House insurance & DIY electrical work

workaccount

Hi,
I was thinking of wiring the shed for 16 amp...putting in a fusebox etc. and connecting that into the main fusebox in the house.

Does house insurance still stand if you do this?

Thanks.

edanto

Granted, this thread is 5 years old... but I've got the same question as the OP!

If I were to install some extra sockets, cabinet lights, any non-certified electrical work at all, could that pose an insurance problem in the event of an electrical fire?

Philip82

Added electrical work as above does not require certification as long as its carried out to the correct standards by a very compenent person that is up to date on rules and regulations or prefferably by a qualified Electrician.

corkplumber

as far as i know. if the insured carries out the work. resulting damage is covered.

im opening to be corrected.

however if a contractor carries out the work. they will pursue him for costs to reinstate your property.

However maintaince issues are not covered and the insurer may put your handy work down as a maintaince issue.

get advice from your broker or an independent loss assessor in relation to your policy. all policies differ.

mikehammer67

not certain on the specific question

but i would play safe and get all work done by competent electrician to ET101:2008 rules

diy work could be a prob down the line with inspections and reports if they tighten up


do they request inspection reports at all for renewal?
it seems very surprising that they don't considering the number of houses in need of rewire etc.

NobodyImportant

Sure it was like that when i moved in.....

Andrew_Doran

Philip82 wrote: »

Added electrical work as above does not require certification as long as its carried out to the correct standards by a very compenent person that is up to date on rules and regulations or prefferably by a qualified Electrician.

To do it properly, i.e. follow the law, new circuits require certification. A qualified electrician is not enough, it needs to be certified by a registered contractor or by one of the regulatory bodies (RECI, ECCSA).

EDIT: and the above is just a statement of fact, certification of electrical and building work in Ireland is sh1te and completely ignores DIY.

http://www.cer.ie/en/electricity-safety-controlled-works.aspx

CER wrote:

CONTROLLED WORKS
Controlled Works are major electrical installation works (including additions,
alterations and/or extensions) which are covered by the National Wiring Rules and
which involve:
1. the installation, commissioning, inspection, and testing of a new fixed
electrical installation requiring connection or reconnection to the electricity
network;
2. the installation or replacement of a Distribution Board or Consumer Unit,
or new installation in special locations as defined in Part 7 of the National
Wiring Rules ET101 and ET105;
3. the installation or replacement of one or more extra circuits in an existing
installation, including the installation of one or more additional protective devices
for such circuits on a distribution board;
4. Subsystems installed in Commercial, Industrial, and Domestic installations
where the installation falls within the remit of the National Wiring Rules;
5. the inspection, testing and certification of existing electrical installations
(in accordance with Chapter 62 of the Wiring Rules (ET 101 –Fourth Edition-
2008 and to conform with Regulation 89 of SI No 732 of 2007).

edanto

That's really helpful, thanks Andrew.

NobodyImportant wrote: »

Sure it was like that when i moved in.....

The funny thing is, when I moved in all the sockets were horribly unsafe! Almost every one of them had loose connections. I noticed it first in one socket, a light was turning itself on and off.... had a look, was surprised, but swapped out the old socket for a new double.

That got me curious about the rest and I inspected and fixed them all. Not sure if the original wiring job was shoddy or if the holding screws in the sockets were dodgy, but it was a bit of a mess.

Since then, the whole house has been professionally rewired, but I was interested to know what the guidance would be relating to making some changes myself. Thanks for all the advice.

BoardLK

Might be useful to someone:

DOCUMENT TYPE:
Decision Paper REFERENCE:
CER/13/147 DATE PUBLISHED:
23rd July 2013 QUERIES TO:

The Commission for Energy Regulation, The Exchange, Belgard Square North, Tallaght, Dublin 24.


Consequently, Restricted Electrical Works does not include:
a) Electrical works in potentially explosive atmospheres;
b) Electrical works in a Commercial Premises setting including MV and HV connection and installations;
c) Electrical works on a construction site;
d) Electrical works within exhibitions, shows and stands;
e) Electrical works on agricultural and horticultural installations;
f) Electrical works on public lighting and associated cabling;
g) Minor electrical works including the replacement of an electrical accessory such as a light switch, the replacement or relocation of light fitting where the existing circuit is retained, the provision of an additional socket to an existing radial circuit, or electrical works which do not require the issuance of a completion certificate under Section 9D of the Act.

ienduredQcon

We had professional rewiring done for the grant for my old aunt and they did a horrendous job. They weren't just randomers they're selected registered as you only get the grant if you use the particular people they send you, all supposedly regulated...they were complete messers. So random what they did. Sockets behind pipes so you couldn't reach them. Light switches at bizzare levels fuse box miles high. Left a ton of socketstry in the ceiling just loose... Flickering lights and horrific chasing. Nightmare. So even if you're getting someone registered and qualified watch them like a hawk and know the regulations yourself because you can trust nobody in the trades. Whatever their cert or level. Trust no one.

ienduredQcon

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118291111#Comment_118291111

Did they not issue you with a RECI cert?

policarp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118291111#Comment_118291111

Who supervised the job?