I need a professional opinion on a recent rewire please

[chris140]

Hi, I have just had a full rewire done on my house by a Napit registered company whom I didn't realise at the time where allowing none registered persons to do the work. I have had to call them back several times to many issues I came across and am now concerned about the safety of the rewire. I have a couple of pictures that they say are not a problem, but I am just not sure!
I would really appreciate it if somebody would have a quick look at the pictures and tell me if they look to be ok?

The first picture is showing the cables twisted around each other under the floor boards (they were also the same in the walls), the other pictures are of six cables going into a dimmer and a double switch that are next to each other, the dimmer is for the bathroom light and the double switch is for the loft light and inline extractor fan in the loft. The final picture is of a dimmer in the kitchen.

Thank you

 

[Mikegh]

It's dog rough at best

 

[chris140]

It's dog rough at best

Hi, thank you so much for your reply. I know it's a very bad job but do you think it is safe, is it ok to leave the cables twisted under the floors?

Thanks

 

[Mikegh]

Theres too much copper showing and sheaths not brought into enclosures

I don't work in UK but I've never heard of any rules on cables twisted like that ,.doubt there is anything

 

[chris140]

Theres too much copper showing and sheaths not brought into enclosures

I don't work in UK bit I've never heard of any rules on cables twisted like that ,.doubt there is anything

That's great, I really appreciate your reply.
Take care,
Thank you

 

[LewisM]

That's great, I really appreciate your reply.
Take care,
Thank you

Cables being twisted isn't a major issue as its not tight enough to cause any effects

 

[SJD]

Some metal switches don't appear to be earthed?

 

[westward10]

They haven't earthed most of the metal plate dimmer switches. Conductors and what look like connections in the wall cavities. If anyone working for us turned out work to that standard they would be sacked.

 

[buzzlightyear]

, is it ok to leave the cables twisted under the floors?

It's OK if you are a Italian sparky twist spaghetti.. Lol

 

[Pretty Mouth]

In photo 2, the accessory plate isn't earthed. Yet in photo 3, the exact same accessory is now earthed, and a neutral has sprouted from somewhere. Spooky!

 

[phil 01]

Just looks like a lazy spark, it’s as if he couldn’t be bothered, now you’ve looked the switches but what are the parts like that you can’t see, I would contact napit and tell them your not happy with the condition of the installation

 

[Yozza19]

I think you proding around in there has made things a lot worse if you’re that concerned get a eicr instead of messing yourself no questions it dosnt look great but you have definitely made things worse

 

[chris140]

Cables being twisted isn't a major issue as its not tight enough to cause any effects

That's great. Thank you so much for your reply

 

[Strima]

It looks like several accessories are not earthed correctly or have a CPC (earth) connected to them. I would recommend putting your concerns in writing to the contractor and also send a copy to NAPIT, allow them the chance to rectify any concerns you have.

If they're not forthcoming or carry out the work satisfactorily I would commission and independent electrician to carry out a periodic inspection of their work and raise a report on their findings, then I would contact NAPIT to let them sort it out.

They've taken a lot of short cuts just in those pictures, I'd hate to think what's been hidden away.

 

[chris140]

In photo 2, the accessory plate isn't earthed. Yet in photo 3, the exact same accessory is now earthed, and a neutral has sprouted from somewhere. Spooky!

Sorry, photo 3 was after he had been back out to apparently fix it!

 

[Mikegh]

Holy cow

They came back to "fix" it lol

 

[chris140]

It looks like several accessories are not earthed correctly or have a CPC (earth) connected to them. I would recommend putting your concerns in writing to the contractor and also send a copy to NAPIT, allow them the chance to rectify any concerns you have.

If they're not forthcoming or carry out the work satisfactorily I would commission and independent electrician to carry out a periodic inspection of their work and raise a report on their findings, then I would contact NAPIT to let them sort it out.

They've taken a lot of short cuts just in those pictures, I'd hate to think what's been hidden away.

Hi, thanks very much for your reply.
He has been back out several times and I am still finding issues.
It's what I can't see as you say, that I'm now concerned about.

Thanks for your advice

 

[chris140]

Holy cow

They came back to "fix" it lol

Exactly!!

 

[Electrics]

I'm not sure what half the pics are trying to show but to me it looks OK from a safety point of view but it's just rough as a badger's.

They grommeted the metal back box and have sleeved the earths, so that's something. It's just that there are some fittings without sheathing going into the box like they should and the second fixing on the wires is shoddy, far too much copper showing.

Don't think this is necessarily inherently dangerous since i've seen a million properties like this but it's just rough. I wouldn't be concerned about your house burning down or anything though.

EDIT: Missed metal not being earthed. That needs to be sorted - if the right fault appears someone could get a belt off that.

Make sure they put RCD protection in at the board.

 

[chris140]

I think you proding around in there has made things a lot worse if you’re that concerned get a eicr instead of messing yourself no questions it dosnt look great but you have definitely made things worse

Thanks for reply but I have not touched anything. I just unscrewed the faceplates to see if I could straighten them because they they are miles out, and then took pictures

 

[freddo]

That is quite poor work.

Make sure they put RCD protection in at the board.

Good point.

Could we see a photograph of the consumer unit please? You need not remove the cover.

 

[chris140]

I'm not sure what half the pics are trying to show but to me it looks OK from a safety point of view but it's just rough as a badger's.

They grommeted the metal back box and have sleeved the earths, so that's something. It's just that there are some fittings without sheathing going into the box like they should and the second fixing on the wires is shoddy, far too much copper showing.

Don't think this is necessarily inherently dangerous since i've seen a million properties like this but it's just rough. I wouldn't be concerned about your house burning down or anything though.

EDIT: Missed metal not being earthed. That needs to be sorted - if the right fault appears someone could get a belt off that.

Make sure they put RCD protection in at the board.

Thanks very much for your reply

 

[chris140]

That is quite poor work.


Good point.

Could we see a photograph of the consumer unit please? You need not remove the cover.

Hi, thanks for reply.
I think the consumer unit is ok!

 

[UNG]

Do you have the EIC for the installation work or has the installer not done the testing and certification yet

In what part of Liverpool are you based

 

[littlespark]

Looking at the consumer unit, personally I would have put the upstairs sockets and upstairs lights on different rcds. (Same with ground floor)

That way, if an RCD trips, your not left without any lights in one room… between ceiling lights and plug in lamps.

unless your bedrooms are on the ground floor and living room upstairs

Was there any mention by the electricians of an SPD?

 

[James]

as been mentioned before, lack of earthing to metal accessories, lack of brown sleaving on switched live wires.

bare copper showing at the terminals of accessories.

Lack of attention to detail on such simple things makes me worry about the general standard of workmanship.

and as @westward10 has already mentioned, anyone doing that sort of work for me would find it was the last job they did for me.

If you have any sort payment due to the contractor that did it, i would recommend not paying it until you are happy at the quality of the work.

also, if there is any paperwork such as an installation certificate, post it up for comment (remove any personal details of yourself and the contractor.

 

[DPG]

I think you proding around in there has made things a lot worse if you’re that concerned get a eicr instead of messing yourself no questions it dosnt look great but you have definitely made things worse

Which bits has he made 'a lot worse ' ?

 

[telectrix]

shyte is shyte. can't get worse, shyte is shyte. (caveat. even so may not be dangerous shyte, just ruff).

 

[Deleted account]

I think you proding around in there has made things a lot worse if you’re that concerned get a eicr instead of messing yourself no questions it dosnt look great but you have definitely made things worse

Can’t see how it’s been made worse.


I can’t see anything immediately dangerous. It’s rough, poor workmanship, id be ashamed to call it my work, but it’s not immediately dangerous as far as I can see.
metal dimmers not earthed could be classed as potentially dangerous.

non registered sparkies can work for registered sparkies if they are prepared to take responsibility for there workmanship.

 

[catdog1121]

Were they the cheapest quote by any chance?

 

[Deleted account]

Were they the cheapest quote by any chance?

It’s immaterial whether it was cheapest or most expensive. A certain level of workmanship should be expected regardless of price.
ive known cheap to be fantastic and expensive be carp.

 

[catdog1121]

It’s immaterial whether it was cheapest or most expensive. A certain level of workmanship should be expected regardless of price.
ive known cheap to be fantastic and expensive be carp.

Yeah but if they are much cheaper then its going to be dog rough and use a cheap contactum consumer unit with no spd.. For those of us doing a decent job at a fair price we lose work to these cowboys and then customers wonder why the job is done so badly...

 

[Pretty Mouth]

use a cheap contactum consumer unit with no spd.

Out of interest, what don't you like about Contactum CU's? I've never used one you see.

 

[Yozza19]

Which bits has he made 'a lot worse ' ?

In one photo the cpc are connected another they are not and in one photo neutrals are inside back box and another they are in the wall

 

[DPG]

In one photo the cpc are connected another they are not and in one photo neutrals are inside back box and another they are in the wall

I think the sparky had been back to sort some of the issues between the photos being taken.

If the action of moving a switch plate a few inches from the wall causes problems then I would say it confirms that there is a problem with the workmanship.

 

[Mikegh]

I think the sparky had been back to sort some of the issues between the photos being taken.

If the action of moving a switch plate a few inches from the wall causes problems then I would say it confirms that there is a problem with the workmanship.

Comical really

Coming back to connect a CPC to a metal faceplate is remedying a dangerous situation not fixing an issue

Like you say , you should be able to pull a switch or socket out from a wall without creating a hazard

 

[littlespark]

Like you say , you should be able to pull a switch or socket out from a wall without creating a hazard

Simples. Turn the power off. No hazard.

 

[timhoward]

Out of interest, what don't you like about Contactum CU's? I've never used one you see.

I wondered the same. I maintain lots of large sites, one of them has over 30 Contactum CU's ranging from a 4 way to TP 24 way. They've never upset me!

 

[Deleted account]

Yeah but if they are much cheaper then its going to be dog rough and use a cheap contactum consumer unit with no spd.. For those of us doing a decent job at a fair price we lose work to these cowboys and then customers wonder why the job is done so badly...

Totally disagree With the cheaper then it’s going to be dog rough.

 

[juanmanners]

I wondered the same. I maintain lots of large sites, one of them has over 30 Contactum CU's ranging from a 4 way to TP 24 way. They've never upset me!

Actually rate contactum boards. All the prewired links are shaped so you can get a nice neat finish and the colour coded breakers aren't a bad idea