Another Shower Death

[skippybangkok]

Interviewed a guy about a month back who was exceptionally capable, young & most definitely future senior mgt material. Cut down by shower not earthed properly

He leaves us at the age of 30 with a wife and 5 day old child . RIP.

Really feel like disconnecting my shower heating system now

[bunta71]

I was shocked one time with these deadly units. Not all that much fun.Having a house built soon and guess what I will have done? You guessed it!

A separate room for my girlfriend/ maid.

My condolences for your young friend. Could just as easily been any one of us who showers.

Edited May 25, 2011 by bunta71

[kunash]

How Sad. RIP

[Darrel]

Earthing is not enough.

Use RCD breakers.

[bunta71]

Earthing is not enough.

Use RCD breakers.

Would those be the same as what we call GFI's in the worlds most hated country? Ground fault interrupters??:jap:

[TheWalkingMan]

30 years old. RIP

TheWalkingMan

[metisdead]

It is perfectly acceptable to report on events and give opinions, it is not acceptable to post in a manner in which to bash any specific country. One post and replies removed

[mallyrd]

I live in a very modest semi-detached bungalow in a typical suburban soi and which was bought many years ago.

Refurbishment was top of the list particularly the electrical system. We have some two pinned sockets (not earthed) and some three pin sockets which are earthed. The wiring system has been broken into two separate circuits i.e. each half of the bungalow has its own DB and its own ELCB set up. Both showers have the added protection of having there own individual built in ELCB's. The wiring up in the loft is all run in conduit and where a change of direction is required the correct type of junction boxes have been used. The workmanship is definitely on a par with western standards.

I have previously (early 2008 till mid 2010) rented accommodation in North Pattaya (bali style village) where the purchase price of a three bedroomed bungalow was in the order of THB 4 million. No earthing system except the pool. The wiring in the loft area was akin to mad mans sh-te.

RIP 30 year old.

[Richb2004v2]

That's terrible news.

Changing things like this is just going to make LOS like the dreary old west though, with it's nanny state mentality. It's these unnecessary dangers that make the place so colourful isn't it.

[RedFxTrade]

That's terrible news.

Changing things like this is just going to make LOS like the dreary old west though, with it's nanny state mentality. It's these unnecessary dangers that make the place so colourful isn't it.

Yes it is terrible news for the guys family and kids. You just never know what will happen next in life....

However, I do totally agree with your point. I m currently in the UK. Total nanny state, socialist state, sanitised beyond fun. The Puritans are out in force here within government, and at all levels, and has a lot to do with the EU (SSR)... also

Councils contemplating making less holes in the salt shakers in fish and chip shops so as people use less salt...

The government now have a monopoly over alcohol pricing...more than 50% is tax and on wine its nearly 70% tax,,,,

You now need 3 people to change a lightbulb now by EU regulations... no more ladders...only scaffolding.

These are three examples of the top of my head of such nonsense you hear everyday on the news.

[skippybangkok]

Dunno, its the kind of thing u read about, but is not close to you.

I sat with this guy for 2 hours, grilling him with all kinds of questions to check he knew his stuff inside out...... he was a real smart cookie, well spoken, and overall very impressive. Was in the process of bringing him onboard.

Never asked, but am sure he came from a family of financial means, and as such, it could hit anyone.

Words cannot describe what his wife must be feeling now.

[happyrobert]

Earthing is not enough.

Use RCD breakers.

"the worlds most hated country......" :jap:

Inappropriate, under the circumstances, don't you think?

[bunple]

That's terrible news.

Changing things like this is just going to make LOS like the dreary old west though, with it's nanny state mentality. It's these unnecessary dangers that make the place so colourful isn't it.

..are you for real, colourful, electrocuted in the shower you call that colourful <deleted>.

[Richb2004v2]

That's terrible news.

Changing things like this is just going to make LOS like the dreary old west though, with it's nanny state mentality. It's these unnecessary dangers that make the place so colourful isn't it.

..are you for real, colourful, electrocuted in the shower you call that colourful <deleted>.

No, I wasn't being real. I was being sarcastic in order to highlight the reverse of what I said, if you see what I mean. I much prefer to live in a nannie state and not get electrocuted in the shower. Some may feel otherwise though.

[manarak]

why install the water heater directly in the shower anyway, and not earlier in the water circuit, outside of the shower cell?

[Kwasaki]

Sorry to hear of the tragic loss of life.

Had my house built 10 years ago and it wasn't until one of the 2 shower units we have was playing up that I discovered they wasn't earthed.

The house has ' T ' cut breaker circuit and sensitive trip switch breaker box for the house and external trip switches for the showers and ELB trip outs on the shower units, I guess the builders think thats enough but it isn't.

If your place isn't earthed up to washing machines, shower units get it done it done, it does not cost a lot and easy to do.

Edited May 25, 2011 by Kwasaki

[Darrel]

Earthing is not enough.

Use RCD breakers.

Would those be the same as what we call GFI's..................Ground fault interrupters??

Yes, as far as I know.

One local brand name : Safe-T-Cut. Other brands are available.

[Latindancer]

Dunno, its the kind of thing u read about, but is not close to you.

I sat with this guy for 2 hours, grilling him with all kinds of questions to check he knew his stuff inside out...... he was a real smart cookie, well spoken, and overall very impressive. Was in the process of bringing him onboard.

Never asked, but am sure he came from a family of financial means, and as such, it could hit anyone.

Words cannot describe what his wife must be feeling now.

He had a 5 day old child......that is really very sad

[luckizuchinni]

maybe a stupid question, but how do I know if my shower heater is earthed correctly by just looking at it?

[Naam]

maybe a stupid question, but how do I know if my shower heater is earthed correctly by just looking at it?

earthing only does not help. it takes what the Americans call a GFCI switch to make e.g. a shower supplied by an instant water heater safe. since years water heaters are available in Thailand with an built-in ELCBs (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker). i leave to real experts like Crossy to judge whether these gadgets provide sufficient protection.

[ozsamurai]

Condolences... these things really hit home when a child so young now has no father due to an avoidable mishap. I await Crossy on this too. Perhaps a separate thread would be appropriate.

Oz

[IanForbes]

It is a terrible tragedy for such a simple fix. Unfortunately, there are far too many under qualified builders putting up structures that LOOK okay, but do not meet any safety standards. People just want to cut corners and go with the cheapest bid. I don't know how many of these deaths need to occur before something is done about it.

[slapout]

I have refused to put electric heaters in 3 of the houses we have built/rebuilt. I actually had a Thai salesman tell me that propane was as dangerous as electric as a spark/flame could cause an explosion. When I pointed out that I did not have the habit of lighting up/smoking in the shower, he kind of snickered. Not sure who he thought was being funny, him or me.

[p_brownstone]

Slightly off-topic but somewhat relevant.

I had a scare yesterday; I had been "invited" to inspect an NGV Loading Terminal where some equipment we supplied had been installed "just to make sure everything is OK before we turn it all on" to paraphrase the owner / manager of the Installaton Contractor.

..........

Intrinsically Safe cable had been installed in the same Conduits, Cable Trays and Control Cabinets as 240VAC Power Cables, which, to briefly explain, meant that in the event of a Short Circuit between the 2 different Cables, installed so closely together, the whole Loading Bay, and any Trucks connected to it, could have become "Live" - this is an extremey unlikely possibility of course but there are accepted Standards (in this case NEC 504) designed to avoid even the remotest chance - needless to say the Contractor had never heard of that.

I emphasise that this was not a simple Service Station where one would go to refill an NGV powered vehicle; this was a major Terminal where up to 18 large Trucks designed to deliver NGV to those Service Stations - in this case in the Bangkok area - are loaded, all at one time.

Patrick

[chops]

To be expected. Geesh. Look at the poles. They look like speghetti.

[Richb2004v2]

To be expected. Geesh. Look at the poles. They look like speghetti.

Yes, I always find is funny when I see tourists taking pictures of them. It's funny to me but should be embarrassing for Thailand.

[Awohalitsiktoli]

maybe a stupid question, but how do I know if my shower heater is earthed correctly by just looking at it?

I was thinking the same thing and glad you brought it up. For those of us who are electrically challenged (like me), is it possible to show us a picture of what the problem is or what to look for?

[mario299]

maybe a stupid question, but how do I know if my shower heater is earthed correctly by just looking at it?

I was thinking the same thing and glad you brought it up. For those of us who are electrically challenged (like me), is it possible to show us a picture of what the problem is or what to look for?

Not an easy thing to spot. Here is a quote from eHow about what is is (I Googled "earthing a water heater" to get this)

Grounding a hot water heater is the installation of a separate wire attached to the metal frame of the heater tank. This ground wire carries any errant electrical power back to the main electrical panel in case of an internal fault in the electric hot water heater's elements. An improperly grounded or non-grounded hot water heater can lead to a possible shock hazard. Regulations of all electrical installations are governed by the National Electrical Code (NEC). More specifically, the grounding of all electrical devices is designated by Article 250 of the NEC.

Read more: How to Ground a Hot Water Heater | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5632020_ground-hot-water-heater.html#ixzz1NWrVVQvE

Hope this can help somehow, I have just learned to take colder showers but I'm still worried when we travel to places I don't trust!

mario299

[BangnaBound]

why install the water heater directly in the shower anyway, and not earlier in the water circuit, outside of the shower cell?

My thoughts exactly. My last two places have been built like this, and I wouldn't live without it. It's a simple low tech solution and it is crazy that every shower isn't built like this.

[Fookhaht]

why install the water heater directly in the shower anyway, and not earlier in the water circuit, outside of the shower cell?

My thoughts exactly. My last two places have been built like this, and I wouldn't live without it. It's a simple low tech solution and it is crazy that every shower isn't built like this.

Simple but brilliant.