Exposed: Cash for logos and drive by inspections

However, according to an E&T analysis of the available data, electrical fires have not reduced as a percentage of all fires, in fact they have increased slightly as a proportion, and are sill the second highest cause after cooking. 

The article doesn't seem clear on this point - are we talking about all electrical fires (including appliances, extension leads etc.) or just those originating in the fixed installation? I'd always thought that appliance fires outweighed fixed wiring ones by quite a margin, so if they're 2nd after cooking, I'm suspicious that the numbers are including non-fixed installation fires, which seems a bit out of context for EICRs.

The 'problem' isn't just EICRs of course - it's a bigger cultural issue. I've seen "PAT" done on extension leads from making a connection to just one end, box bleeps, passed. How can you test earth continuity from just one end I asked - bloke doing it showed me the config on the tester - it was doing just an insulation test! I raised it with management who took the view that the PAT brigade were the 'experts' and as they had their bit of paper they were happy. I'm sure many of us have heard of equally dodgy MOTs.

   - Andy.

I always unreel the whole cable length because I need to inspect the condition of the complete length of flex to find damage.

And check the C.P.C. as well.

Z.

I always unreel the whole cable length because I need to inspect the condition of the complete length of flex to find damage.

And check the C.P.C. as well.

Z.