This week we were commissioned to undertake a fixed wire test by a client who was in the process of buying a property in Cambridgeshire. The client was of the opinion that there surely couldn’t be anything wrong with a house that was only built 15 years ago, but that it was nevertheless prudent to carry out the EICR test prior to exchanging contracts. During the fixed wire test we uncovered a shocking fact – that the entire house had been unearthed since it was constructed.
The issue revolved around the box shown in the images.
The green and yellow cable – which is supposed to be the main earth for the house – should have been in the same row as the yellow cable rather than in the row above. The end result of this misalignment was that there had been no earth at the property, and that any kind of electrical fault would have resulted in no fuses blowing and, potentially, someone being killed or seriously injured.
For Mark Smith, owner of MS Electrical Services, this discovery only serves to underline the importance of having an EICR/fixed wire test done on your domestic property. ‘We were delighted to be engaged to undertake the fixed wire test on this property as we believe that most homeowners are unaware of the merit of having a test done on their home,’ comments Mark, ‘The assumption is that the newer the property the lower the likelihood of any electrical issues being uncovered but, as this case proves, that is simply not the case. Fortunately, we were able to uncover the fault and then bring in our colleagues at Cambridge Electrical Services as a matter of urgency to rectify the issue. We would encourage any homeowner whose property has not yet had a fixed wire test to contact us to make an appointment as you never know what dangers may be hidden within your home. As with all electrical safety testing, it is far better to be safe than sorry, and all properties should have a fixed wire test completed every ten years, not only to protect the occupants but also to ensure compliance with the requirements of your home insurance policy.’
MS Electrical Services offer fixed wire testing, EICRs, PAT testing and emergency lighting testing in Cambridge, so please contact us to request a no-obligation quotation.