Ring problem - customer dosnt want floorboards up?

[alanl]

I've never come across this before, so need a little advice.
I fitted a new circuit to a kitchen.
In doing that, noticed a few errors in the existing wiring. I fixed all of those, apart from one ring in the living room. 4 sockets on a ring, with one on a spur. Continuity shows a fault on L-L, giving a reading of 15 ohms. Insulation and all other tests are fine.
I changed all the sockets (as they were really old) hoping to find a loose connection somewhere, but unfortunately it looks like it is a loose connection in the junction box for the spur off the ring. This is probably under the floorboards, beneath either a piano or the TV. PITA, but it has to be done.
The problem is, the customer doesnt want me to get the boards up to investigate.
They think everything is fine, as it has worked for years in its present state.

What do I do?
Put a note on the EIC "customer will not allow fixing of ring fault"
Or insist that it is inspected and fixed?

Thanks
Alan.

 

[telectrix]

if the customers insists you can't have access to investigate the fault, then you can't. Note on EIC as you say, but also get the customer to sign a disclaimer, stating fully that you suspect the fault and the customer doesn't want you to investigare/rectify it.

 

[nickblake]

What i would do is an R1R2 test around the ring just join one set of legs L and CPC to gether if you have a plug top test lead check at each socket and take a reading round the ring till you get to the 15 ohm reading then check that socket and remeber where it is , then do the same for the other side of the leg , till you get to the high reading if its at the same place and youve tested all the sockets and you cannot locate the fault split the ring in to 2 and use as radials and as telex has said make a note on the IEC

 

[Kamikaze]

Pretty much as telectrix said. Getting the customer to sign a disclaimer will probably unnerve them anyway, which usually leads to them reluctantly accepting that it has to be done.

 

[Sparkysteve82]

If your worried about the state of the wiring you can issue a Dangerous Electrical Notification Certificate, which is the disclaimer mentioned in the above posts, fill in the details and the client signs to say they understand.

 

[Colin Integrale]

if the customers insists you can't have access to investigate the fault, then you can't. Note on EIC as you say, but also get the customer to sign a disclaimer, stating fully that you suspect the fault and the customer doesn't want you to investigare/rectify it.

+1 here

 

[Deleted member 9648]

If there's only 4 sockets on the ring and they are in the living room,(Lightly loaded?)...I'd bung 'em on a 20a MCB and treat it as a radial......better than leaving a 32a ring with a break in L-L continuity....You'd obviously still need to note on the cert that a repair of the ring was not carried out with the clients consent.

 

[TPES]

if the customers insists you can't have access to investigate the fault, then you can't. Note on EIC as you say, but also get the customer to sign a disclaimer, stating fully that you suspect the fault and the customer doesn't want you to investigare/rectify it.

Is this what you would do if you had a CU change but the property had a faults on a few of the circuits.. Still go ahead with the CU change but make a note of any deviations and issue a Danger notification cert. Some customers just want there board changing but do t want to pay for any remedial work.

 

[telectrix]

Is this what you would do if you had a CU change but the property had a faults on a few of the circuits.. Still go ahead with the CU change but make a note of any deviations and issue a Danger notification cert. Some customers just want there board changing but do t want to pay for any remedial work.

if anything is in a dangerous state, leave that circuit isolated. loss of the telly will soon convince them to cough up for remedial work. i always make it clear that any faults will have to be put right at additional cost.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Is this what you would do if you had a CU change but the property had a faults on a few of the circuits.. Still go ahead with the CU change but make a note of any deviations and issue a Danger notification cert. Some customers just want there board changing but do t want to pay for any remedial work.

No...the OP has not worked on the affected circuit.....if he had he would either have to leave the circuit in a safe condition...or if that was not possible because the client refused the additional work then the alteration to the circuit should not be carried out.
The same applies to a CU change.....you cannot leave circuits you have altered in an unsafe condition.

 

[sythai]

If your worried about the state of the wiring you can issue a Dangerous Electrical Notification Certificate

Just wondering where you get these from...? Havent had to use one yet but handy to know.

 

[TPES]

Just wondering where you get these from...? Havent had to use one yet but handy to know.

Scheme provider, very handy to have on that rare occasion the customer refuses for you to put something right that is potentially dangerous.

 

[Amp David]

Pretty much as telectrix said. Getting the customer to sign a disclaimer will probably unnerve them anyway, which usually leads to them reluctantly accepting that it has to be done.

Easier said than done in my experience. When they refuse to sign, but still don't agree for you to fix it.

On the other hand issuing a danger notification along with a letter will make them think about it a little more.

 

[Amp David]

Just wondering where you get these from...? Havent had to use one yet but handy to know.

I use Easycert which has them in as templtes.

 

[Sparkysteve82]

Just wondering where you get these from...? Havent had to use one yet but handy to know.

The ones we have are the NICEIC approved contractor ones, not sure where to get other versions from.