Awards

DANGER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Bad ‘Electricians’
Regulations broken: BS7671:2008: Abstracting Electricity, contrary to section 13 of the 1968 Theft Act.

A regular client has just purchased a new but very dilapidated property which has been empty for some time. Even before key exchange we were invited on-site to look at a few issues left over from a previous break-in. The thieves stole the copper, lead, a boiler and everything else that wasn’t nailed down. The missing gas meter had been capped by the utility provider. The electrical meter was a concern as well. continue

DANGER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Bad ‘Electricians’
Regulations broken: BS7671:2008: 421.7, 526.5, 530.4.2, 559.6.1.5, 559.6.2.1, 559.6.2.2, 514.3.1

We thought it was time to write about light fixtures like the one pictured below as we see these again and again and again! The issue with this fixture is that of safety. These incorrect installs are done out of ignorance and nothing else but that will be of little comfort when someone gets killed!!! Either do it correctly or hire an electrician…a real electrician! continue

DANGER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Bad ‘Electricians’
Regulations broken: BS7671:2008: 134.2.1, 610.6, 631.1, 416.2.1

This weeks award goes to the landscaper who thought he was a builder and electrician too. Unfortunately for the client he was neither a builder nor an electrician and only a mediocre landscaper. The client chose him because his quote was  approximately £10K cheaper than two other companies they looked at. The reason he was cheaper was that he had no idea what he was doing!! continue

DANGER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Bad ‘Building Works and Electrics’
Regulations broken: BS7671:2008 522.8.4, 522.6.1, 522.2.1, 528.3.1, 522.6.8, 522.8.14

This weeks winner was uncovered while on site to undertake an unrelated and simple plumbing job. Upon arrival at the property I noticed two flues (one boiler for hot water and another boiler for central heating)  emerging from the brickwork. This quick look while walking up the drive uncovered several safety  sissues that need to be resolved. continue

DANGER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Bad ‘Tenants’
Regulations broken:

Sometimes you just can’t make up a better story than what happens in real life. Case in point. We were finishing off a small bit of joinery from the previous weeks work list. Since our last visit the tenant had decided to vacate the property with no notice and gave the keys back to the landlord the day before we attended. While on site working I notice, and smell, the toilet which has been left in a state by the tenant. A gift perhaps! When I try and flush however I discover that the water has been turned off. Guess what happens next! continue

DANGER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Bad ‘Plumbers’
Regulations broken:

A call by a long term client uncovered an issue that has been around for some time. The complaint was water was trickling down the side of the waste stack when the loo is flushed. We went around to have a look and uncovered these three hand made waste connections. continue

DANGER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Bad ‘Electricians’
Regulations broken: BS7671:2008 416.2.2, 134.2.1, 610.6, 631.1, 314.4, 132.13, 514.9

We were on site to re-install an electric shower which was removed a few years earlier. We found both ends of the T&E and it tested true. We had some difficulty running a new water feed and a new section of T&E. While at the consumer unit testing the existing shower cable we found some interestingly poor wiring to everything else in the property. continue