electrical work

[eveline22]

I really need some advice, just had big arguement discussion with dh and we are at loggerheads over this.

We move house in 6 days and he had the job of getting an electrical report done. He said it 'came back fine and needs a small bit of work which will cost around 400' and booked a local electrician in to do it the day after we move in.

Went to property yesterday to do some measuring up and noticed that the electrical work in bedroom looked v dodgy so asked to see the report.. this is what it says:

·No evidence of main bonding to water or gas mains within 1m of entering the property.

·No CPC slaving or identification of wires in upstairs toilet lighting system.

·No cross bonding at any sinks or water outlets.

·No grommet in kitchen socket.

·Master bedroom in unsafe due to 1.5mm cable being used from ring to sockets, lights and switches.


At the words 'master bedroom is unsafe' I admit I panicked a bit and after a bit of quizzing dh admitted he hadnt actually read the report We have a toddler and a baby and the property has polystyrene tiles on the ceiling so in my mind the electricals HAVE to be safe before I sleep there with my children.

We are trying to get access to do the work before we move in via our solicitor. The electricians he chose dont seem to be members of a professional body but do have "part b" qualifications.

Does anyone have any advice on this? wwyd?

[lalalonglegs]

I imagine it will be safe for one night - it wouldn't particularly bother me. You could sleep in another bedroom and not use any of the lights or sockets in the main one.

Electricians don't have to be NICEIC registered, iirc, but they have to have their work signed off by an NICEIC inspector. Lots don't join the scheme themselves because the registration costs are high and it's loads of paperwork, it's easier just to get someone out when the job's done.

[eveline22]

Thanks for your reassurance.
So we get the electrician to do the work and then arrange an inspection by NICEIC? do you have to pay for this separately?

[lalalonglegs]

No, the electrician will arrange for it and should be part of his quote. Don't pay him until you have the certificate saying that all the work is satisfactory. Don't be surprised if the work "fails" the first inspection, it's a bit like taking a car that seems to work perfectly well for an MOT, they always find something extra that needs doing.

[WithManyTots]

The bit where it says "unsafe" isn't "unsafe" as in will spontaneously kill you if you go near it.

It is "unsafe" as in that cable isn't big enough for all the electrical items you could attach at once. Provided you respect this limitation, (for example, not use the sockets) you should be OK until you can get it rectified

[eveline22]

Feel much better now thank you all.

Will get dh to sort the inspection by niceic, quosh my fear of spontaneous combustion and try to enjoy moving into the new place

[eveline22]

dh says electrician member of ELECSA and is able to self certificate..

[northerngirl41]

Well when we moved into our house, we knew the electrics were dodgy and I slept with lots and lots of smoke detectors all over the place and sealed off the worst rooms. E.g. we had a shower that had live electrics in it, so that got locked immediately.

The worst that will happen is:

• it goes on fire. If that happens, you throw the mains switch and get out the house. Listen for crackling sounds and watch for flickering lights. Do not presume it is safe once the electrics are off, call the fire brigade.
  
• you electrocute yourself. Does the house have circuit breakers? If so, it's probably not too bad and should cut out before it does much real harm.
  
• the pipes get charged and aren't grounded - i.e. they start to carry an electrical charge. This one would worry me but if there have been people living in it okay before, there's no reason to presume it's an immediate danger.

[eveline22]

thanks northerngirl, it has smoke alarms and afaik its just the main bedroom thats really dodgy.
I will make sure I know where the mains switch is, its only one night before it should be sorted.