Just how many sparks would do it?

[Electricalserv]

Phonecall 4PM....''could you come and look at a job a spark has just done for me...I don't know if its right''

Anyway went. It was a new build, nice clean finish etc. Install looked good on initial inspection to the regs etc. Anyway...at that point I didn't know what I was there for. So I asked him....to the response of...

''Do you do certificates????'' I said yes....(brain already clocking this one.) ''could you do me a certificate for this install?, the guy that did the wiring has been a spark for 25 years he just isn't registered with a scheme and I've got nowhere left to turn than to have somebody to sign it off', I can assure you its all to the regs, we don't cut corners'' etc., etc.

I said can't do it...a massive no, no. Told him although it looks o.k, I don't know whats hidden behind the walls and floorboards....and for that reason I'm not willing to do it....

I kid you not! he offered me £1500 to put my name on the installation....

Needless to say I've walked away!

Big money but not willing to do it!!!!

I know alot of guys who would have taken it....

 

[kung]

Yer id offer him a PIR report only ! ive had people say the same ! i've had a spark in to do the work can you do the cert ? yer right and when i get a hoax phone call saying ear the install you signed for is dangerous ! i've had a shock and you give me a good cash payment and it goes no further ! yer right ! want a cert get me or another spark who can sign it off to do the work period !

 

[telectrix]

but this is a new build so must have had planning permission. therefore LABC should have inspected and passed 1st and 2nd fixes as part and parcel of the whole build.

 

[sparks_114]

If he has an unregistered sparky team I'd guess he has a few more of those new builts I guess? Perhaps you should come to an agreement with him to do his inspection and testing for new installs where you're allowed to see the job at the beginning, middle (several times I would say depending on size), and end. That way you have a reasonable idea on the quality of workmanship and you would simply be subcontracted to carry out your part. This would be my least requirement for traders I am acquainted with but someone falling out of the sky and asking for a cert could be the devil asking you to sign your soul over.

 

[eskimo39]

£1500?? It sounds like he had a hidden camera crew in the loft and you would be on BBC1 watchdog in no time if you'd accepted.

 

[Electricalserv]

but this is a new build so must have had planning permission. therefore LABC should have inspected and passed 1st and 2nd fixes as part and parcel of the whole build.

Must be a reason why he needs the cert though... Either it's not brand new (which it certainly looked like). Or he hasn't got planning permission.which I doubt, either way he wants work signed off.

 

[1shortcircuit]

You made the right choice in walking, the only mistake you have made is questioning the decision you made

£1500??? Taking the **** if you ask me! I would be asking for an amount that would see me far far far away and never have to work another day in my life... at least then when the place goes up in flames or someone gets killed it will take the authorities a long time to find me and dish out the "LIFE SENTENCE"

 

[Big n Daft]

If he has an unregistered sparky team I'd guess he has a few more of those new builts I guess? Perhaps you should come to an agreement with him to do his inspection and testing for new installs where you're allowed to see the job at the beginning, middle (several times I would say depending on size), and end. That way you have a reasonable idea on the quality of workmanship and you would simply be subcontracted to carry out your part. This would be my least requirement for traders I am acquainted with but someone falling out of the sky and asking for a cert could be the devil asking you to sign your soul over.

Common sense. But you must supervise the install and be on site at least once a day, then charge him plenty.
How many good sparks arent registered?????? Loads.
Just cus your not registered doesnt mean you dont know the score.
Thats me all over, getting with NAPIT now I'm taking on domestic work.

 

[Steve Riley]

Why didn't the guy just pay the sparks to join a scheme. use that job for assesment and then he could cert it? Would have been cheaper. Or is the sparks not paying tax either?

regards, Steve.

 

[el-sparko]

Well done!, I agree with 1shortcircuit and think you did the right thing walking away.

I appreciate that just because someone is with a scheme means they don't know what they are doing but personally I like to sleep at night and signing off another's work wouldn't allow me to do so.

Lee

 

[NoSparks]

I recently came across a case where the installer of a new installation had a heart attack before he could sign off. The council just got somebody else to do a PIR. But then the council sign off the Building Regulations Completion certificate.

Part P par 1.28/29 specifically states that third party inspection is not acceptable. A third party could only offer a PIR.

Under para 1.24 et seq of Part P, the developer is entitled to undertake the work himself with unregistered sparks (assuming the building control body were notified of the work by way of application for building permission). Building control would then specify what inspection would be required to ensure the safety and compliance of the installation. In reality they could only do this through a PIR, though they would be entitled to ask for plastering to be removed etc for the wireing to be inspected.

In your shoes, I would have offered a to undertake a PIR to offer to building control (in mitigation of the crime!) and I think they would probably have accepted it. (if I had done it for building control then they would not have paid so much!)

However, be warned, many 25 year experianced sparks, without cutting corners, still use junction boxes under the floor, wind cpcs together outside junction boxes, use 6mm bonding cables and even run cable through the same hole as the central heating pipes .....

PS. whilst I have not checked it, and my examiner makes many mistakes, he told me a couple of years ago that LIM is not allowed on an EIC.

 

[NoSparks]

Why didn't the guy just pay the sparks to join a scheme. use that job for assesment and then he could cert it? Would have been cheaper. Or is the sparks not paying tax either?

Well you need five jobs to register and the inspector askes how they were notified!

 

[sjhall]

Well you need five jobs to register and the inspector askes how they were notified!

That bit is not necessarily true , Elecsa only need to see 1 job which can be signed off after you register

Ste

 

[Phil]

heres what I would have done.

told him I would change the board and issue a eic for that and a pir for the wiring.
all above board and no corners cut. no issues regarding the legality of it on my part and the guys gets a bc compliance notice. forgot to say it would have been half upfront. £1500 not bad for a board change and a pir

 

[Peter Stanley]

i would have done a test and entered in the comment box on the certificate done by others.
i would done a pir certificate you do not need to be registered.
if the guy wanted a part p compliance certificate then i would have turn round and left