No inner peace

Chrishands · Nov 23, 2016

Im a qual electrician working as a maintenance engineer i was thinking of joining a body like napit ect so i could undertake notifiable jobs. however i have done a few minor non notifiable jobs and the things i find scare me.
Today i changed a few light fittings but the consumer unit had missing mcbs and exposed bus bar! as it was a c1 i immediately made safe by glueing a plastic card over the hole however i dont have time or registration to replace fuseboard. i have advised owner but dont feel like its enough

My question is do you find inner peace in your work or do you constantly feel anxious of work done incase you missed something?

Andy78 · Nov 23, 2016

Inner peace comes from knowing exactly what you should be doing, and doing it. Issuing certification that proves you have done things correctly, and having the correct insurances in place should something out of the blue pop its head up is also essential to a good nights sleep.

If I find something that requires it, a danger notification covers me until such time as the customer will arrange for me, or others, to fix the dangerous situation.

Some din rail mounted blanks would have sufficed in your case and would not have been notifiable.

The Ghost · Nov 23, 2016

personally I sleep well at night. There is a method and checklists and tests. If you have been careful and diligent there should not be anything to worry about. If you see something like that C1 then dont forget to advise the customer in writing with recommendations as to the remedy. It is up to the customer to make that decision. All you can do is advise. If you take action without the customers knowledge and something goes wrong you may wish you did not interfere later. One thing I always do before leaving site is what I call the Idiot check. That is to pan back and look very carefully what I have done and how I have left things. That helps as well. Try not to look at the back of your own head!

sparksburnout · Nov 24, 2016

I find home brew helps a lot.

7029 dave · Nov 24, 2016

Chrishands said:
Im a qual electrician working as a maintenance engineer i was thinking of joining a body like napit ect so i could undertake notifiable jobs. however i have done a few minor non notifiable jobs and the things i find scare me.
Today i changed a few light fittings but the consumer unit had missing mcbs and exposed bus bar! as it was a c1 i immediately made safe by glueing a plastic card over the hole however i dont have time or registration to replace fuseboard. i have advised owner but dont feel like its enough

My question is do you find inner peace in your work or do you constantly feel anxious of work done incase you missed something?

Emm, I know guys with 45 years experience, not signed up with any scheme providers and doing the lot. I would be joining them.! Just MO.

westward10 · Nov 24, 2016

Why does a few blanks missing from a CU scare you, you aquire loads of them over the years I certainly wouldn't consider it an immediate danger.

Chrishands · Nov 24, 2016

westward10 said:
Why does a few blanks missing from a CU scare you, you aquire loads of them over the years I certainly wouldn't consider it an immediate danger.

So what about when the lights trip and the dozy tenant feels around in the dark to turn the breaker on and gets 100amps worth.

sparksburnout · Nov 24, 2016

Chrishands said:
So what about when the lights trip and the dozy tenant feels around in the dark to turn the breaker on and gets 100amps worth.

What like walking across the road without looking??

westward10 · Nov 25, 2016

Chrishands said:
So what about when the lights trip and the dozy tenant feels around in the dark to turn the breaker on and gets 100amps worth.

You blanked it off, probably ruined the board at the same time by gluing it on mind you. No one will have 100A running through them, you get into this sort of work you will see more than a few blanks missing.

HandySparks · Nov 25, 2016

westward10 said:
Why does a few blanks missing from a CU scare you, ... I certainly wouldn't consider it an immediate danger.

So what would you code it on an EICR?

Generally a C1 for me, accessible live parts.

DPG · Nov 25, 2016

Chrishands said:
So what about when the lights trip and the dozy tenant feels around in the dark to turn the breaker on and gets 100amps worth.

I'm going to be pedantic here. They wouldn't get '100 Amp's worth' - they would get whatever Ohm's law allowed them to get based on the supply voltage and their body resistance at the time. Daz

Rpa07 · Nov 25, 2016

Yes Daz, pedantic but point well made and fully understood!

Rpa07 · Nov 25, 2016

As Westward10 said, you have blanks use them then C1 immediately cancelled. If you don't have blanks on board then go out get some following this wake up. I know part of an EICR is not to do the remedial work but to not do anything and just report is ridiculous. We are professionals and know what is right and what is wrong.

Andy78 · Nov 25, 2016

Rpa07 said:
As Westward10 said, you have blanks use them then C1 immediately cancelled. If you don't have blanks on board then go out get some following this wake up. I know part of an EICR is not to do the remedial work but to not do anything and just report is ridiculous. We are professionals and know what is right and what is wrong.

Part of an periodic inspection is to make any immediately dangerous situation safe where practicable and with the owners permission. This is following the EAWR and BS7671. So yes, part of it is to do remedial work.