Dangerous Electrics

The electric connections to my new apartment were checked today and found to be in a very dangerous condition:-

The screws connecting the wires to the circuit breakers both live and neutral were dangerously loose.

In one case, tightening the screws, the electrician got three full turns out of the screwdriver.

Why is this dangerous? Because once you use the circuit with the loose wire, there is a significant risk of fire breaking out at the electrical box. In a top floor apartment the added nuisance is that you would have to try to get past it to leave the apartment as they put the box right by the front door.

Is it a one off? No, its estimated that up to 70% of apartments may have been left in this condition.

Do Polaris World know? Yes they do, there has been one case of a fire already, and I have just emailed them.

I would strongly suggest that the connection are checked as otherwise the only way you’ll find out if there’s a problem is when you start to use the circuits.

Also, in the ground floor apartment two screws securing the box to the wall were left dangerously close to the live electricity supply. These have now been shortened. (Pic attached)

To end on a bright note, Andy the electrician did a great job putting a flush mounted socket in the under-stairs area which will be great when I’ve saved up for the LCD to go on that wall. (Pic attached)

Ian
Naranjos Garden 4

We have just spent our first few days in our Penthouse apartment and we also had a problem with our electrics cutting out they then set off sparks and burnt out, we are also a bit wary now and are intending to get smoke alarms when next out. Polris did come out immediately and replace parts etc, but still a bit wary.

Sounds possible that it could be a similar issue. I'd be happy to pass on the details of the (English) Electrician that fixed mine. I'm totally happy with mine now and looking forward to having family and friends out.

As for PW, they emailed a reply to me saying that it was the first they had heard of it. That's just not true. An apartment near mine caught fire due to this problem so they knew about it at the end of  last year.

Ian  

Although not directly related I would avise anyone completing and using their apartment for the first time to go around and check the tightness of all plumbing, particularly waste pipes.

When we completed and our snagging company snagged there was no water on to the apartment so these could not be checked.

When we went over to use the apartment for the first time I checked them myself and none of  the waste pipe connectors had been even tightened up by hand.