CPJ Electrics

Home     Customers & About Us     Inspection Report     Portable Appliance Test     Safety     Electric Central Heating     News     Contact Us     Common questions      
Recent news that may be of interest

August 2010

Tenant electrocuted by dangerous installation


The husband of a young mother who died just days after moving into their new home in Cornwall has called for a change in the law on electrical installations in rented accommodation, a call that the Electrical Safety Council fully supports.

In July, the deputy coroner for Cornwall recorded a verdict of accidental death following the electrocution of the 33-yearold mother of two in March last year.

The inquest heard that she was killed when an oil-filled electric heater in the bathroom developed a fault, causing a lethal voltage to appear on the metal pipework in the property.

The main protective device (an old voltage operated earth-leakage circuit-breaker) that was intended to rapidly disconnect the electricity supply in such circumstances failed to operate because the connection with Earth that it needed for detecting dangerous voltages had corroded away.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, the coroner concluded that the house was electrically unsafe and openly criticised a legal loophole that allows landlords to rent homes to families without electrical safety checks being made.


The coroner concluded: “Anyone who has listened to the evidence today cannot but have been starkly reminded of the potential perils of electricity in our homes. But there is no requirement for periodic inspections of electricity in homes, and that to me seems inexplicable.”


July 2010

CPJ Electrics demonstrates comittment to trading fairly with Buy With Confidence Trading Standards scheme

     CPJ Eletrics, provider of electrical services to domestic customers in Wokingham & the surrounding area, is pleased to announce that it has successfully undergone assessment with Bracknell Trading Standards and is now a Member of the Buy with Confidence Scheme.

Click here for full press release

Downlighters can they be a fire hazard ?
  • The Electrical Safety Council have been working with the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service to investigate concerns that incorrectly selected, installed and/or maintained downlighters may have been the cause of a significant number of fires in homes.

  • Eight downlighters were selected to include a broad range of lamp type, fitting design and price, and assessed against the requirements for safety and performance specified in product standards applicable to ‘recessed luminaires’.

  • For all but one of the downlighters, covering the luminaire was considered to be an ‘abnormal’ mode of operation which contravened the installation instructions
  • For full details click here
© Electrical Safety Council 2009

When installing new downlighters why should I install the more expensive fire rated ones ?

  • The safety of ceilings will be compromised as soon as a hole is cut in them, as this creates a weakness that can lead to ceiling collapse in the event of a fire
  • It is estimated that around 70% of UK build installations feature 30 minute fire rated ceiling types. However some lighting manufacturers are producing and promoting downlights as fire rated for houses that have only been tested at 90 minutes making them ineffective in the event of a fire.

  • Details of what are the safety regulations for downlighters here.
  • Details of what a fire rated ceiling is, click here 
             © JCC Lighting Products Ltd. 2010

Linda Barker & NICEIC warns cash strapped consumers of DIY danger
                            
                                                                     
© 2009 NICEIC GROUP Limited

  Each year, unsafe electrics cause 12,500 house fires, 750 serious injuries and 10 deaths

 
Still, 63% of Brits are happy to have a go at DIY in the home

 
74% aren’t aware this work could be subject to law under Part P of the Building Regulations

"People are too casual about electrics in the home,what many fail to realise is that by attempting DIY electrics they could be putting their family's lives at risk" - Linda Barker

Click here for full details
 

Energy saving light bulbs take over - © Energy Saving Trust 2009

Inefficient light bulbs are being phased out over the next few years - helping everyone spend less on electricity


Inefficient light bulbs are disappearing from UK shops - they're all being replaced by energy saving light bulbs.

Energy saving light bulbs are compact, bright and available in a wide range of shapes - so the only difference you'll notice is a drop in your electricity bills.


Comment:  Basically you will not be able to buy the old incandest lamps we have had for many years. Instead you will only be able to buy energy efficient ones. Please note that energy efficient lamps are no longer the large, slow to start lamps that the utility companies sent to us all in the last few years. The latest energy efficient lamps are a direct replacement of what you already have installed.


Click here for full Energy Saving Trust (EST) article