Has my electrician done a dangerous wiring job?

[Octopus]

Thanks for the replies folks, I guess the main point is should I have it done again or have it plastered over the way it is? Thanks

I think you should ask the electrician to come back and route the cables in the "safe zones" - have you paid him yet?

 

[SimpleSimon]

I cant understand the reason behind his method, surely it would have been easier for him anyway to follow the safe zones when chasing out?!!?

 

[tony mc]

It will only be a matter of time before a nail or screw damages a cable!

A shelf or something else placed onto the wall.

I bet the person putting them in will not come back for free and repair not only the cable but your decoration plaster etc!!

 

[Mark42]

Crikey, that’s a lot of chasing for a light switch! This man must enjoy hard work.

The runs by the door appear to be more than 150mm from the corners so are (just) out of the regulation zones. The horizontal run is compliant.

BUT contrary to what others have said above, IF the circuit is 30mA RCD protected (OP please check if there’s a little test button on the breaker for this circuit in the consumer unit) my understanding is that wiring can be shallow, and unprotected, so it’s not a major departure overall.

I checked Section 522 in detail when I rewired my own house, and wanted to keep some electrically sound, but badly-run existing lighting drops, which were certainly less than 50mm deep. My installation now has 6A/30mA RCBOs on all the lighting circuits. I’m absolutely sure it complies.

My understanding is that new cable installs:

1. MUST be in the ‘safe zones’ but,

2. If the wires are shallow, have no mechanical protection, or are in a partition with metallic structure (regardless of cable depth), that’s fine, but the circuit must be RCD protected, that’s all.

Clearly one can’t be expected to cut a horizontal chase over 50mm deep into, say, a single brick load-bearing wall without the immediate danger not being electrical…

ps That said, I think it looks a bit of a pig’s ear, and it's not how I’d have done it, but I’m not convinced it’s grossly non-compliant.
Maybe there was an absolute client prohibition on disturbing ceilings or floors? Or it’s a flat with concrete ceilings and a solid floor?

 

[TPES]

That wasn't an electrician who did that, that's someone who thinks they know how..... But they don't

 

[DaveyD]

Here you go. Draw it on for him ...

 

[telectrix]

Crikey, that’s a lot of chasing for a light switch! This man must enjoy hard work.

The runs by the door appear to be more than 150mm from the corners so are (just) out of the regulation zones. The horizontal run is compliant.

BUT contrary to what others have said above, IF the circuit is 30mA RCD protected (OP please check if there’s a little test button on the breaker for this circuit in the consumer unit) my understanding is that wiring can be shallow, and unprotected, so it’s not a major departure overall.

I checked Section 522 in detail when I rewired my own house, and wanted to keep some electrically sound, but badly-run existing lighting drops, which were certainly less than 50mm deep. My installation now has 6A/30mA RCBOs on all the lighting circuits. I’m absolutely sure it complies.

My understanding is that new cable installs:

1. MUST be in the ‘safe zones’ but,

2. If the wires are shallow, have no mechanical protection, or are in a partition with metallic structure (regardless of cable depth), that’s fine, but the circuit must be RCD protected, that’s all.

Clearly one can’t be expected to cut a horizontal chase over 50mm deep into, say, a single brick load-bearing wall without the immediate danger not being electrical…

ps That said, I think it looks a bit of a pig’s ear, and it's not how I’d have done it, but I’m not convinced it’s grossly non-compliant.
Maybe there was an absolute client prohibition on disturbing ceilings or floors? Or it’s a flat with concrete ceilings and a solid floor?

the route up by the door and the horizontal run above the door are both outside of prescribed zones so, no matter how many RCDs protect the circuit, unless the runs are in earthed metallic conduit, they are non compliant and therefore unacceptable. end of.

 

[DaveyD]

end of.

... Word!

 

[1shortcircuit]

It sounds to me like the OP should have just asked the neighbour to do it, at least then it would have complied.

What a bodge job. OP where did you hear about this electrician? Are they part of a Part P scheme? I'm afraid my advice would be DON'T get them back. Find a reputable electrician to carry out the repairs to this shoddy workmanship.

:thumbsup

 

[Octopus]

This thread just goes to show how poorly the "safe" zones are publicised (had to educate a builder just yesterday), how little some sparkies know, and how on earth is Joe Public supposed to know??

 

[DaveyD]

This thread just goes to show how poorly the "safe" zones are publicised (had to educate a builder just yesterday), how little some sparkies know, and how on earth is Joe Public supposed to know??

Kitchen fitters, general builders, labourers et cetera

 

[electromonkey]

I'm with shortcircuit.

Get another spark. God knows what else they may have done wrong.

 

[needasparks]

Be interesting to see a pic of the fuseboard to complete the list of non-compliances as alot of assumption has been made.

 

[cbw]

Hahahahahahaha....Thought it was 1st April!!!!!



Work like this keeps me in my part time Ambulance job!!!!

 

[jimmymac]

What colour horse did he have?