned as it can damage the cables

 

[jonwade]

Re: how not to wire your extension

The plastic pipe is for the pipe that connects the outside tap.

What is a safe zone?

I guess choc blocks are the white plastic connectors - I saw these taped up. Is that sufficient?

The cables on the floor were covered with the waterproof membrane. I know the builder mentioned slurry weeks ago, not sure how this would now come in to contact with the cables?

I will see if I can get somebody to look, but my builder has been doing extension for over 20 years and used to be qualified to do electrics, but now gets somebody else in to check the electrics. I think this is tomorrow. Maybe I will ask a few questions like "is it OK without conduits?".

 

[davethsparky]

Re: how not to wire your extension

Whoever he is getting to look at it will say it is fine regardless of the condition and ten take his cash and run!

The cable shouldn't be under the moisture barrier and then pass up through it or round it as this can provide a path for moisture to get past the barrier. local authority building control should be able to advise on this better than I can.

Doing electrics for 20 years doesn't qualify him for anything, it just means he may have been doing it wrong for the last 20 years.

Taped up choc blocks is not sufficient for anything! connections must be made in a suitable enclosure and teh cables secured so that no strain can be put on the connection. and if any form of screwed connection is used it must be left accessible.

The cables on the floor will now be underneath the insulation which will affect their current carrying capacity, they may very well need to be a bigger size to allow for this depending on the type of circuit installed and the design.

Ask him to prove he has installed the correct cable size by showing you the calculations he carried out when designing the circuit. He will likely say it is a standard circuit and doesn't need calculating, ask him to show you this standard circuit in his regulations book (thsi isn't a trick question they are in there)

Ask for his mate who checks it's part P scheme registration number and contact the scheme operator for help.

A safe zone in this situation is the zones of the wall in which cables may be buried without additional mechanical protection against penetration and or and earthed metal covering. There is a good picture in the on-site guide which eh will be able to show you if he has a copy as he should have if doing this work.

The situation with regards earthing the pipe would need to be looked at on site, as it will be buried in the screed it could become an extraneous part and need bonding, but that really does need looking at in the flesh.

Personally I wouldn't be happy to have anything other than properly soldered plumbing connections buried anywhere, but maybe that's because i've seen too many leaking joints under screed floors.

 

[davethsparky]

Re: how not to wire your extension

A quick google search found this which gives an idea of how the safe zones thing works

Cable Safe Zones | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The cables in the pic in post 13 don't appear to be in a safe zone

 

[gutterball]

Re: how not to wire your extension

where do the cables for the extension come from? are they off a socket or directly into the consumer unit. are they rcd protected.
when the guy comes to test ask him to show you the ir test for the cable run across the floor. there's a good chance that its been damaged.

 

[davethsparky]

Re: how not to wire your extension

Damage possibly won't show on an IR test straight away, just wait until the moisture gets into it as its on the wrong side of the moisture barrier!

 

[gutterball]

Chances are that if its the builders mate it will ba a drive by.

 

[jonwade]

Re: how not to wire your extension

Does anybody know someone in Chelmsford who would be able to look and advise?

I am at a loss what to do, getting in a panic.

Left message with building control. Will speak to the builder about it, but sounds like this could put back building by days which is a PITA. Want it done right though.

 

[Dubbo]

Re: how not to wire your extension

Does anybody know someone in Chelmsford who would be able to look and advise?I am at a loss what to do, getting in a panic.Left message with building control. Will speak to the builder about it, but sounds like this could put back building by days which is a PITA. Want it done right though.

I would say let the screed go down then find someone qualified to rewire the sockets properly using a different route, I could pick lots of faults with the job like gaps around insulation and rock wool put in were Celotex should be used , no dpc barrier were the extension walls join the existing property they should of been cut with sthil saw and dpc inserted to stop bridging, to me he has no pride in his work for small details finished job may look ok but under the surface is rough sorry to slate just been honest

 

[danzor]

This is your house jonwade? Someone just found a random link to your extension? Or have I missed something