Drilled through wire

rottcodd

BarelySentientAI said:

Risteard said:

I don't entirely agree. IF it can be demonstrated that cables were indeed run outside of prescribed zones, and not otherwise suitably protected, then surely the blind installers cannot possibly be held liable.

I think both have made significant mistakes.

Original electrical installer for putting unprotected cables outside the zones.

Blind installer for not checking for wires prior to drilling.

I measured the distance from the ceiling to the holes they made and they are less than 150mm from the ceiling, which I think means it's inside the zone? 

BarelySentientAI

rottcodd said:

BarelySentientAI said:

Risteard said:

I don't entirely agree. IF it can be demonstrated that cables were indeed run outside of prescribed zones, and not otherwise suitably protected, then surely the blind installers cannot possibly be held liable.

I think both have made significant mistakes.

Original electrical installer for putting unprotected cables outside the zones.

Blind installer for not checking for wires prior to drilling.

I measured the distance from the ceiling to the holes they made and they are less than 150mm from the ceiling, which I think means it's inside the zone? 

If I remember my regs right, you are correct.  150mm region from the top of the wall or partition is where they should be expected to be.

FreeBear

tacpot12 said: If the person who was fitting the blinds is a profressional, they should cover the cost of repairing the damage. This is an easy repair for an electrican,  who will splice the wires back together.

It might be an easy repair if there is sufficient slack in the cable and it can be pulled through. A good chance that the cable is embedded in plaster and a possibility that no capping has been used. So a simple splicing job might turn in to half a days work tracing the route, chasing walls, and pulling new cable through. If floorboards need to be lifted, that is only going to add to the cost.

Section62

Risteard said:

I don't entirely agree. IF it can be demonstrated that cables were indeed run outside of prescribed zones, and not otherwise suitably protected, then surely the blind installers cannot possibly be held liable.

The prescribed zones were introduced in the regs in the 1980's?  So an installation which predates that may (legitimately) have unprotected cables outside the prescribed zones.

Risteard

rottcodd said:

BarelySentientAI said:

Risteard said:

I don't entirely agree. IF it can be demonstrated that cables were indeed run outside of prescribed zones, and not otherwise suitably protected, then surely the blind installers cannot possibly be held liable.

I think both have made significant mistakes.

Original electrical installer for putting unprotected cables outside the zones.

Blind installer for not checking for wires prior to drilling.

I measured the distance from the ceiling to the holes they made and they are less than 150mm from the ceiling, which I think means it's inside the zone? 

Yes it does indeed.

Risteard

Section62 said:

Risteard said:

I don't entirely agree. IF it can be demonstrated that cables were indeed run outside of prescribed zones, and not otherwise suitably protected, then surely the blind installers cannot possibly be held liable.

The prescribed zones were introduced in the regs in the 1980's?  So an installation which predates that may (legitimately) have unprotected cables outside the prescribed zones.

Plenty of things we don't do anymore. Not all of them are even considered to be safe nowadays. 40yo wiring is probably due for replacement anyway.

Section62

Risteard said:

Section62 said:

Risteard said:

I don't entirely agree. IF it can be demonstrated that cables were indeed run outside of prescribed zones, and not otherwise suitably protected, then surely the blind installers cannot possibly be held liable.

The prescribed zones were introduced in the regs in the 1980's?  So an installation which predates that may (legitimately) have unprotected cables outside the prescribed zones.

Plenty of things we don't do anymore. Not all of them are even considered to be safe nowadays. 40yo wiring is probably due for replacement anyway.

Sure, but that doesn't excuse an appropriately trained and competent tradesperson drilling a hole through a live electrical cable.

If the blinds company are sending people out to do work on people's homes without giving them the correct training and tools to do the job safely then that ought to be a matter for the HSE to be made aware of (whether or not they feel it justifies any further action).