No sign of any earthing in newly installed kitchen... Please Help!

[quinlivanb]

Hey Guys! I'm not an electrician by trade but I need some advice on what seems like a serious safety issue.

Recently bought a flat in an old ex-council building and had a builder in to gut and rebuild the place. He says he got an electrician in to do the work in the kitchen but I have some serious issues with the quality of the work.

Last night when using the dish washer I got a shock when my hands came in contact with the case of the dish-washer (metal) and the kitchen sink (stainless). I was worried by this and assumed it must be an earthing issue so I pulled out some of the new kitchen to take a look.

I found that all the new electrical work in the kitchen was connected to the older system at a single point point and has no earthing connected at all. Please see pictures. Earthing was connected to all the plugs in the kitchen but as you can see the earth wire doesn't go anywhere. My builder says that they just rewired things the way they found it but I was very surprised that he didn't even mention this issue to me. I only found out after getting a shock.

I assume the shock I got was an induced current in the earth wires being grounded via the kitchen sink and the cold water pipe?

When we hired the builder he assured us that all work would be carried out by registered trades-people as we indeed to use this property as a rental and will need all the certificates that go along with this!

I need some advice on this issue. Not worried about the cost of fixing it but just want to get someone in that we can trust.

 

[R G]

Far better to have carried out an EICR and verified what needs to be done and recommendations taken into account to be able to prepare a quotations for the work required ....

 

[ruston]

If you decide to chase the floors better be careful. Had to deal with this once because they decided to chase the floors.

View attachment 30954

Another bodge there too though, those pipes should have been protected from the concrete.

 

[Sparkie30]

Another bodge there too though, those pipes should have been protected from the concrete.

No mate the are not pipes, they were MI cables feeding 3 flats.

 

[ruston]

Ooops, even worse.

 

[K Macnamara]

The problem is with the notification process. Unless you are installing a new circuit with a new fuse at the board, replacing the board or carrying out work within a special location containing a bath or a shower then the work doesnt have to be notified. In my experience you can be a successfully busy sparks and issue valid certs to domestic properties without ever having to be Part P registered even when building control are involved!!! I would even go as far as to say that it is now only a real requirement to be registered if your work is for social housing or new builds. But all work that involves altering a circuit should be tested and certified. The difficulty is if there is no previous documentation in relation to the existing installation then it would be difficult to confirm the work that has been done.

However, saying that from looking at the photos you have serious issues and they could be easily rectified. As stated with my fellow experts get an independent assessment. Its is fair to say that it is easy to pick faults in others work but you know that already. If I was you to expect to pay no more than £200 for a report (EICR) for the whole property if they charge a day rate or £35 per circuit/fuse at the board. These do not necessarily have to be carried out by a Part P registered electrician just a qualified/skilled person. Get at least 3 quotes and take the middle price or ask the most expensive quote to match the middle price. If you're struggling to find electricians then contact your local council or go to the NICEIC website and you'll find help there. Trading standards may be reluctant to get involved until you try to have communication with the builder to let them rectify the problem. But I can't be certain on that.

It is now Christmas Morning by 4 minutes and I have to be a responsible father and husband and end here. Although I could waffle on as this forum is my new vice. I note you live in the big smoke and with me being in the Luton area maybe able to help so ask and we'll see what occurs.

Anyway Merry Xmas

Kevin

 

[The Ghost]

Frankly if I visited your house and saw that I would advise to disconnect all power to the kitchen immediately, you or kids you have maybe in danger of death by electrocution. Switch off kitchen supply now and get someone in.

 

[HandySparks]

Frankly if I visited your house and saw that I would advise to disconnect all power to the kitchen immediately, you or kids you have maybe in danger of death by electrocution. Switch off kitchen supply now and get someone in.

He got someone in 2 weeks ago.