Live 40A cable wrapped in earthing tape in kids bedroom

michug

We had an "electrician" do some work on us for an EICR, part of that work was removing and replacing the shower cable and incorporating an isolating switch. But he cut off and reused half the old cable and left the other half live wrapped up with green electrical tape and pushed it into an old piece of plastic conduit of which the covet didn't fit properly. This was left like this in a kids bedroom. Is this acceptable practise for an electrician and if not who do I complain to to report him as he's not registered anywhere and insists that to leave it like that was safe despite me getting a minor shock through the electrical tape when I touched it.

Veteransaver

How do you know the cable is live? It may be disconnected at the consumer unit.
It sounds untidy, but if he can't easily remove the cable there aren't many other options other than to disconnect it

Section62

michug said:

We had an "electrician" do some work on us for an EICR, part of that work was removing and replacing the shower cable and incorporating an isolating switch. But he cut off and reused half the old cable and left the other half live wrapped up with green electrical tape and pushed it into an old piece of plastic conduit of which the covet didn't fit properly. This was left like this in a kids bedroom. Is this acceptable practise for an electrician and if not who do I complain to to report him as he's not registered anywhere and insists that to leave it like that was safe despite me getting a minor shock through the electrical tape when I touched it.

We need some pictures to get a better idea how bad this is.

Did he leave you any paperwork after he'd finished?

Risteard

As above, photographs would help assess this.

Incidentally, an EICR is an Electrical Installation Condition Report - which is produced following periodic inspection and testing of an existing electrical installation. This sounds more like remedial works, which are not actually anything to do with this (although may be recommended following the inspection and testing of course). The EICR is simply a Report, regardless of whether the electrical installation is "Satisfactory" or "Unsatisfactory". Even an Unsatisfactory electrical installation will receive a Report.

FreeBear

Veteransaver said: How do you know the cable is live? It may be disconnected at the consumer unit.

michug said: who do I complain to to report him as he's not registered anywhere and insists that to leave it like that was safe despite me getting a minor shock through the electrical tape when I touched it.

The minor shock could have been a static discharge. If you have access to a non-contact voltage tester (e.g. https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-non-contact-voltage-detector-pen-1000v-ac/3222g ), that could confirm if the cable is live. However, these devices are not always reliable, so a better test is with a proper multimeter set on 400V AC.

As to reporting an unregistered electrician, Trading Standards would be your best bet. I'm guessing this EICR was done because you are in a rental property - If so, complain to the landlord in writing. He will have a duty to make sure that the house is safe.

michug

After getting a shock, we turned the fuse board off and removed the electrical tape, separated the wires, then tested with an electrical screwdriver after switching the fuse board back on. When the shower was originally put in, the cable was  connected to the cooker circuit so could not isolate from the breaker as the cooker needs power. We had had an EICR done which said that the shower cable should be removed and a new cable powered from a seperate 40A breaker designated for the shower installed. I paid this electrician to do all the work recommended by the EICR. But instead of replacing all the cable he cut it in half and used the second portion of it to go from the shower to a new isolating switch and then added a new portion to go to the fuse board. But instead of disconnecting the other old half of the cable from the cooker circuit he just taped it up and left it live.

35har1old

Risteard said:

As above, photographs would help assess this.

Incidentally, an EICR is an Electrical Installation Condition Report - which is produced following periodic inspection and testing of an existing electrical installation. This sounds more like remedial works, which are not actually anything to do with this (although may be recommended following the inspection and testing of course). The EICR is simply a Report, regardless of whether the electrical installation is "Satisfactory" or "Unsatisfactory". Even an Unsatisfactory electrical installation will receive a Report.

To carry any weight EICR should be carried out by a registered electrican

michug

The original one was, but this guy said he could carry out the work needed and then re-do the EICR, we were told he was a qualified electrician 

Risteard

michug said:

The original one was, but this guy said he could carry out the work needed and then re-do the EICR, we were told he was a qualified electrician 

What do you mean by "re-do the EICR"? You already had one.

michug

The first EICR recommended various work to bring it up to satisfactory, and this other  electrician did another EICR after he supposedly had done what was required and his report said all was now satisfactory.

Risteard

michug said:

The first EICR recommended various work to bring it up to satisfactory, and this other  electrician did another EICR after he supposedly had done what was required and his report said all was now satisfactory.

There is no need for a second report. Instead certification for the remedial work cross-referenced with the original Report demonstrates that the issues identified have been dealt with.