Working in a church

[ringer]

Have been invited to quote for work in a church and associated church rooms. Nothing major I think, but was wondering if there is anything to watch out for when doing electrical work in a church. I know you need a 'faculty' from the parish council before drilling holes in stone walls in a church, but are there any other issues I should be aware of?

 

[JamesBrownLive]

Bats in the Belfry

 

[IQ Electrical]

Have been invited to quote for work in a church and associated church rooms. Nothing major I think, but was wondering if there is anything to watch out for when doing electrical work in a church. I know you need a 'faculty' from the parish council before drilling holes in stone walls in a church, but are there any other issues I should be aware of?

As you've mentioned, check for listed building status and the limitations that go hand in hand with that.

Some of the worst, most neglected installations we've come across have been in churches so try to get access to a previous PIR before making any additions/alterations.

 

[poirot]

Get yourself some very long drill bits!

 

[Mr.Si]

What sort of church building? It's easy to *assume* the traditional church building, but my church meet in a school hall...

 

[IQ Electrical]

What sort of church building? It's easy to *assume* the traditional church building, but my church meet in a school hall...

I'm quite sure if this was a school hall type church then the op wouldn't be asking for church-specific advice!

 

[Amp David]

Blasphemy won't be welcome, so if you hit problems watch your language

 

[accordfire]

Make sure you only employ good Christians to do the work - that bolt of lightning can pay havoc with your PSC readings!

 

[ian.settle1]

Make sure you only employ good Christians to do the work - that bolt of lightning can pay havoc with your PSC readings!

Might get rid of a few of them gits that burnt the poppies though

 

[Phil]

Have been invited to quote for work in a church and associated church rooms. Nothing major I think, but was wondering if there is anything to watch out for when doing electrical work in a church. I know you need a 'faculty' from the parish council before drilling holes in stone walls in a church, but are there any other issues I should be aware of?

yeh don`t do what a mate of mine did in a church job. sat there cursing away effing and all the rest of them whilst the vicar stood watching on quietly trouble was the area where he works is remote and everone knows everyone and i don`t reckon it did his business a whole load of good as he does not get too much work locally sounds like the vicar maybe does not practice what he preaches

 

[Sparky Ninja]

If you have a mate, check out his ring tone.

I was working a few years on the top of a scaffold tower, and my mate was getting some MI clips from the van when his phone went off at the bottom of the tower. His ringtone was a clip from the 'Bloodhound Gang's Chasey Elane' song. I had to give his backside a good kicking for that one.

 

[Phil]

i learnt very early when the ring tones on the phones first came in how embarrassing it could be with a dodgy ring tone i will say no more as it not in the pub

 

[pennywise]

old Mi cables with low resistance readings is a good one to look out for in churches, Long ladders or a tower is a must on most. Know what you mean about ring tones had the London Underground song on my phone for a while, pretty embarrassing. Also most churches are run on committees so don't expect anything to happen at a million miles on hr, as others have said also everyone knows everyone so think about what you say to anyone that approaches you whilst your doing the works. The other thing is to get them to agree on everything beforehand and get it in writing as to what lights etc we did a church last summer the guy I was subbing to lost 15k on the job because there were to many chiefs changing there mind constantly on what light fittings and positions of power points, he bent over backwards trying to keep them happy as he was a church member just couldn't keep track of the extras so when the final bill was presented they thought that the cost of taking the lights up and down 10 times was included in the original price whoops.

 

[Guest123]

Ah churches.....the final resting place of the humble split phase system......how I miss them.

 

[Andyfm]

Do check if there are special requirements set by the the church governing bodies - The Cof E only accept NAPIT and NIC certs and used to want all wiring done in pyro or steel conduit, and I think Baptist churches have special requirements as well

 

[pennywise]

I think Baptist churches have special requirements as well

Yep you have to do the work with a full band playing and waving their arms in the air.

 

[accordfire]

Yep you have to do the work with a full band playing and waving their arms in the air.

I thought the happy clappy lot were Gospel - shows what I know lol!

 

[pennywise]

The Baptists are an the same lines a very jolly lot, it varies from church to church some Baptist churches are more like church of England.

 

[accordfire]

The Baptists are an the same lines a very jolly lot, it varies from church to church some Baptist churches are more like church of England.

What, banned from being mentioned in public spaces these days?

 

[pennywise]

lol I suppose so

 

[alarm man]

Have been invited to quote for work in a church and associated church rooms. Nothing major I think, but was wondering if there is anything to watch out for when doing electrical work in a church. I know you need a 'faculty' from the parish council before drilling holes in stone walls in a church, but are there any other issues I should be aware of?

well as you know most foremen think they are god..on this site they are..

 

[johnboy6083]

when i read the post about happy clapping, i burst out laughing to myself. Im still chuckling now!

 

[accordfire]

when i read the post about happy clapping, i burst out laughing to myself. Im still chuckling now!

That's how folk respond to most of my posts

 

[wattsup]

Just do it, and the lord will foregive (except smoking, then you will go to hell and the council man will poke you in the eye on the way to the abyss)

 

[Wiredspark]

Rewired a big church a few years back. To save costs the congregation were to do the cut outs for the under gallery lights. Oh dear, I defo said to them "160mm or 16 cm which ever is easier for you to work with!". There were holes of varying sizes starting from about 230mm and that was the smallest. Luckily I'm not to bad at plastering, so I just sorted it and told them not to do the other two galleries. I Always give the church the occassional freebie. There are alot of people go to these places who all have electricity

 

[AlanWirral]

Me and my old boss did a massive church by ourselves. It was the first job i went to on my first day so it was a bit of a shock to say the least. It had been derelict for over 10 years with squaters/druggies/killings and multiple fires taking place in that time.

As it was to be privately owned as a 'New age church' there was no need for FP etc but it was a MASSIVE pain the arse! 10x 4grand chandeliers up in main church roof.Learned a lot though so it's all good.