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Permalink Reply by Donald Smith on November 9, 2017 at 13:19

Hi Suellen

This is par for a property of this age - the electrical service probably also used wire fuses in both live and neutral phases.

Does the property have (had)  a gas supply? At the date of the property's electrical installation earthing would have been provided by a connection directly to the gas pipe. The original gas supply in the street and in the house may (should) have been changed to yellow MDPE Alkathene piping; when this was done the freeholder/tenants of the flat would have been served a notice requiring the provision of the separate electrical earth connection. 

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Permalink Reply by Suellen edgar on November 15, 2017 at 7:03

Hello Donald
Thank you so much for your reply, yes the property does have gas supply but cannot ever recall hearing about a notice to separate the earth connection.

Power UK are it seems the distributor of Electricity around here, so they’ve kindly agreed to do a site visit within 10 days. If they confirm no earthing wires they may insert a PME box to link earthing into their network free of charge. The advisor on the phone reassured me that if the electrician had seriously thought there was w high fire risk or possible electrocution then he would have disabled the electric supply when he carried out the electrical safety test, so I’m certainly feeling less anxious now.
I know the flat wiring is old and once earthed I need to find someone to re wire the flat moving on.

Thanks again for your help
Sue

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