Should I say Anything?

[SRE]

Installation in my village by a large national company that specialises in renewable energy. Had a nosey at the weekend - panels fitted landscape, fixed onto vertical rails on the left side fitted at points on the panel at 50% & 75% - voiding any warranty with the panel manufacturer.

We live in a very windy, coastal area - should I say something?

I think the panels are Sanyo so they should have been cross railed but the roof is so steep it's difficult to see for sure. The verticals are installed sporadically.

I don't want it to look like sour grapes but it will have cost them a good wadge and if it were me I'd want to know so I could get them back to sort it out.

 

[malcolmsanford]

My old gran always told me SRE "The path to hell is paved with good intentions" really what can be achieved out of it mate. Perhaps getting yourself embroiled as a piggy in the middle between the supplier and the customer.

 

[KSOL72]

lost count of jobs we've lost to certain installers when you see the job over the passing weeks you see short side fixing, 100-200mm edge gaps (if you're lucky) and landscape and portait fitted on same rails (short side heaven)...then some even include it on their website in their gallery... my favourite is being able to see the panels from the wrong side of the house....oh to be an inspector for NICEIC!!

 

[Donavan Bangs]

An anonymous note would not hurt especially if you just tell them to check the info on the panels themselves

 

[mogga]

a wee anonymoue letter to council or trading standards as these people have been ripped off probably without knowing it but IMO your askin for a bite in the bum should you go round and say to them about it

 

[SRE]

Thanks guys - we didn't lose out to the national firm we couldn't fit any more jobs in because we were booked out in advance and had to bring all of those jobs forward. I'm not inclined to tell trading standards but maybe a note through the door suggesting they get the installer to check the position of the rails might resolve the situation without getting involved.

 

[the pict]

Send a note with what the spec should be and how to do a visual confirmataion,
Pict

 

[Earthstore]

SRE If you paid £1000's for something and it was of poor quality, but because you were not an expert in that area were not aware, then someone who is, pointed that out to you, would you not be grateful?
I know, Damned if you do, Damned if you don't!
However it's only my opinion, but I feel if you talked to the people in question, with some concern, they have the opportunity to contact the supplier and remedy the faults.
It is my strong belief that not only are some customers going to have problems with systems in the future, but people are going to get injured or worse by some of the poor Installs that have taken place in the last 18 months.

 

[moggy1968]

so do you mean there's 50% of the panel overhanging on one side? yikes!!!

The new sanyo 247s can be clipped on the short side so if they used those they could have clipped onto horizontal rails

It does amaze me though how many non conformancies you see even on peoples own websites!
there's one advertising systems on ebay at the moment and the panels are hanging over the gutter!
A company we used to sub for has (amongst many other dodgy ones) a piccie on their website where the rails go acrros a velux, how hard would it have really been to cut them!!!

 

[SRE]

Not overhanging but not anchored to the roof. So the verticals run at half way through the panel and 3/4 through the panel instead of 1/4 and 3/4.

 

[Earthstore]

Oh, I understand why you are concerned, as I said before, I believe you should have a chat with them. If you point this out to them I am sure they would understand. One good gust of wind and the panel could break in half or get ripped off the roof.
Hope my comments help?

 

[dingledong]

i'd stick with the note . i have a gene missing in my make up which makes me want to help the under dog , and electrically its led to some really bad confrontations and in the end they both think i'm a **** or i get no thanks from the person i'm trying to help after going round to there place getting numbers ringing companies etc etc. or the customer expects you to do it all in the end . i dont think you'd get far with trading standards though it might be worth ringing them or the council to roughly without naming names see if they will do anything about it . dont forget the man your talking to on the council might be the one the got the brown envelope to sanction the work being done. also if its a company that does lots of work in this stuff then they know what they have done wrong:ninja:

 

[fen]

I'd certainly lean towards an anonymous note to the owner as well. I wouldn't want to get involved directly (legalities etc etc) but I'd feel remiss if I didn't do at least something.

 

[Earthstore]

SRE, Just knock on the door and tell them, You do not have to get involved in any dispute, its up to the customer..
If somebody gets injured you would have to live with that!
What is wrong with folk, secret letters, little notes...
Well I hope we never have national service again or most of you would run the other way...

 

[KSOL72]

just passed another one that we lost due to me stupidly quoting for a system that actually fitted the roof! The 'others' have kindly fitted an extra half kilo watt for the client making sure the panels were in line with the verge with no gap at all...now that's value for money! Wouldn't us responsible installers end up carrying post office sized sacks of 'little notes' where we see a non conformance...