Never seen that one before.
Had some gas engineers replace a gas feed into a meter cupboard. (One of the wood butchers had put his circular saw through the existing lead pipe.)
I was sticking some down lights in the same room as the were ruminating about their route.
Basically the route was straight up, through the top of the cupboard, clipped to the wall and into the ceiling. However the old lead curved round a 6" thick joist so they decided to move the pipe to the side of the joist and straight down.
Only now when it entered the cupboard it ran 50mm alongside a 1970s switch fuse.
As they were leaving they said "oh, you'll have to move that over 100mm" quoting this 150mm rule.
Now if they hadn't just have assumed I may have tried to be accommodating but thier damn cheek got the better of me.
"Not happening" I said, so they're straight on the phone to their gaffer, who no doubt phoned my gaffer as he phoned me asking me to shift the damn thing.
Whose paying the bill I ask. "What bill, its only four screws" he says.
"Well.....
One, that switch may contain asbestos, so who's paying for that assessment?
Two, their is no slack on the cable so it will need extending but digging out so the junction box is away from the gas pipe.
Three, the sub main cannot be assumed to be more than 50mm deep in the wall (could actually see it at the top of the wall) and if I start altering it I have to bring it up to regs. So I have to either chase it out and cap it or RCD it.
But, Four, can't RCD it as there are RCDs in the board upstairs and I'd lose selectivity so it will need replacing with SWA.
So those "just four screws" are looking at £400 and two days work plus decorating/making good.
I can get started in the morning if you want"
Ten minutes the plumbers phone ring, swearing and sulking and the tools come out of the van....
Thought it best to have an early dart..?