How the trade is changing

[Sam cook]

Hello all

I would love to hear your opinions and stories in relation to what I have witnessed.

I was asked by a locall authority go and attend a refurbishment/development of a council property to be used by a eastem European community for a drop in community centre. When I arrived I was tasked to install a new supply to a fire panel, fire rated cable and fire fixed. Whilst there I was in awe at the new electrical install and a lack of conformity to bs7671. I had many arguments with the developer on why it took so long for me to do my install and I was blamed for the reason our system is so bad. Apparently the electrical install took 2 days by a europe an electrician and it was costed by an English electrical company 7 days.

Now I have nothing against anyone coming to this country and carrying out electrical work if it's a fair playing field. I have quite a few European electrical friends that are top sparks.

Was wondering if this scenario is becoming more common?

 

[Andy78]

Relay your concerns about non compliant work in one of their properties to the council.

 

[Sam cook]

I have relayed my concerns to the local authority and they have expressed there views also and the fact everything is going to be hidden above a mf ceiling I did Inform them they need to go and have a look but I've been told it's not so easy to peruse due to discrimination etc and damaging effects on the community of that area.

 

[davesparks]

Yes the trade is changing, years ago your average electrician was trained on and able to work in domestic, commercial and industrial installations motors/machinery controls, fire alarms etc etc

These days through the increase in regulations and safety requirements things like fire alarms and machinery control are becoming more specialist areas.

 

[sparkdog]

It used to be just 3.029, 7.027 & 7.044 cable, nice wooden patresses and nice brass slotted screws.

 

[The Ghost]

I think similar approach and method has probably been used in cladding towers it appears. Electrics following suit, and tacitly condoned by emasculated council bodies does not surprise me. It, I suppose will only be attended to properly when members in numbers die in a fire, again. Sigh!
I have also encountered my european counterparts doing a CU change for £100 no certificate and landlords signing up for that no questions asked, no income tax no vat no......as the song goes.

 

[telectrix]

just have to wait for another MP's family member to die. then action will be taken..... hold on, that's what gave us the useless part pee, which encouraged the scams to make money, thus giving birth to Electrical Trainee courses, thus causing CU fires, which led to amd. 3, making more money for IET, the scams, draining our wallets so we can'tdo the job for the price the customer wants.... enter the eastern europeans. half the price, no certs, no tax and NI, and if it goes ---- up, so called spark is back in latvia, romania, croatia,,,,,

 

[Andy78]

I have relayed my concerns to the local authority and they have expressed there views also and the fact everything is going to be hidden above a mf ceiling I did Inform them they need to go and have a look but I've been told it's not so easy to peruse due to discrimination etc and damaging effects on the community of that area.

Was all this communication in written form ? If you have legitimate serious concerns regarding safety then it should be. Force the issue.

 

[Ian1981]

Been doing it for almost 20 years since being an apprentice and it's still unorganised chaos on sites!

 

[LankyWill]

The council are happy for lives to be put in danger as long as no one is offended. This is the attitude that is slowly demoralising British people everyday. Just because someone is going to be offended we should look the other way. When it goes up in flames and all these Eatern Europeans sadly die, it will be the rich white mans fault for not donating enough. Not the councils for the shoddy vetting and lack of backbone. Just shows that scams are pointless...