ECSSA ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS

annam11

We had a severe problem with an electrical contractor registered with the ECSSA. We called for an inspection. The inspector called out and passed the installation. The electrician submitted his pre-connection cert despite having no bonding or earthing complete. I conytacted the Commision for Energy Regulation who stated the electrician did not comply with the national wiring rules. When I went back to ECSSA they would do nothing for us. As the electrician did not comply with the national wiring rules surely the installation should not have been passed by ECSSA. There was also a live wire with no junction box attached located in our home. In relation to the bonding/earthing we have been advised that we could have been killed....Has anyone else had any issues with ECSSA? They just completely took the side of the Electrical Contractor and will not back down. Thanks in advance...:mad:

meercat

need more info
what was the reason you wanted an inspector out in the first place

sometimes it is not practical to wait until the plumbing is completed to bond the installation as this could delay your connection to esbn

was the live wire taped up or was there bare conductors exposed(there should have been a joint box as you say)

these seem minor breaches if the conductors were not exposed(stand back and wait for onslaught)and perhaps he was trying to facilitate you by certifying early

mikehammer67

"The electrician submitted his pre-connection cert despite having no bonding or earthing complete"


not unusual i often did it although you're not supposed to
just to speed things up at the behest of builders etc.


if the bare cable was live after energizing the installation that would be a serious issue...

2011

annam11 wrote: »

We had a severe problem with an electrical contractor registered with the ECSSA. We called for an inspection. The inspector called out and passed the installation.

It is hard to comment with so few details, but I feel your pain.

I had a bad experience with a RECI electrical contractor. I felt that the standard of work was appalling and breached the regulations. In my opinion (and the client's) RECI were on a mission to side with the contractor from the moment that the inspector arrived on site. We felt that they refused to satisfactorily address the issues, criticise or reprimand the electrical contractor despite some of his admissions (no certification at all, installation failed test when tested by RECI and witnessed by all parties).

In relation to the bonding/earthing we have been advised that we could have been killed

The chances of being killed due to a lack of equipotential bonding and/or earthing is quite remote unless something else went wrong. For example if a copper pipe that was not bonded came into contact with a live cable and someone with wet hands touched it while standing on a concrete floor they could be seriously injured or killed. I am not trying to justify a lack of earthing and bonding, it is important (just trying to give some perspective).

You can insist on getting CER to inspect.

Bruthal

annam11 wrote: »

. In relation to the bonding/earthing we have been advised that we could have been killed...:

That would be the equivalent of you being advised that you could have been killed driving to the shops. Sensationalist at best.

It should be bonded of course. But you`re highly unlikely to be killed by it.

Bruthal

2011 wrote: »

The chances of being killed due to a lack of equipotential bonding and/or earthing is quite remote unless something else went wrong. For example if a copper pipe that was not bonded came into contact with a live cable and someone with wet hands touched it while standing on a concrete floor they could be seriously injured or killed. I am not trying to justify a lack of earthing and bonding, it is important (just trying to give some perspective).

Bonding is really a protection against the weakness/disadvantage of neutralising installations, more so than protection against a pipe coming into contact with live wiring, IMO anyway.

It will protect against both, but a failed neutral outside the neutralising point is a real danger, where bonding at least keeps all items equal.

Lugs should also be used to terminate onto the bonding straps to do it properly.

liveandnetural

this is a typical one post wonder .............look at the date joined

if its not post some pictures of the issues

RoundyMooney

liveandnetural wrote: »

this is a typical one post wonder .............look at the date joined

if its not post some pictures of the issues

Maybe they signed up looking for advice?

Bruthal

It does seem an all out attack on little or nothing all the same. Would the average person note that bonding etc is not complete at the time the pre connection cert is sent off?

mikehammer67

sometimes when payment disputes arise customers were getting RECI and engineers involved

nitpicking over minor rules breaches

not saying thats the case here

2011

As the OP will have/has a case before the courts relating to this it would be unwise for all concerned to discuss it on the internet.
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