What is this?

grumbler

Possibly, because these are just "best practice guidelines", not a law, and the deflection was just "five degree angle"

olgadapolga

FreeBear said:

olgadapolga said: DH calls the wiring in the kitchen "Darwin Award Winning". I've never heard so many expletives from DH about anything as I have the wiring in our kitchen. At least it will be safe by the time we've finished.

Unfortunately, it is not always the one that did the work that gets killed off. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3735928.stm

Indeed, we "inherited" the electrics when we purchased the house. I am just thankful that none of us were hurt before we had opportunity to sort them out. Absolutely shocking (pun intended) electrics, from bare wires twisted together to fuse wire sticking out of the bottom of one of the fuses in the consumer unit. Not to mention wires plastered into the walls at strange angles. Shouldn't have expected much else really, after the surprises in the garden and rest of the house.

Ectophile

Jeepers_Creepers said:

The issue I understand FB was inferring, is that - once hidden - no-one will know not to drill in that area.

That's a fair point.  The "safe zones" where people should know not to drill are directly above, below, left or right of a switch or outlet.  But if you can't see anything, you don't know the wire might be there.

Silvertabby

Mr S (retired aircraft leccie) always uses a  detector before drilling, even if there is absolutely no way that any wires could be lurking unseen.

FaceHead

FreeBear said:

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3735928.stm

The article really does seem to lay all the blame at the foot of the unnamed builders. A wire being 5 degrees out over let's say a metre means the husband is drilling less than 9cm from where he thinks a live wire is. In such a situation using some sort of detector is essential. Obviously the builder's share some fault for the not perfectly straight chases. It's also phenomenally unlucky to catch the live wire in just the way that allows this to happen. 

As Jeepers' story illusatrates even moderately shoddy work can be dealt with if approached with care.