Cut/damaged wire sheathing
Listed under: fixtures and fittings, plastic, electrical, health and safety, electrical safety, polystyrene, Services, wires, appliances
Cause
Poor initial installation
Repair
- if the damage is to wiring in the house itself and the installation was carried out within recent years, call the installer back to make repairs or to replace damaged wiring
- if house wiring is damaged and this was not caused by recent work, call a registered electrician who holds an annual practising certificate to replace the wiring. This is not something that can be done by DIYers
- you can check that an electrician is registered here
- if the damage is to the lead of a home appliance, you may be able to repair or replace it yourself. You should only do this is you have the skills, experience and tools to do the job properly
- if you want to check what electrical work can be done on a DIY basis, this is covered in Section 57 of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
- wiring in many appliances is factory-fitted and cannot be replaced
- landlords and tenants cannot carry out any electrical work in any rented property unless they are registered electrical workers and hold current practising licences
Cause
Wiring has become dislodged
Repair
- if wiring is in good condition but has simply become dislodged, purpose-designed pin clips and cable clips are readily available from hardware stores
- damaged wiring should be replaced – see repair above
Cause
Old wiring – very old wiring may have a black coating
Repair
- it is highly unlikely that a house will still have a type of wiring older than the thermoplastic-sheathed (TPS) wiring installed since the 1960s, but if this is the case, all the old wiring should be replaced
- rewiring a house cannot can be done by DIYers
- rewiring must be carried out by a licensed electrical worker who must also hold an annual practising certificate
- you can check that an electrician is registered here
- the electrical worker should give you a Certificate of Compliance. This indicates that the work is safe, complies with safety standards and codes and has been tested. Keep the certificate with your house paperwork