Cable Zones

[moulder1987]

I know Dave, I wasn't there when he was going round and the Bulider said he noticed it as he was on his way out the door, obviously didn't find anything wrong so want to make something of nothing

 

[ProDave]

Ah yes.  you need to do something wrong for him to find so he feels he has justified his existence.

 

[Manator]

Tell the numpty to contact me. I will put him right!!

 

[kme]

+1.

For Gawd sake, don`t change it - this will enforce, in his head, that he is right. Your work is fine - tell him to bugger off and learn his job, before trying to teach you your job!

Send him here, or to Napit, or the gods of gods, the NICEIC - any of `em will "put him right".............................

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Where in the country are you..???

ie.  is this part P notifiable (or are you in Pro-Dave land?)

If notifiable  are you self cert & notifying the work ..?

If yes then you will be signing off the electrical work anyway....  NOT mr inspector!

all he needs to see is a copy of your completed cert once job is done!!!!!

Now if the council is doing the Inspect, Test & Notify aspect they can ask you to do whatever they want as they are taking the responsibility to verify safety to their satisfaction!

opcorn

 

[steptoe]

Where in the country are you..???

ie.  is this part P notifiable (or are you in Pro-Dave land?)

If notifiable  are you self cert & notifying the work ..?

If yes then you will be signing off the electrical work anyway....  NOT mr inspector!

all he needs to see is a copy of your completed cert once job is done!!!!!

Now if the council is doing the Inspect, Test & Notify aspect they can ask you to do whatever they want as they are taking the responsibility to verify safety to their satisfaction!

opcorn

yes, if he is anywhere near me I havent had a good arguement in a while..........

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Re the cable in the top of metal box. Is this box flush or surface ? The rule about a 1mm gap on the top may apply .

 

[moulder1987]

Where in the country are you..???

ie.  is this part P notifiable (or are you in Pro-Dave land?)

If notifiable  are you self cert & notifying the work ..?

If yes then you will be signing off the electrical work anyway....  NOT mr inspector!

all he needs to see is a copy of your completed cert once job is done!!!!!

Now if the council is doing the Inspect, Test & Notify aspect they can ask you to do whatever they want as they are taking the responsibility to verify safety to their satisfaction!

opcorn

I'm in somerset, job is in yeovil, and yes I am signing the work off myself.

Re the cable in the top of metal box. Is this box flush or surface ? The rule about a 1mm gap on the top may apply .

The box is flush, I haven't heard of a 1mm gap rule, could you explain. In my eyes it is still in the zone!!

 

[OnOff]

I'm in somerset, job is in yeovil, and yes I am signing the work off myself.

The box is flush, I haven't heard of a 1mm gap rule, could you explain. In my eyes it is still in the zone!!

Accessories sitting butt tight to each other.....you need a nominal gap really, thermal expansion etc. I like to space them using carefully cut 20mm couplers, bushes etc. 

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

I'm in somerset, job is in yeovil, and yes I am signing the work off myself.

The box is flush, I haven't heard of a 1mm gap rule, could you explain. In my eyes it is still in the zone!!

There is not meant to be more than a 1mm gap on any top surface of an enclosure.  Most normal people would only use this  regarding surface electrical equipment where say a single cable may be going through a 20-25mm hole.

 

[Evans Electric]

Just Blu-tack a face plate on with a couple of cut down 3.5's in for "effect" and remove when he's gone! 

I love this!   From Mr OnOff.  Where the cable changes direction , glue a  1 gang blank plate to the wall .   This , in effect , puts the job in line with the cable zone requirements .   No need to chase a box in as you have now complied with all requirments .  Love it ......stroke of genius  ( OK  Devious genius but still genius)    Scoob duly scoobed

 

[moulder1987]

Thought I would update you all.

I sent an email last night saying that I'm not wasting my time to go back and change it when it complies. His response was.

Hi Craig,

You have every right to challenge my opinion, So I can make 100% sure (as I don't work on Fridays but I do access my e-mails from home to make sure that if there are any outstanding problems similar to our situation at present).

You don't agree with the diagram on the final page regarding the way the cables are laid.

Therefore I will call on Monday, photograph the installation, and take it to an independent electrical engineer training school for them to confirm if your installation is correct. If they inform me this is acceptable then I will allow you to continue. If they confirm this is not correct then I will have to ask you to correct the installation.

Therefore I would request that you do not cover up the installation in question until I have been able to take the photos and get the definitive answer.

I will be in touch with you again later on Monday.

Regards

 

[Sharpend]

INDEPENDANT electrcial engineer training school!! Does he mean he's going to college!!?

 

[ProDave]

Keep us posted when he answers.

The danger of course is he will just photograph the cable coming down the wall and turning left, leaving the accessories out of shot. Then of course they will say it's wrong and "he will be right"

 

[Sharpend]

Be interested to see his written answer from college? Or his written apology if he's wrong!

 

[Blue Duck]

It may take about 5 weeks for the answer though....

:coat

 

[Andy™]

It may take about 5 weeks for the answer though....

:coat

building inspector could just do the 5 days course. hopefully that includes cable routes at some point though

 

[Evans Electric]

I see what Part P means now .............Pedantic Pratts p****** about .....    surely life is too short to worry about a cable turning at right angles to a plug ?

 

[Andy™]

I see what Part P means now .............Pedantic Pratts p****** about .....    surely life is too short to worry about a cable turning at right angles to a plug ?

i would be slightly worried if he did install a plug

 

[OnOff]

Why not REALLY bait him and cut a new DIAGONAL chase in ensuring the cable is below 50mm from the surface! He'd probably then try and get you under Part A Structural as in depth of chase / thickness of wall etc!

When Part P first came in there were (obviously still are) lots of instances of BCO's querying the work of perfectly competent sparks who were in the right. Things like a new extension would be built and the BCO would insist on the sockets and switches being put in to Part M heights...........or that and the rest of the lounge / through diner was changed to match etc. Basically they thought Part P gave them all these new powers to comment even though they themselves had no electrical training. Because of the "pressure" of the job and potential delays many sparks caved to the silly demands.

It came to a head locally to me when there were multiple grumblings, follow up queries & complaints from sparks in writing, questioning the BCO's credentials etc. I happen to know the now Principal Building Control Surveyor from 30 years back (used to do my extension plans for me and a mate when he was in the private sector working for himself) so can always phone outside of the normal channels. Give them their due they acknowledged their lack of training and understanding. So..........what they did was to employ the councils own preferred NICEIC electrical contractor at THEIR, the council's cost. When there was anything electrical the subbie would go out ACTING as a BCO for the day.