Electrical testing

Worried

Hi not sure if posting in right place! We had periodic electrical test done on house we've just exchanged on . The electrics failed because of work needing on earthing and bonding. Got a quote for the following...

Main earth connection (suppler to repair EDF)
Gas and Water equipotential bonding
Bathroom supplementary bonding
Main earth connection
Connection of earth to garage supply
Refix loose sockets
Replace mcb for garage

Our electrician has quote us £350 plus VAT for the labour and materials for this job, also £85 for the main earth connection from EDF and £25 for new inspection certificate.

Does anyone know if this work is essential, does it need doing, is it dangerous if we don't get this done. All these points came up as 1s on the report, as urgent etc. but is it really?

Does having a failed test have any consequences, like it terms of your house insurance etc?

Does anyone know if this quote is reasonable?

koksrob

seems dangerous to me, loose sockets is up to you, but rest yes get it done!
its not just things like insurance, think electric shock and fire.

if you want to save cost just get him to disconnect garage electrics.

olly300

I would get it done.

You don't want a house fire to start especially while you are asleep or at work.

nick22abdn

A couple of the bit (loose sockets particularly) could do with attention. Fairly simple diy job though if it is just the back box though (just make sure you disconnect the power first!!)

Forget about any bonding for pipework. Has been required for years to make things safer and make sure you dont electrocute yourself on you water supply. However, they have just sat down and thought about it and realised there is a much higher chance of a pipe becoming live if they attatch wires to it. As such, it either has just been changed (07/07) or is being changed from 08/07 so that sparky's aren't allowed to do this. For new house completions they will actually fail if this is done. Phone your local building standards office int eh council to confirm this but have been told my a good mate who is a sparky that this is what has happened.

Price for all the work though sounds reasonable, I just would waste your time earthing cold feeds etc

saynonto0871

nick22abdn wrote: »

Forget about any bonding for pipework. Has been required for years to make things safer and make sure you dont electrocute yourself on you water supply. However, they have just sat down and thought about it and realised there is a much higher chance of a pipe becoming live if they attatch wires to it. As such, it either has just been changed (07/07) or is being changed from 08/07 so that sparky's aren't allowed to do this. For new house completions they will actually fail if this is done. Phone your local building standards office int eh council to confirm this but have been told my a good mate who is a sparky that this is what has happened.

Price for all the work though sounds reasonable, I just would waste your time earthing cold feeds etc

That is absolute garbage. The 10mm sq. "wires" attached to the pipework should be very much connected to earth. Therefore any pipework going live will discharge to earth and not through you. Also EQUIpotential bonding keeps all the pipes at the SAME potential so you can't get a shock while touching these two metal objects sat at different voltages.
The 16th edition IEE regs which are still in force mandate bonding to metal incoming services. The only way you would not bond is if it's an all plastic pipe installation therefore no risk.
The supplementary bonding in the bathroom is likely to go with the 17th regs edition (Jan 2008) but then bathroom circuits will have to be on RCDs.

Apart from that if you are to do any alterations or additions to the wiring the earthing arrangements must be brought up to code first, unless the sparks a cowboy.
Get your main earth done ASAP, if there isn't one it's very dangerous. The safety system used is based on
EARTHED EQUIPOTENTIAL BONDING WITH AUTOMATIC DISCONNECTION OF SUPPLY.

I would get everything else done as well.
And get a minor works certificate for the each of works so you can prove in the future that all the problems identified on the periodic have been rectified.

brock-cruse

Hi
sorry to hijack your thread but i too have electrical question.
Just looking for some info before i try and sort out an electrician!
Moved into new house 2 weeks ago with disgusting cooker (cleaned the hob so managed to use that while waiting for new cooker delivery but would not open grill or oven!).Well cooker arrived and included connection and disconnection of old cooker etc.
So old cooker using 10 mm cable instead of 6mm. Fitter said he could sort out but recommended changing. He then said that my cooker control panel should be within reach of cooker instead of in cupboard next to it (reasonable). However when he came to do final checks the earth loop reading came back at 14.76 (done twice) instead of should be about 0.8???? He checked our supply came underground which it did. Then he did say that it was taking soime time for his meter to show the reading so there maybe a problem with wiring. Hence he disconnected cooker, turned it off at the cu and recommended getting in an electrician. Texted hubby about this who then got a garbled story from a friend that he had similar problem and he has just sent off cheque to network services to come sort out? Is this something to do with the electricity board then?
Looking at my paperwork the fitter gave me (cos otherwise not got a clue!) he used a FLIUKE 1652 meter, my cooker is not protected by RCD has cicuit fuse MCB the earth return is direct and fuse rating 32amps, it passed the pre-installation polarity test. So is this going to be a big job for electrician?
Any info appreciated thanks