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

 

[Plonker 3]

Well if a customer rings me up when there house is on fire they get everything they deserve I suppose, although I did once when on call for a ex boss of mine get a phone call from a night club at 3 am saying the fire alarm was going off. I kindly used a few select words told them to dial 999 and get the hell out of there.

 

[Rockingit]

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..

That's a very modern H&S take on it:
1. Raise the alarm 2. Fight the fire if practicable and safe to do so. 3. Evacuate. 1&3 are interlinked.

Somewhere this country lost it's sense of common.

 

[Spazz]

Thank you Rockingit

Exactly these do happen - The fact is he did an install and not notify it - all LABC wanted was to see the state of the rest as they dont know what else hes messed with, noone can sign his work off can they??? - NO!
LABC down here just want to make sure that anything else he has done has been checked and can be signed off which is what an EICR or the test results of a EIC will do.

I didn't see the flames - I was on the other end of the phone, the fire in question was a small (very small).

When I say short, there as a connection there between L&N not a big one - could of been reduced insulation which had melted - not a clue! I saw it after the fire was put out - I cant wind back time

Most houses (around here) the main fuse is in the board outside in the electric cupboard - nowhere near the inside.

I think a few of you lot need to get off your high horses and get some brains!

Anyway this house - did the CU change replaced a few damaged cables, the CU was not badly damaged but needed replacing either way.

LABC have signed it all off and are happy - cant see them doing much - the meter was fine - Swalec and WPD just wanted to check as the meter was in the same area - incase it had been damaged by heat - not my problem!

Im not giving any details out about the fire officer - I will visit him in the morning and speak to a family member (head of HR in Fire Brigade) about this in the morning as someone has mentioned about misconduct - I doubt it mind!

If anyone is intereded the only cables which where damaged where the tails (replaced!) and 2 1.5T&E cables near the main switch (also replaced) nothing more!

Again shows how big of a fire we are actually talking about.

 

[trev]

Im not giving any details out about the fire officer - I will visit him in the morning and speak to a family member (head of HR in Fire Brigade) about this in the morning as someone has mentioned about misconduct - I doubt it mind!

If these guys Tom Capeling and Steve Bryant who he mentioned have the clout they're supposed to have it's gone way past the HR dept mate

 

[poppypiesdad]

Just surprised that the fire crews weren't quoting to do the job themselves

 

[alarm man]

That's a very modern H&S take on it:
1. Raise the alarm 2. Fight the fire if practicable and safe to do so. 3. Evacuate. 1&3 are interlinked.

Somewhere this country lost it's sense of common.

or yours and ya daft mates way
1-ring a spark
2-pull the fuse
3-call 999

 

[trev]

Geordie way
1 is wor lass n the bairns n the hoond oot
2 if not git the buggas oot
3 ring the lads in the geet big van
4 girroot the way

 

[Plonker 3]

That's a very modern H&S take on it:
1. Raise the alarm 2. Fight the fire if practicable and safe to do so. 3. Evacuate. 1&3 are interlinked.

Somewhere this country lost it's sense of common.

I agree that is a sensible approach to it, but I certainly wouldn't be telling someone on the other end of a phone to go towrds where the fire is.

 

[alarm man]

I agree that is a sensible approach to it, but I certainly wouldn't be telling someone on the other end of a phone to go towrds where the fire is.

aggree dillb,sometimes the quote 'get a spark in' can be taken a bit too far...

 

[Rockingit]

Just surprised that the fire crews weren't quoting to do the job themselves

Not in anyway directly connected with this thread, but pop into the arms and see my latest thread.

 

[Knobhead]

I can’t believe people suggesting entering the danger zone to pull the fuse!

 

[Spazz]

Have i ever said the main fuse was in the house? NO!
The meter was in the house not the blastard main fuse!

This thread has gone to the dead now! - Needs laying to rest!

Someone started with thinking the main fuse was in the house not me!

This tread needs closing!

 

[Plonker 3]

No but you did say

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.

Which in a domestic installation would be a cupboard where all the electric distribution equipment is.

 

[alarm man]

no need to close the thread nic..

 

[Spazz]

No but you did say

Which in a domestic installation would be a cupboard where all the electric distribution equipment is.

His house has a cupboard inside the front door which has the CU in and meter, also somewhere to put shoes, coats etc.
The main DNO supply is in the outside cupboard - I see the easy way to get confused - he made it clear that the CU cupboard was on fire - should of made this clearer in OP