Unbelievable

[steve58]

Just been in local B&Q and heard an assistant telling a customer how and what he needs to add a RCD shower unit to existing consumer unit. Meter tails, Henley block ect. Why do we bother with Part P.?

 

[Deleted member 9648]

B&Q should not be allowed to sell electrical accessories and most certainly should not be giving advice on how to install an rcd

Why not? As long as it is legal for anyone to carry out the work it is utterly pointless to restrict sales of electrical accessories......the only way this could be implemented is to make it illegal for all but registered electricians to carry out electrical work. Do we not give advise on here to unqualified people on how to carry out electrical work?
How many of you blokes have been into a parts store and bought a set of brake pads to fit yourself?.....I bet on a mechanics forum right now there is a thread on restricting sales of car parts by the likes of halfords.

 

[bugsy]

The subject has been brought to the forum before, things won't change, most large B & Q 's now have trade only counters , they could if they wanted restrict certain items for purchase through this route only

 

[baldsparkies]

Just been reading the thread lads.
Think I might plumb my nice new GAS cooker in myself.
Who needs Gas Safe !!!
Just pop down to B&Q you can buy all you need.
If in doubt just ask a friendly sales assist. And if you get it wrong, unlike the shower trick, the whole F###%%G Street will know.

 

[somersetsparks]

Whilst I see the point, I think the last thing we need is more education, where do you stop?
Only mechanics to work on cars? Only builders to build walls ( If they fell ov er they could kill someone)!
The fact is not many people lose there lives through DIY wiring and I think the last thing we need is more regulation, at the end of the day it is us trying to get work for ourselves when the fact is dwould you really want to do work for some of these know it all DIY people?
At the moment, due to the fact I work for a company I should notify building control when I wire my own house! However if the local part p kitchen fitter did it that would be fine!

All IMO and not meant to offend.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Just been in local B&Q and heard an assistant telling a customer how and what he needs to add a RCD shower unit to existing consumer unit. Meter tails, Henley block ect. Why do we bother with Part P.?

Who bothers with Part P ??

 

[Geordie Spark]

Just been reading the thread lads.
Think I might plumb my nice new GAS cooker in myself.
Who needs Gas Safe !!!
Just pop down to B&Q you can buy all you need.
If in doubt just ask a friendly sales assist. And if you get it wrong, unlike the shower trick, the whole F###%%G Street will know.

Just make sure you do a Gas Tightness test (AKA Drop Test) before you start & again after you finish the job - making sure both the before & after readings are the same, if you're using solder fittings, remove the meter first & remember to use an Earth Continuity bond (like a bit of 6mm earth wire with a crock clip on each end) between the meter inlet & outlet pipes before you remove it. Use gas paste - NOT PTFE tape - on screwed joints, and don't forget to purge the pipeline when you've finished.

It's a piece of cake & I'm sure you'll manage it just fine !!

(Just keep your fire extiguisher handy)

 

[DurhamSparky]

At the moment, due to the fact I work for a company I should notify building control when I wire my own house! However if the local part p kitchen fitter did it that would be fine!

not really... it would be against his scheme membership as he would probably only be defined scope!

 

[Geordie Spark]

If our trade bodies, NICEIC, Elecsa & Napit had any teeth what so-ever they would be trying to do something about this. Its all very well the big sheds selling lights, sockets etc but selling CU's, MCB's etc - not in my opinion!

When I did my last Gas Assessment, this was being discussed with regard to them selling gas bits. We were told that the sheds had been approached by (I think) CORGI and someone from the government. The sheds' response was something along the lines of: "Have you any idea of the worth of the DIY market & how much money we pay in taxes?" and that - as they say - was the end of that !!

 

[Geordie Spark]

Another qual needed!!!!!

You're catching on fast.

 

[steve58]

After complaining to my local B&Q they have not put signs up on electrical aisle saying, Whilst we can give you information on buying our products we do not give information on installation. An electrician should be employed for your own safety and that of your property. It's a start and this was after 2 phone calls and a meeting with store manager.

 

[kung]

Agree 100 %
When i replace my boiler i will get british gas up for one of their free gas boiler safety checks and wait for them to give me a cert after testing its safe to use and passes their free checks !

A common myth is that only Gassafe registered people can work on gas supplies. That is wrong. Anyone can work on it, so long as they are competent, and they are not doing it as a paid duty.
So if you think you are competent, you can work on the gas supply in your own house.

 

[kung]

Or mabe this !



Our concerns are regarding the completely unregulated supply of major components by retailers which allow people who are not competent, to purchase said parts and make potentially life threatening changes (after advice from eg B & Q staff ect on how to fit/replace etc An item which could kill in seconds) to their homes.

Got to be worth another try, and again, and again...

How about something along the lines of:

MP
House of Commons
London
Xxxx ---

Dear Sir,
REF: Electrical Safety – fatalities should be expected.
I’m writing to you to bring your attention to the complete lack of control regarding the sale of major electrical components and thus the potential lack of safety regarding work conducted in homes across your constituency.
The UK Electrical industry produced Part P to the building regulations which came into force on the 1st January 2005 and this requires notification of certain works to the LABC (Local Area Building Control).
Many people like myself have undertaken the necessary training, examinations and registration with trade organisations like Elecsa, NICEIC and Napit, so we can undertake the required works and complete the required notification to LABC. Members of such schemes are competent, experienced and hold insurance for the benefit of homeowners
Our concerns are regarding the completely unregulated supply of major components by retailers which allow people who are not competent, to purchase said parts and make potentially life threatening changes to their homes.
We are calling on Parliament to recognise this issue and take forward a scheme “Electrical Safe”, which operate along the lines of “Gas Safe”. I’m sure you wouldn’t get an unregistered Gas installer to install your new boiler, so why would you allow an unregistered person to install your new 10.5 Kw power shower? An item which could kill in seconds.
We, as professionals treat our customers with respect and with safely in mind. I’d like to think that Parliament will make changes to ensure that steps are made to tighten up an industry which needs better control.
I await your response with interest.
Yours faithfully,

 

[mpspark]

I don't think anything will stop the sheds selling electrical stuff to DIYers etc, and why should it?
The problem is that it is not inherently dangerous to allow these things to be bought by anyone, it's what they do with those things after they get them home that is potential the problem. Ultimately, anything is potentially dangerous if it is not used correctly, or competently, so should the stop selling drills, or hammers because they could be deadly in the wrong hands? In any event, is it not true that some electrical things can be changed 'like for like', quite legally, without having to notify the LABC?
Anyone who wants to save money by doing it themselves, rather than employing an electrician, will not necessarily be deterred by any additional restrictions placed on them. After all, under-age kids still manage to get adults to buy them cigarettes and alcohol all the time. There's always someone who is prepared to help get things for people and circumvent the law.
Recent governments always seem to opt for cheap policing to deal with things like this, by inventing blanket bans for everyone rather than actually dealing with specific offenders properly.
The sad fact is that the government are not keen on really dealing with anything that doesn't appear to affect enough people to warrant it, particularly if there haven't been enough deaths directly attributable to it to force their hand.
Every day we hear about injustices, and many petitions are presented to the government asking for change. What do they do? They simply change the ability to raise new petitions on line until the end of 2011!
Sadly, it is proved time and time again that the 'powers that be' have no real appetite to enforce the law.