Electric shower query

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Spark just put in a electric shower (Triton) and hit a small problem, black brick wall behind the tiles where he wanted to install.

He said not to worry, he will just trunk it up into the ceiling (which goes into the loft). To do this, he cut a hole in the top of the shower box. He hasn't sealed the hole, there's a rough 0.5cm to 1cm gap between the hole and the trunk, and the trunk isn't flush or sealed against the tile wall.

Looks like water could very easily splash into the inside of the shower box through these gaps. Is this safe? I am going to seal it myself but want to know if this could be a serious issue or not as he left it.

Thanks for your time.
 
so what's the other side of the black brick wall? does new shower have RCD protection? several worryim
ng points in OP>
 
Hi - yes a few pics will help :) .
There are entries designed to be cut out in the top, but what we can't say is how well that's been done.

IMG_1206.jpg
 
Thanks for the replies!

I've attached some pics.

Inside the trunking is the water pipe and the electric wiring. He didn't feed anything into the wall as its black brick then into the master bedroom.

It looks like he has used a tool to cut the hole required, the edges are rough and hopefully you can see no attempt to waterproof the hole was made.

IMG_20181014_113053.jpg


IMG_20181014_113125.jpg


IMG_20181014_113142.jpg
 
To answer some other comments:

We have RCD in the flats fuse box.

There was no electric shower in place before, but the circuit was there. The pull chord for the on/off for the shower was in place and now serves the new install.
 
Did he arrive on a horse? That’s appalling. He has negated the IP rating of the shower.
Water will get in, it will cause problems.

I really hope you haven’t paid him.
 
First of all, please DO NOT use the shower until you are 100% sure it’s sealed and safe to use. Was the electrician you used a member of a competent persons scheme?
 
He was dispatched via the landlord, no idea re his credentials or affiliations. He has been used by the landlord for years as far as I know. He installed our new rcd fuse box 2 years ago and replaced most of the lights in the flat this week as well as installing an extractor in the bathroom as well as the shower.
 
He was dispatched via the landlord, no idea re his credentials or affiliations. He has been used by the landlord for years as far as I know. He installed our new rcd fuse box 2 years ago and replaced most of the lights in the flat this week as well as installing an extractor in the bathroom as well as the shower.
 
The landlord hasn't seen it. I'm just about get in touch with him. I suspect he will seek to silicon up the gaps. It won't be prettiest finish but will that make it safe?

Or should we just get someone else out to put in a new shower?
 
As the tenant, the paper trail and invoices may all be 100% - the duty of the spark is to provide it to him, not you

You shouldn't be touching the shower IMHO unless your landlord has given you written permission to do so.........
 
Your landlord has a LEGAL obligation to provide facilities that are safe and adhere to any relevant regulations. If you believe this installation to be dangerous you can contact your landlord first and explain the situation and provide him with photo evidence, you can also contact your local council housing office to explain the showers condition and why you believe it to be dangerous, they will then arrange a visit with you to inspect the shower. They have the power to FORCE the landlord to rectify it. Your landlord may NOT even know how bad this alleged electrician actually is.
 
I agree with @Fitzy - the landlord probably gives the jobs to this electrician as he’s always done. Send the same photos you’ve shown us to the landlord and express your concerns. Good chance that it may open their eyes to the work being done ‘ in their name’
Let us know how you get on, we like ‘happy endings’!
 
do not seal that up with silicon or anything else. the electrician may have left his horse in there. :p:p:p.
 
I agree that it's not pretty but the manufacturer has deemed this a suitable cable entry so should have made provision based on the assumption that there will be water spraying around, ie any water ingress should be able to egress without causing any problems.
There shouldn't be any need for silicone, except maybe for aesthetic reasons.

If you were to get your own tradesman out to replace the shower then the landlord has no obligation to reimburse you for it.
 
“Lone Ranger Electrical” strikes again

At least he cut the trunking to fit over the wood trim at the ceiling. I’ve seen trunkinkung that just bends into the shape it needs to be with a gap down the back.
A little care cutting at the shower end and it would look much neater.
Agree, if shower manufacturers allow top entry for pipe and cables, it must be safe to do so.
 
I guess the wall was already tiled, hence the need to go surface. I just dont understand why the 'electrician' did not use the supplied cable outlets, made for the job.
 
I sent the pics onto the landlord and, predictably, he asked me to seal it with some silicon. So I did. No issues thus far.

As for the landlord now being aware of the work being carried out in his name by this guy, all he said to me was "I'll let him know for next time." . Didn't expect any better, tbh.

Thanks for all your remarks.
 
littlespark said:
Agree, if shower manufacturers allow top entry for pipe and cables, it must be safe to do so.
Click to expand...

I believe that what they have internally where the cable entries are is like a trunking type effect that separates the entry point from the internal electricals, so if water does get it, it runs down inside the cavity and drips off harmlessly into the bottom of the case where it can then run out.
 
SparkyChick said:
I believe that what they have internally where the cable entries are is like a trunking type effect that separates the entry point from the internal electricals, so if water does get it, it runs down inside the cavity and drips off harmlessly into the bottom of the case where it can then run out.
Click to expand...
But only if the manufacturers instructions say it’s ok because many don’t allow top entry
 
That's a terrible job. does the sparky have any sort of training or licence other than a dog licence?
Was there any sort of certification supplied on completion?
Have they been paid?
Totally non compliant with any sort of regulation and potentially dangerous. I would advise you refuse to use it. A health and safety complaint to whatever tenancy protection agency is in order here.
I'm a New Zealand Electrical Inspector who has worked in the UK, as I said this is dreadful and dangerous.
 
Interesting stuff this...I fitted a new electric shower about a year ago and was no impressed with the casing and its provisions for cable entry or water connection. It was a direct swap for a model by the same manufacturer but the new one was noticeably flimsier and although there was a "double channel" around the outer casing, the plastic knockouts were falling out by themselves...and of course the fixing holes for the back plate were in different positions. Fortunately my cable enters from the back, so I didn't have to use the knockouts. However, what I did notice was that the existing shower was really quite dusty on the top surface (tsk,tsk Mrs Pirate!) so it looks as though there was very little splashing hitting the casing...maybe just the way my daughter uses the shower, as it was in her bathroom, but she spends ages in the shwer washing her hair and is not the neatest lass around. I phoned the shower manufacturers "helpline" because I had a query about the water connection. The instructions said must come straight out of the wall, not up or down via an elbow, and the suplied push-fit connector must be used...why? The man told me it's in case the push-fit comes loose with the water pressure...really??? The case is rawl-bolted to the wall and the pipework is firmly secured too, so what could happen? "It'll invalidate your warranty, sir" was all he could say...
I connected it with a compression elbow, suitably torqued-up with my calibrated wrist...
Other models say there is no rear entry option...
Frankly, just built down to a price
 
The thing that would worry me is if there is a place for suitable cable entry, it is usually a removable piece, that shower top has been chewed away. If you were simply bringing a cable in the correct top entry point, a drill or in this case whatever he has buthered it with would not be needed.

Edit
Ask your landlord for the Part P notification and also the EIC, not only of this but of the mains board change.
Also if safe to do so can you take a picture of the mains board. Leave the cover on, just the surrounds of it.

That is a dog **** install at best
 
ChrisElectrical88 said:
The thing that would worry me is if there is a place for suitable cable entry, it is usually a removable piece, that shower top has been chewed away. If you were simply bringing a cable in the correct top entry point, a drill or in this case whatever he has buthered it with would not be needed.

Edit
Ask your landlord for the Part P notification and also the EIC, not only of this but of the mains board change.
Also if safe to do so can you take a picture of the mains board. Leave the cover on, just the surrounds of it.

That is a dog **** install at best
Click to expand...
Post #15 has the manufacturers instructions. Top entry is suitable, but it's not designed to be knocked out, you need to use a suitable tool to cut it out, and it makes note not to use pliers to do it
 
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