Advice on PIR required

[NozSpark]

Not quite as simple as the title first make it this one im afraid.....

I've got a PIR to do on a large 3 story Victorian house next week and I need some advice,, or really some hints and tips..

The property is vacant and I have been into it a month or so ago, the last tenants unfortunately did a bit of damage,, keeping it to the electrics alone, they have removed covers from rewire able CUs and also removed the HW cylinder (valves and controls included), there a probably other slightly minor things that they have done,, broken switches, sockets and probably the odd light fitting removed, but there is the possibility that they have also vandalised the electrical installation where cannot see!!!

I am only really carrying out his PIR as a factnfinding misson really to try and determine the extent of the damage and to come up with an idea of what it should cost to put right,, I have told the client that if I find extensive damage that could only be rectified with a wire then I will not continue with the PIR form that point.

I will be taking my camera to this job so that I have photographic evidence of any damage that I find,,, last time I was there I took nearly 60 photos of general damage and vandalism!!!!

 

[Megaohm7]

Sounds like a few code 1's there Noz from how your describing your findings from the previous visit. It sounds like an interesting job which once you get down to inspecting the layout also making a sketch of each room marking down all the points as you go. I use a pen that has four different retractable colours that I can mark say in 'red' for example if I need to take a closer look. It helps me to write up the report at the end to accompany the schedules. When it comes to testing the installation with your meter you will probably find a few problems but I would be looking for lighting circuits with no cpc's, good old vulcanised rubber cables where you sneeze and the insulation falls off!!. Your report could be a long one mate. I look forward to reading how you got on

 

[NozSpark]

Definitely a few code ones....

I issued a danger notice the last time i was there and isolated the installation at the main CU with the key holders permission,,, I wonder if it's been turned back on?

From what I remember it looked like it'd been rewired with PVC cables at some time,,, I didn't look deeply though

 

[Manator]

I did a similar report for BG fraud department, they were the suppliers and I was working with one of their engineers, I was at the time working with the old trusty pen and paper, he used a Dictaphone, which I have converted to using, I can describe the room, the position and the fault in real time backed up with a photo. The report they wanted had to include the regulation number that the faults contravened, plus any building regulation if relevant.I find that time spent on a proper visual inspection works best, this visual inspection is for your own safety as well, it will show up some faults that like you have said could be extremely dangerous if the circuits were energised. Another tip is to look at it from a saboteurs point of view, what would you do to damage the installation? Loft and kitchen being the favourites followed by the landing were it is easy to get boards up.

Spend a bit of time on the visual and look in and around the CU, watch out for bare wires, and if its as bad as you say do not do any live testing.

 

[NozSpark]

Here's a link to the photos that I took a while ago...

www.nickevanselectrical.co.uk/pir/1.jpg

There are 60 photos and you need to change the jpg number to see each one,,,, or if you want the easy way here's a link to all of them in a single web page

Nick Evans Electrical: Electrician-Prestatyn, Rhyl, Abergele

 

[ian932]

Looking as those pics, I'd say you should just do it as a visual inspection, IMO it would be as quick to rewire the place than try and work out how the place is currently wired and then put all the defects right. The place looks like its going need a full refurb.

It would be intresting to know if it had a clean PIR before the last tenants took the place on, It looks like it may have been a dump before they moved in.

How many sockects above the work top!!!!

 

[NozSpark]

TBH it was a right mess, the owner lives away and thought that there was only a little bit of damage. They say tht it had been refurbed before it was let out, but thats where it gets complicated.. The original tenant sub letted it without the owners permission and it was them that caused the damage!

IIRC there were only a few places that had "exposed live parts" and then also a few removed accessories.. I will be carrying out very limited live testing!

Another thing I don't like (and I have seen it before) is the use of a service head to terminate a T&E sub main into before it goes into the CU

Also if someone hasn't been in there and tidied up then that will also restrict what I can do,,, hopefully most of the installation will be in good condition,,,, maybe?

 

[androiduk2002]

How many sockects above the work top!!!!

I was thinking the exact same thing ! ! !

Looks like you got a nice bit of work there Noz , keep ya busy for a few days.

I feel sorry for the owner , I doubt he made enough in the rent to do a complete refurb.

I also thought it might be easier to just do a complete rewire . At least he knows for sure it will be a good job and also should samething happen again at least then YOU will know how it was installed so will be easier to rectify next time.

As a extra idea . if the owner lives away , would it be possible for you to do a caretaking role for him ? Maybe he has more properties in the area ?

 

[NozSpark]

IMHO it's too big a property for a single tenant... Needs to be split into flats!

 

[androiduk2002]

Hence why the previous tenant sub let ! Suggest it , nothing ventured nothing gained .

 

[NozSpark]

Maybe sublet was the wrong term... He let it out to a 3rd party and didn't live there himself

 

[M107]

holy **** (sorry rev) what a mess, that is going to cost a few

 

[NozSpark]

I went back there today and took some more photos... Knocking on for 70 by the end of the morning!!! Some of them are duplicated as the first shot wasnt that good and some are the same fault but repeated in a different location,, IMHO they are all valid faults from exposed live parts to NON IP4X top surfaces of accessories and cables not clipped appropriately..

If you want a look it won't be easy, as I haven't made a HTML page for them yet so you'll have to manually change the jpg numbers... Or with admins permission I could put them all in a post?

Anyway, here's the basics...

www.nickevanselectrical.co.uk/20110523/1.jpg Through to 67 (IIRC)

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 21:47 ---------- Previous post was made at 21:38 ----------

And after finding all those visual faults, no earth connection (even though there is a good TNS earth), an IR fault on a socket? circuit, an open circuit ring (I'm pretty sure it was never a ring to begin with) and poor installation methods before I called it a day.....

I'm now going to recommend a rewire and see what they say