House fire due to floating equipment grounds and incorrectly wired panel

[Patpowers]

I normally wear body cams at all job sites, unless the client asks otherwise. This client didn’t want him or his family on camera, but allowed me to use phone to record as long as I could keep it pointed downwards and away from every one. This is the first customer that had requested us not to wear body cameras, other than the court house and jail for obvious reasons.

I contacted the nearby AHJ, fire department, and utility department. I had the customer sign a document that I fully explained the dangers that are present.

Not in a mobile home park, about an acre and half of private land.

 

[ramsy]

This is in Jones County Mississippi, we have three cities that fall under an AHJ. Ellisville, SoSo, and Laurel (where the Hometown show is produced). Laurel is under 2017 and the remaining two are under 2014NEC. Outside of these city jurisdictions it is the Wild West and you can get away with anything.

I believe the Mississippi supreme court mandates qualified persons during construction, regardless of AHJ permits, or lack of jurisdiction.

 

[ramsy]

Nothing, customer refused to allow me to fix it and refused to pay, said that I was trying to scam him out of money and the fire department was right, overheated receptacle.

Were you authorized to repair, or just inspect and report?

Your correction of fire-hazard appliance wiring, removing bonding strap from power-line to dryer frame, was documented on video, which is admissible evidence for repair in small claims courts.

 

[ramsy]

I normally wear body cams at all job sites, unless the client asks otherwise. This client didn’t want him or his family on camera, but allowed me to use phone to record as long as I could keep it pointed downwards and away from every one. This is the first customer that had requested us not to wear body cameras, other than the court house and jail for obvious reasons.

My Fire-Hazard Abatement reports document before & after photos only.

Composing these photos in tight spaces sometimes takes just as long as the work, it's very difficult to get good photos.

 

[Patpowers]

Were you authorized to repair, or just inspect and report?

Your correction of fire-hazard appliance wiring, removing bonding strap from power-line to dryer frame, was documented on video, which is admissible evidence for repair in small claims courts.

I was called to make the repairs; when my assessment conflicted the fire department’s assessments the customer became irate and kick me off the job without payment for services. I have a lawyer that processes my unpaid accounts, I turned it over to her. I had two hours of drive time and roughly an hour on site. I fixed the dryer. I wanted to bond the neutral to the panel and egc’s for a temporary measure, but the customer refused to allow me to do so.

 

[ramsy]

I have a lawyer that processes my unpaid accounts, I turned it over to her.

That is awesome you got help to go after chump change under $5,000

 

[ptonsparky]

Those temporary jobs can turn into permanent, esp on jobs like that.