Had an interesting call last night

[Spazz]

I priced up a CU change only 2 months ago from old BS3036 rewirable to a new 17th Ed board.
I quoted £250 (now £325)

He never came back to me - I had a call last night at 9pm - he came back from Tesco to find his electric cupboard in flames! I tolded him to pull the main fuse and get on the phone to 999 - I arrived to find Fire Brigade there putting the fire out.

When I went in with the fire inspector we found a new 17th ed board - B&Q £50 job.
No stickers, no nothing!

Asked the home owner who installed it? - no answer
Did you install it? - Yes

When we pulled what was left of the cover off - we found that the main L&N had fused together (dont know why the main fuse didn't break)

Fire Officer has now refured this to LABC.


I think he has learned not to do the job himself!

The scary thing is we also found out last night that he has also installed a few more CUs around the place for family members - GOOD LUCK

 

[Strima]

I never realised there was a Walter Mitty badge in the electrical world.

Do we have the equivalent of the ARRSE WaltonKommando?

Google it...

 

[Rockingit]

Actually this is the best contribution so far as most insurers look for a way NOT to pay out so it could cost him much more than he thought he save in the first place. The report provided by the Fire Service WILL moire than likely, be the final nail in the coffin for his insurance claim.

So.....that would be what I put in the first reply (#2) to the OP, then? 2 for 1 at Specsavers mate! :glasses2:

 

[Spazz]

The fire in question was a small fire (only the CU) so the fire officer was happy for us to go in, I didn't know why he called me - but he did, I didn't know where the main fuse was, but first thing like always isolate power.
I live 2 mins from the house in question, the Fire Station is 2 mins in the other direction and an unmanned station.

The property was not effected by the fire at all. The BC only wants an EICR so they can sign it off, they where happy with the EIC from my CU change.

If you want to think I made it up then carry on - thought it would be a nice thread on here those non-electricians out there who think they can manage an install because they can wire a plug up.

The Fire Officer (NOT THE INSPECTOR) said it was so small the home owner could of managed to put it out himself but its always better to get the pros in - I would never tell anyone to put a fire out themselves - get the pros in everytime!

No inspector came as it was such a small fire

 

[Plonker 3]

Nic telling someone to pull a main fuse except in exceptional circumstances is totally wrong. It wouldn't put the fire out and would only pose a greater risk too life in both going towards the fire and also exposing live parts.

 

[Rockingit]

Nic telling someone to pull a main fuse except in exceptional circumstances is totally wrong. It wouldn't put the fire out and would only pose a greater risk too life in both going towards the fire and also exposing live parts.

Hmmm.....not sure I entirely agree with that. If I had a customer on the phone reporting an electrical fire, under the circumstances of not being able to see with my own eyes, I reckon I would give them very similar advice. It's ultimately what the fuse is there for - remove the source of energy.

 

[Dave 85]

The fire in question was a small fire (only the CU) so the fire officer was happy for us to go in, I didn't know why he called me - but he did, I didn't know where the main fuse was, It didn't occur to you that it might possibly be in the 'meter cupboard' that was on fire then? but first thing like always isolate power.
I live 2 mins from the house in question, the Fire Station is 2 mins in the other direction and an unmanned station.

The property was not effected by the fire at all. The BC only wants an EICR so they can sign it off Sign what off?, they where happy with the EIC from my CU change.

If you want to think I made it up then carry on Thankyou. I will. - thought it would be a nice thread on here those non-electricians out there who think they can manage an install because they can wire a plug up. Thats pretty much what I suspected "I'll make up a horror story and then link it everytime a DIY'er comes on"

The Fire Officer (NOT THE INSPECTOR) hmmm... maybe you should reread your first post, your hole is getting deeper
said it was so small the home owner could of managed to put it out himself The fire officer said a homeowner can put out a burning consumer unit himself....how? by throwing water on it?
but its always better to get the pros in - I would never tell anyone to put a fire out themselves - get the pros in everytime!

No inspector came as it was such a small fire

Im Still not sold Im afraid.

 

[Plonker 3]

Yes, but if as Nic said there was a short between the L&N then it didn't do that in the first instance, it should be sealed too so you shouldn't be able to remove it anyway.

 

[Dave 85]

Yes, but if as Nic said there was a short between the L&N then it didn't do that in the first instance, it should be sealed too so you shouldn't be able to remove it anyway.

This is my main reason for thinking its all a load of balls.
L&N short=Bang=blown fuse

Loose connection=hot connection=Fire

 

[somersetsparks]

what can I smell (and no not burning fuseboards).

 

[alarm man]

the brigade would offer the advice of get out and call 999,going into a burning room to pull a fuse is lunacy,who's to say what state the fuse carrier is in,is it intact,is the fuse showing ,are the tails melted and still live,op says l-n was welded together and fuse didnt blow,very dangerous conditions for the dno never mind a spark,and your advising a householder to start pulling fuses etc,while its on fire...one of those where theres a blame companies would love that...fire-leave the house call 999..simple really

 

[trev]

The fire in question was a small fire (only the CU) so the fire officer was happy for us to go in,
No inspector came as it was such a small fire

My son's rugby coach still isn't happy Nicholas. He says there have been massive procedural errors with this thing which could have resulted in "civilian" deaths and he wants someone's blood. Any chance of either a name or the date and town where this occurred mate?
Through our local area commander he has already passed this on to your local area commander Steve Bryant who, by all accounts, is spitting feathers over this

 

[Rockingit]

Lads - tbh I think you're 'over thinking this'. For starters, clearly there's not going to be any seals on the fuse - the bloke just did a DIY board change! Loose incoming tails = heat = double insulation sticks together (not the copper) = smoke and charring and little flames easily dealt with once power is off (not Steve McQueen blowing up water tanks).

Now then, let me think.... why would Building Control want to know if a building is electrically safe just after it's had an electrical fire?...can't see any need for an EICR....... ffs - use your brains, boys.

I've seen plenty of smouldering fire-starters in my time - they DO happen.

 

[Plonker 3]

Lads - tbh I think you're 'over thinking this'. For starters, clearly there's not going to be any seals on the fuse - the bloke just did a DIY board change! Loose incoming tails = heat = double insulation sticks together (not the copper) = smoke and charring and little flames easily dealt with once power is off (not Steve McQueen blowing up water tanks).

Now then, let me think.... why would Building Control want to know if a building is electrically safe just after it's had an electrical fire?...can't see any need for an EICR....... ffs - use your brains, boys.

I've seen plenty of smouldering fire-starters in my time - they DO happen.

Not disputing the fire, just the seals on the fuse, they should be there unless they were removed for emergency islation purposes. How wasNic tgo know they had been cut has he never did the DB change.

 

[alarm man]

Lads - tbh I think you're 'over thinking this'. For starters, clearly there's not going to be any seals on the fuse - the bloke just did a DIY board change! Loose incoming tails = heat = double insulation sticks together (not the copper) = smoke and charring and little flames easily dealt with once power is off (not Steve McQueen blowing up water tanks).

Now then, let me think.... why would Building Control want to know if a building is electrically safe just after it's had an electrical fire?...can't see any need for an EICR....... ffs - use your brains, boys.

I've seen plenty of smouldering fire-starters in my time - they DO happen.

whens a fire not a fire,when you cant see it,if it were yours or my house we could make that decision,when someone is tring to describe a fire over the phone its a bit different,what next 999 op asking about the colour of the smoke,the height of the flames before they send brigade,what ever the size of the fire get out and call 999,apparently those lads in the big red vans do a canny job..

 

[Rockingit]

Not disputing the fire, just the seals on the fuse, they should be there unless they were removed for emergency islation purposes. How wasNic tgo know they had been cut has he never did the DB change.

Given that even if they WERE fitted, they snap pretty easily (or the tiny bit of the carrier does [oops]), so I think as a general statement I really wouldn't even be thinking about seals if I was in the position of issuing emergency advice down the phone.