Firstly I m not a sparks, but have done more than my fair share of electrical work as part of my job, Installing and repairing appliances including built in kitchens,
I would describe my level of workmanship and ability as pretty good and I think I know more than enough of the regulations relevant to what I was doing. but the more I see other peoples work, the more I am horrified that some of these people have been given the legal right to install anything more than a 13amp plug top.
I am now sidelined to plugtops and non notifiable work for the time being until I get myself part P'd since BC increased their charges by £70 but here's a couple of things I saw this week alone
I was in a customers house in Brodstairs, Kent to fit their kitchen appliances , they had used an NICEIC domestic and approved installer to fully rewire the house, what a mess and they have also left it in a dangerous state with a missing switch and bare wires in a dark basment (which is now the kitchen) for 6 weeks while they try to get a dimmer switch. they have also cut holes in new joists and trimmer joists at the ends, all cables are unclipped and just hanging over noggins.
There was apparently no ceilings in place when the first fix was done so there was no excuse for not clipping cables, in another room I noticed that several of the downlights were not in propperly, on closer inspection, it turned out they had cut the holes over and next to joists and instead of dealing with the mistake, they just made the holes bigger and pushed the lights in, 3 of the 50w downlights were touching the joists, you could smell the wood getting hot !!!
I told them to complain to the NICEIC about the state of it and not use the lights in that room until they had propper inspection done by an independant company.
Another job this one in Ramsgate I went to, the sparks was on site, I pulled out the washer and dryer and noticed there was a single new 2.5 T&E going to a brand new double socket, I asked if this was for the machines, he said Yes I questioned the fact it was a radial and he said well they don't draw much so they'll be OK.
I (not overly happy about it) carried on doing my doo's and before I left I followed the cable, it went to another double socket (also new) and then on via single cable to join the ring, this second double was where the microwave was going.
At this point I felt that this can't be legal, I questioned him again asking why not just extend the ring into the new, and he started spouting the i'm qualified to do this, your not. blah blah blah then went on to say that the tumble dryer only draws 3 Amp, 4 at most and the washing machine the same. I was gobbsmacked, i said it's a 2.5kw heater in the dryer and the washer has just over, which is about 10amp each without the motors running, he insisted that he was right and I was wrong and not meddle in things I did not understand.
I refused to connect the machines and left the job with the guy laughing at my 10amp calculation.
Would any of you agree with me on this, or was I in the wrong ?
That was another part P firm doing the work.
I don't think Part P has stopped bad workmanship, but it does mean more is now going unchecked