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Electrical

Advice on rewiring project - currently uses VIR cabling

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 2.59 PM

Our house was built in 1960 and was supposed to have been rewired in 1998. A while ago my husband was putting up a mirror between two side lights. When he put the power back on and switched on the lights only side one lit up. He checked the bulbs and they were fine, so we can only assume he screwed through the wire leading to the side two. We have BG Home Care 400 and when their electrician took the lights down they had expected to find two cables behind side one but there was only one, meaning that the cable must be jointed somewhere in order to supply power to side two. They said there was no earth at either side. When they went to the light switches they said they couldn't do any work as the light switch also had no earth and it was VIR cabling, which they don't cover. They put a terminal block behind the side lights switch so that they can't be switched on. Inside the fuse box they pointed out three brown wires, which are the VIR cabled circuits. The trip switches are labelled - Lights, Lights Extension, Spare, Central Heating, Sockets Extension, Sockets Kitchen, Sockets (No 1), Sockets (No 2), Cooker, Shower. Two of the brown wires are located at the Lights trip switch and one is at one of the Sockets trip switches. They said that, as far as the VIR cable was concerned, it was likely that all our lights, apart from those in the extension, were on the same circuit as the living room and was unsure which sockets would be affected. They advised these should all be rewired. Can anyone please give me some advice as to next steps & some answers to my questions. I am not at all technically minded! • What amount of work and upheaval is likely to be involved just to get the side lights working again? Could that part just be completed on its own or will all the rewiring need to be done at the same time? • Will everything need to be rewired, or just(!) the three VIR cabled circuits? • How long would this work take - our house has two bed, two public (one of these is the extension), kitchen and bathroom? • Will the entire house need to be pulled apart? • Would we need to get a new fusebox? • Would we need any kind of certificate, notification to Council, etc? Thanks for your help.

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3 Answers

Electrical Safety Services

Rating: 5 out of 5

Dereham

Rewiring is required! and ideally sooner rather than later as VIR cable is a fire risk and you may well find that if the worst happened your home insurance would be void as you have not taken any immediate remedial action after the issue has been brought to your attention. A lighting rewire can be completed in 2-3 days by a hard working two man team, although 3-4 days is average. 10 Days seems excessive but hey everyone works at different speeds. Carpets and floorboard need to come up in most rooms and worst case is chasing of walls from ceiling height to each light switch position in each room. Best option is to cancel BG policy as they are the biggest bunch of cowboys going and their insurance as you have found has a multitude of exclusions so that they can just wash their hands and walk away. Look up three NICEIC registered electricians and get them round to quote and then compare the prices etc. Doing nothing is not really an option if you value your house, belongings and the safety of your family.

Answered4 June 2013

Anonymous user

This problem is very common with houses of this age. As to your questions, I can only answer them based on knowledge and experience as each job/problem is unique. as we can only assume what has been done and whats involved, obviously a full survey would help. Answers 1. yes, just that part of the electrics can be renewed although it would be highly advised to replace the lot. in regards to upheaval, most of the work would be done above, so either in the loft or lifting floorboards in the room above. Sometimes you can be lucky and there can be steel conduit tubes buried in the wall so cables can be pulled through although we always assume worst case scenario and assume a vertical wall chase is needed from ceiling to wall light/switch. 2. Most probably just the VIR circuits although a complete check would be recommended. 3. 2-5 days depending on works required and ease of access. 4. hopefully not!! If you can find an electrician who specialises in occupied re wires minimal damage can be achieved. 5. not necessarily although its normally recommended. 6. Yes, Either a minor works or electrical installation Certificate will need to be issued depending on works carried. If the electrician is Part P registered they will carry out the building notification on your behalf and should not be charged as an extra. I hope this helps Luke Managing Director LC Energy Solutions Ltd

Answered29 May 2013

Anonymous user

The best option is rewiring, it'll take about 10 days (up to the contractor) , a lot of mess expected during rewiring then 1 week decorating. other options can be done only by non qualified electricians!.

Answered29 May 2013