I have a project where the service entrance was ripped off the house & the insulation of the old seu cable was damaged. To repair this I have to enter a box with no main breaker. How do I phrase in my letter to the adjuster that the load center must also be replaced to bring the system up to local/national code. I'm sure they will listen to me in the end, but I expect them to be stubborn at first. Suggestions?
Dealing with insurance adjuster
- Thread starter H82paint
- Start date
- Status
Sierrasparky
Senior Member
- Location
- USA
- Occupation
- Electrician ,contractor
unless your town has some code that does not allow the repair of an old panel then you might have a problem with the adjuster .
If the conductors and insulation are still intact most will want a repair to the outer jacket.
I personally would want a complete upgrade if it were my place ,but as the term states.
If the conductors and insulation are still intact most will want a repair to the outer jacket.
I personally would want a complete upgrade if it were my place ,but as the term states.
romexking
Senior Member
- Location
- Marriottsville, Maryland
You should check to see if the loadcenter is a "split buss" panel. This type of panel will have multiple main breakers (but no more than 6). if you have this type of panel, it meets code, but you should speak with the homeowner and suggest replacing the panel. It is alread obsolete, and since you are replacing the service entrance cable, it would be a great time to upgrade to a newer safer panel. Tell them that if they don't do it now, they will probably have to in the near future. All electrical equipment has a usable lifetime, and a split buss panel has past it's lifetime.
electricelmo
Member
Having delt with addjusters in the past, they have no problem with replacing any damaged parts. Unless the home owners policy has a clause for replacement to upgrade it will not happen. Most insurances companys will only replace apples to apples no upgrades
growler
Senior Member
- Location
- Atlanta,GA
H82paint said:
Would a meter/main combo solve your problem ( often the insulators are damaged in base).. It's not much more work or money. Around here you have to bring the ground up to code anyway. If you give them a price that's under 2K they will probably bite anyway. With an insurance company alway itemize everything.( list everthing, time to get permit, purchase materials, clean up and dump old wiring ).
If you can't dazzel them with brilliance then baffel them with BS.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Generally, insurance only covers returning an installation to its prior condition, and anything required to pass present codes must be eaten by the customer.
brian john
Senior Member
- Location
- Leesburg, VA
We have done many jobs where insurance adjusters get involved after the fact, sometimes they can be difficult claiming what I felt was necessary to get a building back on was above and beyond the necessary repairs.
Once the adjuster said everything we did was correct he just felt it was too expensive and wanted a reduction. My men had worked 27 hours straight; I politely told him forget it.
Most of the times they are decent fair folks, but be careful going above and beyond the damage.
Once the adjuster said everything we did was correct he just felt it was too expensive and wanted a reduction. My men had worked 27 hours straight; I politely told him forget it.
Most of the times they are decent fair folks, but be careful going above and beyond the damage.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Don't forget that adjusters are employed by the insurance company to minimize payouts.
After a church in my neighborhood had a fire I was called to make sure is was safe to restore power. I had worked for this church in the past. While I was there the adjuster came up to me and said, I need you to rewire the gym (where the fire was) and any other areas damaged by the fire. Keep your time and send me a bill. The repair was over 30K. I was paid within a week every time I submitted an invoice. Works for me. They were very generous letting me determine what needed to be done. I treated them as fair as they treated me.
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
Remember to look at 408.16(A) Exception No.2 (2002 NEC). A main circuit breaker is not required for an existing installation .....in supplying an individual residential occupancy.
It will be required if you upgrade it.
It will be required if you upgrade it.
Dealing with an adjuster is not a problem just be very, very specific on what you will replace and what you will charge. Make sure and have somewhere in the proposal that this price is for direct replacement of damaged existing parts and does not include pricing to upgrade equipment as may be required by authority having jurisdiction.
If the inspector makes you upgrade anything else get it in writing, present to adjuster and they will add additional allowance for extra $$.
If the inspector makes you upgrade anything else get it in writing, present to adjuster and they will add additional allowance for extra $$.
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