Kitchen electrics

[kw1980]

I got into a dispute today with a kitchen installation company. I am in the process of rewiring a house and the client has ordered a top of the range kitchen but the installer has his own spark to carry out the appliance connections. He provided a drawing for the electrics and I wired to suit at the 1st fix stage. I have ran the appliances from a dedicated circuit with a grid switch in the kitchen, using 20 amp dp grids. The spark has today butchered the back of the units and added 20 amp dp switches in the back corner of the units, which the client isn't too happy about as it looks awful, especially considering it wasn't a cheap kitchen and it's a brand new installation. His excuse was that if the engineer from Siemens (appliance manufacturers) comes to do a repair he won't touch it unless the isolator is adjacent to the appliances. the grid switch is about 4 feet away. Anyone else has issues with this. I know the debate regarding isolators inside units goes on and on but this was a brand new install and provisions had been made. Not to mention I have to certify the whole house when it's done.

 

[Plonker 3]

Sounds like a complete idiot doing the install. All isolation can be done at the DB.

Get the customer to talk to the spark and ask him to show the relevant instuction from the manufacturer to prove this.

Also if the back of the kitchen units have been damaged tell the customer to complain to the company who he is paying to install it, all this should of been agreed at the design stage and before the customer agreed to the works being carried out.

 

[D Skelton]

Presumably you can show the customer that you followed the plans and that your work is of a high standard and meets regulation? If so, what are you worried about? This is the customers problem, not yours. It's up to the customer to go to the kitchen company now and get them to fit a new kitchen to replace the butchered one. It's then the kitchen installation company's responsibility to deal with their monkey the best way they see fit. Take your money, certify your work, job done. Next please...

 

[kw1980]

Thanks guys, knew it was wrong, just a bit ****ed about it as it's a good job and I've spent a lot of time and effort on the place making sure it's as good as can be. Like to think I have pride in my work, and ultimately my name will go against the whole house. It was just a bit galling to have to answer to a kitchen fitter about why I wasn't happy with what had been done. Cheers for taking the time to reply.

 

[D Skelton]

and ultimately my name will go against the whole house

No no no! Your name will go against your work and your work alone!

Make it very clear on the cert that you are certifying only the work that you have carried out, list this work and if part of the electrical work in the kitchen doesn't come into this category, even if it is only the addition of DP switches adjacent to the appliances, then don't list it, simples

"My work covers everything blah blah blah... except the crappy work in the kitchen". You get the picture...

 

[kw1980]

I wasn't meaning on the certificate as such. More along the lines of the client having friends over and the conversation obviously moving straight onto the electrics and who did such a good job.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Presumably they haven't paid the kitchen company yet......

 

[kw1980]

Presumably they haven't paid the kitchen company yet......

Not that I'm aware of. The client is meeting the fitter today and is adamant it's getting redone, so I think he will be holding money back.

The main thing i was asking was if anyone had heard about engineers refusing to work unless the isolators were adjacent to the appliances. It was a new one on me, but I usually only do new installs and don't have any dealings with them.