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CASE STUDY 1     -     FUSE KEEPS BLOWING FOR NO REASON
Location: A house near Southampton University.
Job Description: This extra socket was installed in a utility room sometime in 2007.
Shortly afterwards, the homeowner noticed a "funny smell" in the utility room.
Sometimes, the 30A fuse blew for this circuit in the fusebox. The homeowner replaced the
fusewire and everything worked again for a few days until it happened again.
The phone for the handyman who installed the utility room socket didn't answer, so we got a call saying -

"we have a fuse that keeps blowing for no reason, can you come and sort it out ?".

On testing the faulty circuit, we narrowed down the problem to the new socket in the utility room.


you can see a nail through the capping

Taking off the socket didn't reveal anything unusual,
but on removing the plaster covering the cable run, you can see a nail through the capping.
more than one problem

The prime suspect for the fault was found, but further tests revealed that there was more than one problem
a fault capable of burning the house down

Further excavation revealed another nail further up, and this one had made a fault capable of burning the house down.
It really was close to starting a serious fire

It really was close to starting a serious fire.

Insurance companies are increasingly taking the following view:
Cable colours are Brown/Blue/Green & Yellow rather than Red/Black/Green & Yellow so the work was done after January 2005.
Electrical work carried out after January 2005 must, by law comply with Part-P of the Building Regulations.
To comply with Part-P of the Building Regulations, the mandatory paperwork should have been raised.
As there's NO PAPERWORK from the cowboy electrician, YOUR INSURANCE IS INVALID.
And you (as the homeowner) are also liable for a £5000 fine for non compliance with Building Regulations.
As far as Building Regulations are concerned, it's the same as building an extension to your house without the proper approvals.
It's not the builder's responsibility to ensure compliance, it's the property owners.
Fireman Sparky

Fireman Sparky makes the day & saves the day!

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