Queries regarding Inspection Report I've just had completed

[Butch]

Hi Littlespark, just read your post.

No not selling or anything like that, I had an extension several years ago and it needs to be signed off (building Regs). Part of the sign off is getting the electrics signed off (which I did myself).

The consumer unit is about 5 years old (if that), I 'think' reading the inspection report that the issue was the neutral and earth conductors should have been in some kind of order, I'm assuming this would make it easier to carry out the DEAD tests, I'm just guessing as I have no idea what they are .

 

[MFS Electrical]

Hi to all that have responded and thanks...

AJshep...you have said exactly what I would have expected, however, what if I carried out the remedial work myself, would this make a difference to getting it tested, would the remedial work and only the remedial work need checking or would it require an entire check again?

That’s a fair point technically you wouldn’t need an EICR again. But you will need some sort of certificate to supersede it such as an EIC or Minor Works cert and you’d struggle to get any spark to make up a very for work he/she hadn’t done. If you decide to fix the remedials yourself your only option may well be another EICR. I recommend you use a different spark look for one who is 2394/5, 2391 or 2391-52 qualified though. They are much more likely to be able to effectively test your property fully as their competence has been assessed in inspection and testing

 

[SparkyChick]

Hi to all that have responded and thanks...

AJshep...you have said exactly what I would have expected, however, what if I carried out the remedial work myself, would this make a difference to getting it tested, would the remedial work and only the remedial work need checking or would it require an entire check again?

The issue is that when we carry out work, test and issue certificates we're taking responsibility for the work. This is where a lot of DIYers don't get it.

You do some work, I come along test it and issue a minor works certificate. If it goes wrong down the line, I'm liable. So, to be blunt, if you wanted to carry out the remedial work, I'd expect to do a full EICR again, I won't certify someone one elses work unless it's through the third party certification scheme (which isn't really meant for minor works as far as I can tell).

 

[AJshep]

I agree with Sparkychick on this point.

Butch can I ask have you carried out electrical work yourself prior to getting a EICR done ?

 

[Butch]

I agree with Sparkychick on this point.

Butch can I ask have you carried out electrical work yourself prior to getting a EICR done ?

Yes, I had an extension to the house (had the shell built), I did everything else, central heating (obviously not the boiler), electrics, kitchen install etc...

 

[AJshep]

Yes, I had an extension to the house (had the shell built), I did everything else, central heating (obviously not the boiler), electrics, kitchen install etc...

Ok these situations are akward for electricians, if the electrical work has been carried out to a poor standard we often face upset from the customer and risk of not being paid. I'll be honest sometimes its just easier to not except these jobs.

So I'm not trying to be disrespectful, and I have not seen the work, however the best advice I can give is for you to either contact the original electrician and come to an agreement or seek the advice of a new electrician, be honest about the work you have carried out before they visit and be prepared to except that some of the things you may have done may need to be corrected to get a satisfactory report.

Your much more likley to get an Electrician work with you if deal with this potentially akward situation first.

 

[Darkwood]

I do think there is issue with how the inspection was carried out here although many relevant points have also been raised in this thread, unless the installation is wired in singles then I see no issue with doing dead tests regardless of the N/E connection order, it seems like a lazy attitude not to do the tests then put them back in the correct order.
I agree the EICR is a report on the installation as it stands but some issues can simply be resolved by the inspector if they go in with a professional attitude to start with.
I also am confused about the numerous joint box comment, unless these are somehow impeding the safety of the installation then there is nothing wrong with it, every electrical point in your house is technically a joint anyway.
I see within this thread that we have 2 issues, the OP's misinterpretation as to what an EICR is and what seems to be an unprofessional approach by the Electrician who could have carried out the dead tests (unless they were all in singles) by simply following the live wire to the common cable to test the N/E.

Any limitations in the report as already mentioned should have been discussed prior or during the testing, if you were not present then at a convenient point before the report was written then at least you would have been fully informed before the report was issued.

 

[Butch]

The issue is that when we carry out work, test and issue certificates we're taking responsibility for the work. This is where a lot of DIYers don't get it.

You do some work, I come along test it and issue a minor works certificate. If it goes wrong down the line, I'm liable. So, to be blunt, if you wanted to carry out the remedial work, I'd expect to do a full EICR again, I won't certify someone one elses work unless it's through the third party certification scheme (which isn't really meant for minor works as far as I can tell).

I totally get that, as per Building Regs, if a qualified person does the work they issue a BS7671, if a non-qualified person carries out the work they appoint a qualified person to perform an inspection report.

What I don't get, if an electrician carried out the C1 and C2 issues (although I'm reluctant to pay someone just for tightening sockets (c1), there wouldn't be a need to carry out a complete test again, however, If I did the remedial work for C1 and c2 the whole test would need to be carried out again, why can't the c1 and c2 just be checked again...I'm guessing it can, but I think like you stated before, I would probably find it difficult to get a DIFFERENT electrician to come out for just that, however, shouldn't it be okay for the original electrician to just check the c1 and c2 failures again rather than entire test (thats what I can't get my head round).

 

[Darkwood]

I will add if there are minor easily resolvable issues raised in any test I did I would give the home owner the opportunity to correct them or do them myself before issuing the report, I find this to be a good professional attitude and good for customer relations and business sense... I wouldn't put an unsatisfactory on a report for an issue that may take less than a minute to resolve, I would simply do it and inform the customer that I carried out some corrective measures.

 

[The Ghost]

When the incorrectly terminated earths etc. are mentioned, it means there are numbers on the earth bar and the neutral bar. Each circuit is numerically assigned to the numbers on the bars and the postion of the circuit breaker. So 1st MCB Live, then N. and E. to 1 on the corresponding bars. The only time I really have a problem with that is in commercial installations. They usually have single cables coming in and it can be interesting finding out which single belongs to its corresponding single. In your case you have no doubt twin and earth cable so it is easy to see which belongs to which. So in not so many words, it is lazy of him not to do the dead tests for that reason. Limitations have to be agreed with the person ordering the work, prior, to beginning the inspection. It seems you agreed to this according to his report?