Permission to work on shop front?

[Robin Spark]

Been asked to find a fault on a illuminated shop front sign. Will do the work out of hours probably on a sunday morning really early so there wont reall be anyone about and also can get home for lunch and pub,,,hopefully.

Will I need permission from local council as its on a high street?

 

[kme]

If you will have scaff, or be blocking the pavement; or if there is any danger of falling objects (including yourself) - probably.

Phone `em & ask - is what I`d do.

KME

 

[NozSpark]

Probably..

I also doubt that they will let you use ladders and will insist on work area being coned off..

but if I were you I'd probably get the ladder out and do it quick before anyone sees you

 

[Evans Electric]

I've done a couple of those , just went and did 'em TBH .

 

[Robin Spark]

Dont know why I have asked the question when really I know what the answer is going to be, its just that I have been asked to look at this sign because as soon as the timeswitch comes on the breaker trips and they would like it remedied asap.

Hence I was thinking that if I could go this sunday early morning and its only a small town then it would be convenient for all. However, If I phone the local council I cant really say " Oh I might be working somewhere in your region on a shop front and do I need to complete laborious amounts of your paperwork for a 1 to 2 hour job! etc" because then they will wont to know more and the job will get delayed.

Also thinking about going away next weekend for a few days so then its gonna be at least 3 weeks before I can go to this property,

 

[ProDave]

I wired the feed to a new shop sign. I just put my ladder up and connected it.

The guys that fitted the sign used a small scaffold tower, but I don't know if they asked anyone.

What's the difference between using a ladder on the high street, and using a ladder in any public place, i.e to reach part of a house that fronts directly onto the street? I have never asked anyone for permission.

If the ladder has to stand in the road, then I park my car right next to the ladder so nobody can drive into the ladder.

 

[Lee321]

on a sunday morning who's going to see!

just get on with it as said do the sensible put a few cones and red/white barrier tape around

 

[Badger]

[quote name='Lee

 

[Andy™]

i have some cones & hazard tape in the van for stuff like this. sometimes take some barriers. be sensible and its unlikely anyone will say anything

 

[green-hornet]

If you are going to obstruct any public highway then you have to give notice.

However, I never have, I just turn up do the job and dissapear.

 

[Robin Spark]

Well I went over sunday morning and the company who installed the main front signage came back a couple of months ago and installed a small 18" sign underneath the original one. It was after this small sign was added when the RCD would instantly trip when the timeswitch came on. Luckily they have a fused spur next to the timeswitch so this has just been turned off since.

Their installer came back apparently had a look at the signs and said their was nothing wrong with their wiring and that was it. He said it must be the wiring supply.

So my first investigation was to look at the smaller sign and I think he must have used his dog or pet mouse to gnaw away the insulation on the flex supply cable within the sign. Also the classic strands of wire hanging out of the terminal block!

Anyway I have disconnected the new smaller sign but the rcd still trips so now going to look at the main signage.

Spent ages trying to take the main signage apart with various screws etc but couldnt see how to take it apart and there is a sort of steel metal flashing above the sign that needs to come off as well.

Looks like its a 2 man job given the size of the signage, so now I'm thinking the owner should organise the sign company to come back again when I am available and if i can show them a fault they have introduced then they can pay my charges.

Has anyone experience of this situation?

 

[Andy™]

signs can be awkward once bolts start to rust etc. the front plastic part is usually held by ali on all sides. you can often remove 1 side and slide panel out from there.

depending on size, its often a 2 man job to get it apart safely. got any pics (even google street view) and someone will probably know best way to take it apart

 

[ProDave]

If it's a 2 man job it sounds like a scaffold tower job?

Last shop sign I dismantled to connect, the perspex front just slid into slots in the aluminium extrusion of the frame. All that was needed was to remove the two end caps and the front split in 2 and each part slid apart, revealing the wiring connections in the middle. But there must be hundreds of ways of making an illuminated sign so that probably does not help you.

Assuming the small sign is just looped into the big one, the cable entry point into the big sign should give you a clue where you need to gain access.

 

[Robin Spark]

the small sign is of the construction you have described where you undo the end and slide panel out , whereas the main signage is totally different with 3-4mm steel panels all screwed/ bolted together :_|