Work in hairdressers advice.

[matdom]

Just after some advice if I may,
I was asked to go look at a job this evening at a local hairdressers.
the flat above had a leak and damaged some lighting in the shop and the insurance company want a quote for the work.
I have only done a visual inspection so far as the installation is in such poor condition everywhere else!
i walked round continuously for over an hour just writing faults down.

The incoming supply is 3 phase 100a which is then distributed into three 8 way boards, the first of which is a really old metal box with rewireble fuses, this feeds (or so the tags say) some of the shop lights, plus a 50amp for an upstairs flat (no rcd protection on this board at all)
The second board is a Crabtree 8 way with 80a Rccb main and some 32a b type mcb's feeding rings.

The third DB is the same crab tree as above with 80a Rccb again with 32a mcb's and a 40a mcb for a second upstairs flat.

These are all feed from a big leaver switch cabinet (that you can't open because some one has built a wall half across it)

There are spurs from spurs from spurs all over the place, the suspended ceiling is littered with JB's all with varying size cables running to and from them, there is a non BS spec junction box in a cupboard with what looks like 1mm t&e going to and from it that then disappears into the ceiling, non fire rated down lighters without hoods, sockets hanging from walls, back boxes damaged, water heater isolator screw two tiles up from hand wash basin, no bonding on gas and water pipes,

The list is endless,

This is the biggest job I've ever tackled and part of me is thinking just walk away as I can see so many problems emerging as I uncover bits.

from other peoples experiences do I walk away, try and tackle it bit by bit or quite for a complete gut and rewire.

if I quote for rewire where do I start on prices.

I'm pretty sure if they don't go for a complete rewire then I'll walk away as the place is a mine field.

I think from looking at it, it will be about 5 rings, 5 light runs, a few feeds for bits like boiler and a few fixed appliances plus new DB's including two 2 ways to separate out the supplies to flats.....

really stuck on this one....

if anyone can read my scrambled story and can offer any advice please do so.

Thanks

Mat

 

[telectrix]

a job of that size is best done by a team of at least 2 sparks and a mate. suggest you get someone with more experience in this type of work and share the job.

 

[Guest55]

i've a feeling the insurance company will only want to pay for repairs directly connected to flood damage , they wont be interested in putting right the whole crappy installation as its not part of the claim im afraid.

 

[Richard Burns]

I would agree with Tel, but also consider that the insurance company may well only cover the actual damage done, so if three light fittings got wet then they would be expecting a cost for replacing three light fittings and checking that the connections are safe, nothing else.
The problem you have here is that the system is a mess and you would (very rightly) want to get this system complaint, however this would not be part of the insurance and the owner will very likely say NO.

Edit and if I typed faster I would have beaten Biff to it, but didn't!
But at least I beat simpson!

 

[simpson93]

Will the insurance company really pay to redo all the electrics tho?, damage only to the lighting circuit? Possible to rewire just the lighting circuit and advise the owner to rewire it all?

....I type slow

 

[matdom]

Yeah I wouldn't think they wouldn't want to pay anymore than they have to buy I've made it clear to the shop occupant that I would not be interested in sorting the water damaged lights without the rest of it being sorted. I have been open and honest with her and told her that in this climate she will find someone to do what ever she wants doing and will disregard the state of everything else but that person isn't me.

 

[matdom]

The other problem I've told her she then has, is that the flats will then need a good check over.

 

[Guest55]

T&E rarely ever needs to be scrapped just cos it got wet , a week with the heating on will raise the ins. res. back to something passable.

just replace any switches and lights affected , do a mini eicr for the affected circuits and send in your very generous £300 bill to the insurers
easy money & happy days
;-)

 

[thekingiam]

put in a quote for lights being replaced check only light circuit in question report any other damage caused by leak recomending a rewire of whole installation on a quote will send them running to the hills.recomend rewire on eic if you get the work.

 

[thekingiam]

i also hate fast typers!

 

[danzor]

Change like for like and wack a nice drink on top and walk away. All shops/pubs are in the same state

 

[matdom]

So make safe, change like for like to get her lights back on, test and inspect that circuit only. Then just provide her with a list of visuals for the rest and strongly suggest a full EICR.

 

[telectrix]

sounds good, but make sure your price reflects the fasct that you may have to wait 3 months for payment., unless you charge the client direct and she can then be the one waiting for the insurance tightarses to pay out.

 

[Rockingit]

As others have said, the insurers will have no interest in paying out for anything other than the immediate damage, and as they only have a responsibility to 'reinstate' then any arguments about compliancy tend to fall on deaf ears. I've been in that situation myself with an electrical claim where I was the insured customer, so I know this chapter and verse. The best outcome for the owner is probably to get the insurers to pay for your EICR (as that's justifiable), you quote for the direct 1 for 1 insurance work and then send the customer a separate quote for a complete rewire (and expect it to disappear into the round filing tray shortly after).

Lastly, I've also worked with a lot of hairdressers over the years and they're not the brightest candles in the box except when it comes to making money so keep it simple and don't expect too much!!

 

[Guest111]

Just be careful what they try to claim for,years ago following the IRA bombing in Manchester I was asked to do a report on a big office block,Ironically this was owned by an insurance company!They were trying to claim for damage to the electrics as a result of a bomb which had been detonated on the Arndale shopping centre opposite.True there were some windows that had been damaged in the blast,however the electrics were all wired in VIR and should have been done years ago,still there's nothing like trying it on is there?