OT - DIY domestic electrical work after 1.1.2005

I can't believe that an insurance company could refuse to pay out unless the fire was related to the electrical work that I did.

I'm confident in my ability to safely wire a ring main and/or lighting circuits; I've done plenty in the past.

No! Not at all.

If I wire it with 'old' cabling colours could I claim I'd done it in December 2004?

I don't think this really causes a problem unless the cables of the correct colour aren't sold to the general public any longer.

Only if the fire was related to my faulty work.

"There are 19 fatal electrocutions each year on average in dwellings, the same as in the workplace, but only 880 are injured at work. Electrical casualties are said to be much higher in the UK than some other European countries indicating that greater attention needs to be paid to the subject. In addition to this, around 25 die and 590 are injured as a result of fires caused by faulty electrical equipment and wiring each year in England and Wales in the 12,500 fires each year reported as having an electrical source of ignition.

The Home Accident Surveillance System (HASS)6 provides data on electrical products that have been involved in accidents in the home. Washing machines account for around 5,000 and wiring and accessories for

So, ignoring the use of language such as "are said to be much higher"... if I accept this as unbiased and accurate it states that on average 19 people are killed a year due to electrocution at home- it doesn't indicate if this is due to faulty wiring that's been recently installed or if it's due to problems that have developed- earth rods being disconnected etc.

It also says that there are "around" 13,000 accidents a year caused by "wiring and accessories" (whatever accessories are).

I still don't think that this justifies legislation.

Oh, I've seen bad things too- not only in wiring. But most of the bad things I've seen are due to cowboy 'professionals' rather than homeowners.

Definitely!

Also sprach Chris Street :-

I didn't have a certificate when we bought it - and how is anyone to know what's new wiring and what's old?

Also sprach Chris Whelan :-

Question is though - how many people die or are seriously injured each year because of unqualified work compared to qualified work?

So far I've only heard vague assertions from the gummermint but no actual figures.

It's like this sodding "War on terror". Why is it better to save people from being blown up by terrorists but let them die of MRSA or any other disease which could be reduced by having that much money thrown at it? We could have saved tens of thousands of lives over the next few years by spending that money better - far more lives than terrorists would probably have taken.

Also sprach "Al Reynolds" :-

And anyway - I've plenty of T&E in the garage.

Also sprach "Al Reynolds" :-

Well, they pay out for new carpets if you drop a tin of paint on 'em - and I'm sure they could show negligence in almost all instances of that.

My point was that after March 31 2006, it will not be possible to buy old-coloured cable, so it would help to identify new installations.

I didn't at any time intend to imply that work carried out by a

Chris

I believe it says

"Fixed electrical installations were involved in around 5 fatalities and 576 non-fatal injuries each year"

Maybe not a huge percentage of the population, but avoidable none the less.

In this context, accessories are those parts of the fixed installation other than the cables. e.g. switches, socket outlets ect.

On that point we differ!

Yes, some so-called tradesmen may be cowboys, but the purpose of this legislation is to try to minimise danger from *all* improper installations regardless of who did them.

Chris

Sorry, you would need to define "professionals."

In my experience, the really unsafe things I have seen have been done are by *non-electrical* so-called professionals. The worst two groups without doubt are kitchen fitters and bathroom fitters. Sorry if anyone falls in to either of those categories!

Chris.

Well, *any* electrical works in Scotland already have to be inspected by law...

In fact electrical fires caused by the permanent wiring are few and far between. Most are caused by overloaded extensions etc which of course ain't covered by the new regs...

So have I. And often done by cowboy 'pros'. Central heating installers being one of the worst offenders. And cowboys always seem to find a way round any checks.

Also sprach "Dave Plowman (News)" :-

And if you're not allowed to wire in your own proper sockets any more then overloaded extensions are going to become more common.

: On Sat, 27 Nov 2004 19:13:28 GMT, Guy King wrote: : : > Also sprach Chris Street :- : > : >> Why should I have to spend the money doing so (16th regs are not cheap) Yet : >> another example of our facist Government sticking it's bloody nose in where : >> it's not needed. : > : > I shall simply ignore it. : : However you will be unable to sell your house.

Only if they can prove that the work was done after the new law came in ...

Ian

: : "Chris Street" wrote: : > What annoys me is that it's perfectly legal to work untrained on your own : > gas installation - as that can go pop and cause problems for people living : > next door..... : : Only legal if you are a competent person.

It says / where/ precisely?

Ian

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Chris Whelan saying something like:

The purpose of this legislation is to keep electrical work confined to the members of the electrical trades association (NICEIC).

It's a manifestation of greed and the nanny state in unholy alliance.

And that's why they are issuing deliberately misleading press releases to the media suggesting that *all* DIY electrical work will be illegal after

Kev

I've got a great idea.

Let's look at clusters of these, and where there are more than 5 injuries or fatalities in a three year period within a mile of each other lets put an "electrical works" camera there to trap offenders and prevent future cowboy installations.

Of course, in time people will learn where these cameras are and avoid them, or wire properly when in view of them. We could allow people 4 offences withing 3 years before we ban them from dangerous electrical work.

D'ya think it'll catch on?

How so? As long as the installation meets building regulations approval, it can be done by anyone.

The work only needs to be carried out by someone with an exemption certificate if you want to avoid the regulations approval process.

I have often been asked to inspect and test small installations done by DIYers who are happy to have the reassurance that their work is safe. This new legislation just formalises that arrangement.

I am going to be affected by the changes as I have recently taken early retirement so I will not be able to easily get an exemption certificate. This will stop me from carrying out part time work inspecting and testing, as I had planned. I *still* think it is a good idea.

Chris