I worked on a job once where the metal soffit outside was live. Nobody got shocked but it was quite a puzzle for the electrician to figure out. This whole problem is predicated then on the failure of the insulation on the electrical wire or putting a screw or staple through the electrical wire. Perhaps they should have to just ground the insulation if they want to use it.
I am under the impression the government wanted to spend the stimulus money as quickly as possible, safety guidelines were ignored, there were not enough inspectors available to assure the installation was carried out correctly. The rebate offered by the government unleashed a frenzy of telephone marketing, I received at least ten telephone calls a week during the drive to install roof insulation; the number of unqualified operators who suddenly appeared on the scene as a result of the government initiative simply had to result in danger to the consumer. Installers were hired after a few hours of ‘training’ and many of them were ‘apprentices’ - school leavers aged 17 or 18.
The government has no buiness being in the roofing insulation business IMO. If I want my roof insulated, I can arrange that for myself.
The endless telephone marketing calls made me feel very uncomfortable about the entire issue. Turns out it was nothing but part of the ‘global-warming’ scam. Four people dead so far and numerous house-fires has been the result.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/roofs-to-remain-live-for-months-20100211-ntxo.html
Incorrectly installed foil insulation also has caused about 100 ceiling fires since March last year, Mr Tinslay said.
Three of the four people killed in relation to the rebate program were from Queensland.
On October 14, a man installing insulation at a Brisbane home was electrocuted after a staple used to fix foil in the roof space pierced an electrical cable that electrified the foil.
A month later, 16-year-old installer Rueben Barnes died after receiving a fatal 240-volt shock in the roof of a home in Stanwell, south of Rockhampton under the same circumstances.
A third Queenslander, a man aged 25, was electrocuted in the roof of a Millaa Millaa house last Thursday.
The government’s grand plan to insulate 2.7 million Australian homes was supposed to help boost the country’s economy and add to its green credentials.