Builder needing advice after damaging temporary supply to new build!

[Toneyz]

Was it a PME supply to the office, canteen etc. if you had a loss of neutral?

 

[shaun rosier]

I cannot believe your damaged cable and the need for replacing overhead lines are remotely connected. You need to ask for a technical report outlining the cause and effect of what has supposedly occurred.

Hi Westward,

We did ask for a report and they said they would not give one unless we signed a confidentiality agreement! That's why I'm even more suspicious that the cable was faulty!!

 

[shaun rosier]

Was it a PME supply to the office, canteen etc. if you had a loss of neutral?

Sorry Anthony! I don't know what a PME supply is! The temporary supply came to the temporay meter and then was taken off this to supply our canteen/office. After the damage to the cable the labourer got a shock off the cabin handle!

 

[The Ghost]

Have you asked about this on the IET site, more engineers on there may help? The DNO is responsible for the supply and infrastructure of your supply. Sounds like this will involve solicitors. Of course you could make a counter claim for loss of work time and damages for employees etc.

 

[Toneyz]

Sorry Anthony! I don't know what a PME supply is! The temporary supply came to the temporay meter and then was taken off this to supply our canteen/office. After the damage to the cable the labourer got a shock off the cabin handle!

It is where the neutral and earth of the consumer's installation is joined together so on the supply side you have the live conductor and the outer armouring in the combined neutral/earth conductor.

 

[shaun rosier]

It is where the neutral and earth of the consumer's installation is joined together so on the supply side you have the live conductor and the outer armouring in the combined neutral/earth conductor.

Yes I remember our sparky telling me about this type of cable, so I think it was a PME supply.

 

[shaun rosier]

Have you asked about this on the IET site, more engineers on there may help? The DNO is responsible for the supply and infrastructure of your supply. Sounds like this will involve solicitors. Of course you could make a counter claim for loss of work time and damages for employees etc.

Thanks for the advice Vortigern!

 

[LankyWill]

DNO will only install a temporary supply using TT, they insist on having the Earth Rod in place or they won’t connect meters.

 

[Richard Burns]

No matter what happened to the incoming cable at your temporary supply the electrical supply network should be able to handle any fault that occurs without causing damage to their system.
If the fault caused damage to their network then this would only be highlighting an error in their network which should not be down to you to cover.
Damaging a supply cable in the manner you describe should not cause a bang as the fault would be to earth and not the conductors, unless it earthed via the breaker if it was electrical. If the damage were such that the cable sheath contacted the internal live this would cause a short and a bang and may well disconnect several properties power supplies as it takes out the supply fuse(s) and this would be chargeable to the person or company responsible for the fault.
However I do not know the legalities of such a situation.

 

[shaun rosier]

No matter what happened to the incoming cable at your temporary supply the electrical supply network should be able to handle any fault that occurs without causing damage to their system.
If the fault caused damage to their network then this would only be highlighting an error in their network which should not be down to you to cover.
Damaging a supply cable in the manner you describe should not cause a bang as the fault would be to earth and not the conductors, unless it earthed via the breaker if it was electrical. If the damage were such that the cable sheath contacted the internal live this would cause a short and a bang and may well disconnect several properties power supplies as it takes out the supply fuse(s) and this would be chargeable to the person or company responsible for the fault.
However I do not know the legalities of such a situation.

No matter what happened to the incoming cable at your temporary supply the electrical supply network should be able to handle any fault that occurs without causing damage to their system.
If the fault caused damage to their network then this would only be highlighting an error in their network which should not be down to you to cover.
Damaging a supply cable in the manner you describe should not cause a bang as the fault would be to earth and not the conductors, unless it earthed via the breaker if it was electrical. If the damage were such that the cable sheath contacted the internal live this would cause a short and a bang and may well disconnect several properties power supplies as it takes out the supply fuse(s) and this would be chargeable to the person or company responsible for the fault.
However I do not know the legalities of such a situation.

That's exactly what I thought Richard, sounds like they are trying to blame me for a fault in there network! The engineer got a shock when he touched the outer sheathing wires as he took his gloves off, he obviously wasn't expecting them to be live!

 

[PEG]

That's exactly what I thought Richard, sounds like they are trying to blame me for a fault in there network! The engineer got a shock when he touched the outer sheathing wires as he took his gloves off, he obviously wasn't expecting them to be live!

Really? Testing after safe isolation is mandatory,and would be all the more prescient after damage.
Who exactly was he? The answer is NOT an engineer...

 

[Rpa07]

Good thread, sorry about all the grief you’ve had @shaun rosier - the original post read like the opening scene of Casualty!

 

[Wilko]

Hi - thoughts from me - I don't see you having to pay out for overhead cable works - talk to your insurance co. and they may provide legal-eagle to assist. Just having legal-eagle ask for the @westward10 technical report will cause a sharp intake of breath, because they know it will be independently reviewed.

 

[buzzlightyear]

being a TT system they would have putted the fuse at the substain or the link near the transformers before any work carried out ,by saying this did your labour not think before hand by getting a CAT. and not a cat with two eyes .

 

[shaun rosier]

Good thread, sorry about all the grief you’ve had @shaun rosier - the original post read like the opening scene of Casualty!

Ha, Ha! If you didn't laugh you'd cry!

Thanks for all the help guys! much appreciated!

 

[buzzlightyear]

Ha, Ha! If you didn't laugh you'd cry!

Thanks for all the help guys! much appreciated!

don't go yet ,we need to discus about the big bill your getting, 5 grand bill heading your way.

 

[davesparks]

Hi Dave,

Your right! the labourer was careless but he thought he was well away from the supply as when the temporary cable was put in, it was put in a big loop for some reason and was just an inch off the foundation where he wanted to bury the hockey stick in. He was working on the premise that the cable was running in a roughly straight line from the main post to the temporary meter.

The labourer may have been careless but was he following the safe system of work you had put in place for him? Did you carry out a risk assessment and method statement?
Did you survey they ground he was digging in with suitable cable locating equipment before he started digging?
Did you enquire as to the location of the cable with the electricity supplier before work started?
Did you take all reasonable steps to ensure that this man’s life was not put at risk before he started work?

If he had lost his life could you honestly face his family, the judge and your conscience and say you did everything you could to prevent it?

 

[buzzlightyear]

If he had lost his life could you honestly face his family, the judge and your conscience and say you did everything you could to prevent it?

yes milord , if some one had lose their life HSE would be over it like CSI .

 

[PEG]

Yep,and book me a seat in the public gallery...i want to hear that "engineer" explaining how he "shouldn't have got a shock of that bit..." and how he never looks to the left when crossing the road,in this country...

 

[telectrix]

Yep,and book me a seat in the public gallery...i want to hear that "engineer" explaining how he "shouldn't have got a shock of that bit..." and how he never looks to the left when crossing the road,in this country...

i always look to the left, and to the right. which way is the nearest pub?