UFB installation contractor left a big mess. Who's responsible?

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pohutukawa

197 posts

Master Geek

#1067016 16-Jun-2014 21:06

driller2000: Standard infrastructure construction contracts WILL have reinstatement requirementrs set out in the Scope of Works and Specs.

Reinstatement work is generally carried out following the actual install work - often by a separate team - it does however need to be timely to minimise impacts / complaints.

Standard approach is to replace "like with like" (as much as possible) and there will be clauses in their construction contract to achieve this.

The Head Contractor (and Principal) will be liable for ALL damage caused by them (accidental or otherwise) - the Homeowner / Council / Third Party Asset Owners - should not have to pay anything - unless there is a betterment component to the reinstatement requested.

If its in the berm - Council will chase this up via inspections / snagging lists etc until all reinstatement is done.

If it's on your private property - you should do the same.

Personally I would be onto it within 5 -10 working days - with the Head Contractor. They should have sent a letter out listing who this was at the start of the works - in your case whoever the reinstatement person worked for would be a good start. Do it in writing as well. Chase them every few days - note details of discussions / reinstatement dates promised / names of persons conversed with. Be the squeaky wheel until it is rectified.

Note: This advice is based on delivering civil infrastructure projects for over 20 years as a consultant, client and contract manager.

Thanks for this.

Yes, I understand the theory. However, the reality is usually different.

Much of the time people agree that something isn't up to scratch and promise to sort it out. Then they don't.

I sent AT photos of the rubbish work. They tipped off the contractor ahead of coming back to me so when I did a walk-through with AT, the contractor had already dug up the specific bits of concrete that they had buried (THAT I KNEW ABOUT).

So big difference between theory of who is responsible for what and the reality.

I appreciate all your suggestions above, but ultimately why the heck do I need to spend my time sorting out stuff that Chorus/Visionstream/AT/Council are funded by my rates to inspect and enforce to standards?

I end up chasing the people who should be doing the chasing, turning up at random times to inspect, etc. AT are as much of a problem as the contractors and in many ways have a symbiotic relationship where the ratepayers are the meat in the sandwich.

driller2000

935 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#1067154 16-Jun-2014 23:00

Hello again

Sounds like it's time to make your local politicians start working for you ?

Oh yeah and YOU shouldn't have to, but sometimes you have to make a ruckus to get stuff done

Good luck

pohutukawa

197 posts

Master Geek

#1068531 18-Jun-2014 15:03

driller2000: Hello again

Sounds like it's time to make your local politicians start working for you ?

Oh yeah and YOU shouldn't have to, but sometimes you have to make a ruckus to get stuff done

Good luck

Thanks driller2k.

I agree to some extent, but again, this sort of thing is not rocket science. 40 years ago it would have been considered the basic job of the council or whoever was responsible and would have been done as a matter of course.

Nowadays rates have never been higher, even on a relative basis, and to get things done we must resort to doing peoples' jobs for them and when they don't, chasing local politicians for some sort of result. Even if there is success on that front, it is specific, is soon forgotten, and the situation reverts to where it was.

Cheers

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1068666 18-Jun-2014 17:05

This isn't quite the same issue that skwup is having, however...

Two people in my street have had/are having UFB installed. In the first case, "they" dug up half of the tar seal that had been re-instated after the UFB tubes were installed around Dec 2012.

It has been left like this ever since this guy had his UFB connection put in a couple of months ago.

Another house is getting UFB installed this week:

All of the tar seal in this case has been removed. I don't know if it will be patched up afterwards.

My main question is why is it necessary to dig up the UFB pillar after it was installed?

When they were all installed in our street, a 20 mm green sweep bend was installed under each pillar, pointing towards each house.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

InstallerUFB

840 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1069492 19-Jun-2014 18:42

DarthKermit: This isn't quite the same issue that skwup is having, however...

Two people in my street have had/are having UFB installed. In the first case, "they" dug up half of the tar seal that had been re-instated after the UFB tubes were installed around Dec 2012.

It has been left like this ever since this guy had his UFB connection put in a couple of months ago.

PM Me the Address and ill follow this one up

DarthKermit:
Another house is getting UFB installed this week:

All of the tar seal in this case has been removed. I don't know if it will be patched up afterwards.

That one should be done in the next week or so

DarthKermit:

My main question is why is it necessary to dig up the UFB pillar after it was installed?

When they were all installed in our street, a 20 mm green sweep bend was installed under each pillar, pointing towards each house.

In theory it was a good idea to install 'Starter Pipes' to avoid a redig but in many cases in pratice when it came to intergrateing the UFB conduiting with existing conduits or new ones the starter pipes have to be repositioned so the area around the pedistals has to be dug back up anyway.

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1069504 19-Jun-2014 19:15

InstallerUFB: In theory it was a good idea to install 'Starter Pipes' to avoid a redig but in many cases in pratice when it came to intergrateing the UFB conduiting with existing conduits or new ones the starter pipes have to be repositioned so the area around the pedistals has to be dug back up anyway.

Ok, thanks for that reply. It seemed to me that the UFB pillars (even though they were installed right next to the grey copper phone wire pods) were always going to have their own separate conduits to the house, as they didn't physically connect into any existing conduit that carries a copper phone line.

I dug under our front fence and located the end of the sweep bend installed there. When I feel motivated, I'll run 12 metres of green conduit over to the house.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

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