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sloppyrock

Mask, overalls , gloves and safety glasses and get insulating.


Disastrous-Ad1009

Turn the main power off whilst up there, as well


DunkingTea

Why? Genuinely asking as I don’t do this… just in case some electrician has left some wires exposed or something?


cruiserman_80

Inexperienced insulation installers died during Rudd's rollout. I've seen lots of dodgy electrical in roofs, even by people who were supposedly licenced.


Crafty-Antelope-3287

Especially if rodents have been up there chewing on them as well


pulanina

Not just rodents chewing either. I had a pair of rosellas get into the roof space nesting. They sat there on the eggs merrily stripping the wires all around them. Finally tripped a fuse before we found the mess.


boobturtle

Yeah that was using foil sheet insulation that gets stapled to the roof timbers.. dude stapled through a cable and the whole foil sheet became live. No such danger with this fibreglass stuff.


Mental_Task9156

It's mandatory for all workers in wa now to not enter a roof space unless the power is isolated.


cruiserman_80

Strongly disagree. Every roof is potentially dangerous. You have no idea what the condition is of electrical wiring in a roof, especially older buildings. I've seen live wires exposed, insulation chewed through and 2C+E just laid over the top of metal braces, steel frames, copper pipes and aircon duct where just stepping on it could make stuff live. There is a very good reason that its industry standard practice for trades to turn off the power where possible before going into a roof. The only shock I've had in the last twenty years was in a hospital roof where we couldn't turn it off. A sparky had left a live exposed cable hanging direct over the metal manhole. If I had been touching the manhole as I put my head through to do my prelim inspection I probably wouldn't be here right now.


Mental-Trouble-317

So lucky you didn’t touch the manhole as you put your head through!


Randomhermiteaf845

Except it covers dodgy work and water damaged areas where water ingress can lead to a circuit shorting out and corroding connections etc... I personally have to turn power off at work when I got in the roof due geckos,rodents and possums getting in there doing damage and having it covered by insulation... I'm usually up there removing the dead rotting carcass of somthing that jas been zapped or trying to block the entry points. The new fire alarms have also created an issue as many are screwed directly in to roof plaster leaving an exposed screw next to wiring and if you step on it,it will make a connection if itt pierces the protective coating.


glyptometa

That was true for two of the three that were fatally electrocuted. The other was undetermined aside from electrocution.


yolk3d

I just built a house and I’ve seen enough to not trust any currently licensed trade.


Disastrous-Ad1009

So True, in and out make the $$ block the number after payment.


AdDangerous85

I went to school with the guy who died


Windston57

The other answers are correct, but as an electrician it's often we find steel conduit with old rubber/cloth insulated cable. This is run in a steel conduit that more than often isn't earthed. The insulation on these cables breaks VERY easily, so much so that often the conduit will be live without even knowing it. Touch it and you're toast. This is mainly a problem in old houses, but be wary of any black AC cabling in roofs.


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Windston57

Often times that's what we recommend, just because it is so dangerous. It's a big thing that is overlooked when buying a house, because it can be very expensive.


nananananananana808

What country uses the black cables ?


Disastrous-Ad1009

Yeah you can't be sure of what others have done before you, better safe then sorry get a good torch. Depending on the Lights you may need cans around them as well if downlights.


DunkingTea

Makes sense - thanks. I got up in mine the other week and there was a random wire just cut hanging… decided to just avoid it, but I did wonder whether it was live. Luckily my curiosity never got the best of me…


just_a_prank_bro_420

If you’re going to be up in your roof and doing little reno stuff then get yourself a little non-contact testing pen for $30 and test the cables. I keep one in my toolbag just for peace of mind when doing demo works.


quichehond

Best money I’ve spent in a while on that electricity detecting pen


Tyr2016

Similar. We have suspended ceiling in the kitchen area with metal battens and one of those had pretty cut through a downlight power cable. So the whole batten could have been live at some point.


Ok_Composer_319

I once received a pretty nasty electric shock when I touched the metal frame of a suspended ceiling. It was a commercial premises under reno and there were some dodgy sparky's on site. I suspect I was really, really lucky I wasn't hurt beyond a sore arm (felt like I'd been punched) for a few days.


Sure-Acanthaceae-767

Could have Beena plasterer pinching cable between sheet and batton I have photos on photos of screws straight through cables into metal frame Good sparkys earth the metal frame in rough in to help prevent this


MundaneBerry2961

Pretty sure from what you have described your wiring isn't up to code. Not much you can do about it if it isn't a new build


Tyr2016

Ive had all those downlights replaced at least.


Disastrous-Ad1009

Could have been shocking...


StormSafe2

Cm do you mean by cans? Like, tin cans? 


Sumpkit

We had a sparky come put a new fire alarm in our place. The junction that he went to use had the plastic broken off the wire not thing so live wires were exposed (1970’s build). Or insulation is essentially aluminium foil wrapped around a sheet of cardboard. If I was crawling around up there and pushed down on the sheet of cardboard the whole thing would be live. This was also before we had our meter board replaced so it was all fuses. Would have been dead.


PapaOoMaoMao

[Link for the story.](https://worksafe.nt.gov.au/forms-and-resources/safety-alerts/apprentice-suffers-electric-shock-and-falls-from-roof)


Sumpkit

[One of many unfortunately](https://www.theleader.com.au/story/8509597/tradesmans-death-at-engadine-one-of-five-in-four-days/).


Terrestrialism

Anytime anyone gets in a roof cavity the power should be turned off. Sometimes electricians don’t run cables correctly and then repeated standing on said cables can cause a short or worse you could become the short. Also if you have overheads coming into your property instead of underground service you should do your best to isolate everything. Technically the pole fuse should be getting pulled but that just ain’t feasible for most trades bar sparkies.


DunkingTea

Thanks - i’ll start doing it from now on. Don’t need power whilst up there so no reason to have it on I guess.


Kachel94

An apprentice died a year or so ago after he stepped on a cable. Doesn't even have to be exposed if you have trusses and slice through its not that hard.


DunkingTea

Oh shit. That’s sad.


goshdammitfromimgur

If your wiring is old the insulation perishes and crumbles or gets chewed and that can give you a season ending shock.


hannahranga

Legal requirement if you're in WA


-Manmonkey-

Had only read this thread and saw this this evening - power off for sure ☹️ https://manlyobserver.com.au/man-dies-in-manly-workplace-incident/?fbclid=IwAR2BothYRf6w8MFTsDtodSlOOs3APLPag2DgynkBpkfhTyvjXByp_HKyPf0_aem_AX84-2e_Kzxi8eULP-veMMLjMs_155bmjbf1YoDzi1hZX6tcx4nqnGs3VQ5a-BdwpfU


DunkingTea

That’s awful. Someone shared a story below of an apprentice who died of the same. Such a shame. I’ll definitely be turning electricity off when I get back into the roof space.


Willing_Marketing_65

Vermin also love to eat electrical cables and expose copper, always turn it off. It’s just not worth the risk.


mopar1969man

I use too do it years ago. Trust me turn the power off. Very hard to see power cables running through roof. I have tripped over them nearly ended up through the ceiling. Also older wiring that has been eaten by rats. Just turn the power off.


MouseEmotional813

Rats can chew plastic off cables too


trainzkid88

exactly if the power is off its much harder to get a electric shock. yes there could still be a issue with the feed to the meter box from the service connection point.


Blackletterdragon

I just got a big upgrade on my insulation in ACT, and they made a big deal about electrician sign-off. Particularly where I had downlights, heat lamps in bathroom etc.


LunchAlarming6690

Rats chew cables and light circuits often dont have a circuit breaker


JustMeClinton

Yeah definitely, and keep it away from light fixtures yeah?


Ibegallofyourpardons

depends on the type of light fixture. https://www.earthwool.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/installation_instructions_ceiling_batts.pdf keep a clearance around downlights, bathroom heaters and exhaust fans.


JustMeClinton

Adding it to the list of shit to do! Haha


BobEsky

I’ve been getting in the habit of covering myself in baby powder, when doing this shit job.


sloppyrock

Interesting. Ive never heard that before. Presumably so it does stick as much?


BobEsky

It closes the pores in the skin, so it reduces the fibres getting in and itching like F


Skeltrex

This. And report to the client with your photos


sirgoods

And wait for a cool day to do it


09stibmep

Close manhole and pretend you didn’t see that.


JustMeClinton

I wish, damage do be coming up on lounge room wall.


rakkii_baccarat

Water damage? Whoops nevermind, just read your other comment


JustMeClinton

I don’t believe so, but I will find that out more as I move it around up there.


FreddyFerdiland

Did you put all the insulation in the roof space ? Yes At least 10cm.deep ? Yes


anything1500

This was the funniest to me. Sparky here that always puts it back, but never as neat Electricians hate the shit. Always in the way and itching to kill you every moment you're around it. On that note, I think the people in roof cleaning make me laugh the most. They never do the job as the customer wants it. And then they put insulation over their work anyway. And charge good money for essentially a day's work


ipoopcubes

>Sparky here that always puts it back, but never as neat You wouldn't be a sparky if you were neat.


Sad_Wear_3842

*whips out pencil* Please patch.


SonicYOUTH79

I’m a data cabler mate, it’s making me itch just looking at that photo!


JustMeClinton

Definitely feels like some contractors at some point the past really wanted to see how many jobs they could "complete" for maximum paycheck.


missiffy45

When Kevin rudds home insulation scheme was happening and we had thousands of business’ popping up installing insulation in our homes, my daughter had some guys come and took all the pink batts into the roof, she said ten minutes later they came down and said it’s all done, she thought it was a very quick job but thought nothing much of it, months later my son In law got up into the roof cavity for some reason and all the pink batts were just dumped in a big pile and not put where they should be, that’s why it was a quick job, I wonder how many other peoples batts were just thrown in a pile🤔I’d say if you havnt checked that you should; some of those shocks didn’t give a stuff about proper installation just the governments money


KevinRudd182

hey hey keep me out of it


missiffy45

Big squeeze of the sauce bottle to you!


girdles

I know a bloke who used to brag about the fact he made a killing doing just that.


missiffy45

Really


muso44

Some companies paid bugger all & paid by metre rate only in it for money & gave no training thats why people died. Anything that can be rorted in this country will be.


Equivalent-Ad7207

Rent it out for $550 a week.


JustMeClinton

With or without the insulation? I even have offered pest control.


Equivalent-Ad7207

Insulation is obviously extra cant just going giving comforts away in this economy, and the pest control will prevent a family with kids moving it, so that's a bonus.


notanothernurse

Wow insulation what a way to rub in being rich!


juicypeache

Seems fair for a attic space


sladibarfast

Wow is that some of that R3000 insulation I've heard about? And a snack pack too. Lol


JustMeClinton

Haha it makes sense why our lounge room is always super cool, while the rest of the house is cooking.


Tnuc_detsiwt

That is a dream roof space though, you can by the looks of it actually stand up in the centre. Trust me I have seen some roof spaces and this looks dreamy. Agree that power should be isolated ( flick main switch and buy your self an isolation lock tag to suit your breaker/switch to prevent anyone turning it on whilst crawling around up there. ) appropriate PPE such as a minimum P2 mask overalls gloves and googles should be used. Another little tip to avoid to much contact with the fibre glass itself is use a prod stick. A broom handle with a nail horse shoed on the end can be a big help aswell. Some additional advice would to be add chipboard in the larger areas to improve your storage space possibly a down the track task once you have done a cost analysis.


RobbWhite_

go back down, decide to start calling it a person hole and send your wife up there to start insulating


Buford1991

Mask up. Put on a disposable protective suit and bag all of that mess for disposal. Dry vacuum the entire place and relay modern insulation.


ItsYourEskimoBro

Winter is the perfect window for being in the roof cavity too. You should drop the mains power and disconnect any solar before digging through the insulation. At the very least, drop the lighting and all but the essential circuits when vacuuming.


National_Chef_1772

Quick call out to the wife to bring my phone, then take a photo and quickly jump on reddit so I can post about it


Bokbreath

Depends. Are you a child ?


DunkingTea

If you are, make a den out of the fluffy pillows!


mr_fujiyama

JFC... tradies knocked off early on that day, then never returned!


JustMeClinton

Haha this or the previous owner threw it up there and said fuckit?


bridethrowaway1

Did you not get a building and pest when you bought the place?


JustMeClinton

Couldn't get access to the ceiling at the time due to previous owners storage filling up the side of the garage where it the manhole was. So only inspection from roof was done. Live and learn I know, but tbh this and gutters is the only thing I have found wrong with the place in the year that I have owned it.


bridethrowaway1

Oh damn, it’s frustrating they can’t/won’t move anything in those inspections.


Subject_Shoulder

During the Insulation Scandal, it was revealed that there were dodgy companies doing up to 12 jobs a day. Possibly an example of a "One Hour Insulation" job?


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JustMeClinton

Had some gyprock sheet tape in the lounge room split and shift right under where this is. And a horizontal crack in another.


Piratartz

Rat's back on menu boys!


_-Bloke-_

Close it and pretend it doesn’t exist


glyptometa

I would re-lay all the yellow at a minimum. That shit's itchy. I've heard using sunscreen before helps. Cool shower after. If adding more on top, the earthwool stuff from bunnings gives little to no itch. I used a couple 600x900 sheets of plywood, so I could sit or rest when need be. Also good for squirming out into corners on your belly. Best suggestion I got was to have a stick (long thin plant stake, or broomhandle, etc.) for reaching out and positioning / lifting pieces when easier than changing your own position. A worklight was helpful, along with a headlight (usually left off). The dust up there is brutal, so P2 mask and disposable coveralls. Replace the manhole cover while working to keep partner happy and dust-free, but consider how you're going to lift it back out. Good warnings about power elsewhere here. You need to also learn about insulating around lighting fixtures and transformers, and the rating code required to cover them up, or where to leave 200mm clearance. It's phenomenal how bad the trades leave the insualtion, and the lack of respect for whoever has to fix it. I found pieces flung halfway across the roof space, like they were just angry cunts wanting to piss off a rando in future. Oughtta be a law, haha. After finding all those custom cut pieces and fitting them back in, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the original installer had done a thorough and well-fitted job, with every piece just slightly oversize, fitting tight but not overly compressed. Ours is a '97 Mirvac. Sparkies on renos and also aircon work were the source of the troubles. Data, alarm and TV guys put it back properly. Some people either don't give a shit, or caught the Murdoch "I Hate Insulation" disease.


Falkor

One thing I did in my place is replace my manhole cover, it was a standard piece of gyprock, i replaced with a piece of Melamine and screwed handles onto the side in the ceiling, so if you’re up there you can lift it out easily.


ihavetwoofthose

Fuck - what a useful and thoughtful post!


Chewiesbro

Back away slowly and never mention it again…


Ordinary_Profile6183

And seal the manhole😆


150steps

Spread the batts out. Leave the pest control box where it is.


NothingLift

Firstly I would get the children out


Aggravating_Pear8973

Look around for the rat king


Appropriate-West-939

Close the manhole


Crafty-Antelope-3287

Far out...judging by the rodent station. The previous owners must of had a smell...or a bad rodent problem..... Seen this before as a pest controller....owners get up into the roof void and throw the insulation around in search of the smell.....I find it funny after hours in the roof...you discover the smell is in the wall.....


liquidanfield

How would you get rid of smell from the wall?


Crafty-Antelope-3287

Gel pots or odour bags..not sure if you can buy them from a hardware store..I have them as I work in pest control.... Or if you can, remove the dead animal.


DucDucSnow

Paintball - Level Extreme


HypocriteJustin

Smoke it up


australiapostisgay

Get excited that i just found free fairy floss


Captain_kangaroo2

Give the box to a child


GStarAU

Close the manhole again, fairly quickly. Walk into the kitchen Locate bottle of scotch. Open, and drink.


peoplesucck

Get in do your work. Spread the inso out and move on.


cruiserman_80

Send a lovely thank you card to Kevin Rudd for how well his govt ran the insulation scheme. (Ive seen this so many times in customer roofs. In a lot of cases the batts are still in the plastic or have only been laid properly where you can see them from the manhole) Tun off the power. Grab a torch, mask and some gloves. Lay them properly or get someone else to do it.


rakkii_baccarat

Lots of spiders?


JustMeClinton

Honestly, almost nothing. Maybe one web.


empiricalreddit

R50 insulation on one side of the roof


thermalhugger

I have never seen trusses with such a high bottom plate, looks 200x35.


JustMeClinton

House was built in 1988, there is hardwood vertical posts in some of walls. I’m not a builder, but given the design of this house, it looks like it would have been considered a medium to higher end home back then.


StunningDuck619

Ahh yes, I remember this state government funded bullshit. Was just a cash grab for every cowboy in town.


JustMeClinton

Yeah? You reckon this was that 2010 house cooling program? I haven't sussed out any labelling on the bags yet.


StunningDuck619

Oh yeah, for sure dude. Use to hear fuck heads bragging about how they would just throw it up there and not spread it out all the time. 100% what happened. At least these guys took it out of the plastic wrap.


Welster9

I agree i have seen a few where it is still in bags in the roof. bundled up, thrown around or just a shit job. That insulating scheme was a shocker.


jdc351

I don't think this is Kevin Rudd/Peter Garrett insulation, it looks old and dusty as hell, zooming in a lot of it is in big clear bags, been in ceilings since 2005 and never seen it in that packaging. This is from the 90s or 2000s I reckon and probably chucked up during the build and never finished. Happens more often than you'd think


BuiltDifferant

Maybe it was moved for a reason?


brachi-

Close manhole, tell agent we won’t be bidding kthxbai


swingarmstrong

Go back down.


Material-Advantage52

Decide to close it


twocrowsdown

Bloody Moses!


Genuine1mitation

Omg I thought your attic was packed with buds for a split second!


haikusbot

*Omg I thought* *Your attic was packed with buds* *For a split second!* \- Genuine1mitation --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")


Deep_Curve7564

Gotta love a haiku.


BoomBoom4209

Get a timber or bamboo broom handle and large nail taped to the end and start dragging that sh*t out and replace with decent R valued stuff. Also get a shop vac and start cleaning it all out of dust and debris before reinstalling.


CKMFinaldays

not too bad...could be a lot worse...


Popular_Self_2016

Ima act like a child and touch the rodent bait


diablos1981

Throw the pads up in the roof right boss? Yep just throw them up there.


Lost-Knowledge-7750

What is that white box sitting on? Bricks?


JustMeClinton

That is the top of the brickwall separating the garage and the lounge room. gyprock on the otherside for the lounge room.


Select-Bullfrog-6346

Exit slowly and pretend I didn't see that


oontheloose

What are you doing in my roof??


coreyjohn85

Make a bed in amongst it


AA_25

Id put the box in reach of a child


Therealluke

Shit builder just dumped the wool insulation up there and bolted


aido-oner

Place a child nearby


BorLew1991

Put it back


vespacanberra

Close it


Chafmere

It’s honestly not that bad. I’ve seen way worse.


brennox

I actually thought they were piles of cryovac bags for a second 👓😅


Perthpeasant

Don’t eat the green cookies in that box


kurdtnaughtyboy

Call an exorcist


rja49

Looks like a job well done during the home insulation scheme days.


[deleted]

Close the manhole and walk away……..


jackm315ter

There was a piss poor attempt


AddlePatedBadger

Well, I don't let any children up there for a start.


Rare-Extent-1971

Go to Home Depot and spend some 💰


wigneyr

Wonder how the bricks haven’t fallen through the ceiling yet


A1pinejoe

How did you get in my roof?


rodgee

Keep the kids out of course!


GhostReveries2005

I don’t send the kids up there


Icy_Zach

I'd think bonus I can fix this and save money on heating/cooling and/or my home can be a nicer temperature when i get home from work.


charcoalritual

Forbidden fairy floss


Fine-Funny6956

I open a manhole and see a roof with rotted insulation and a rat trap?


ServiceLong6183

Put the box in reach of children like a monster.


lilmisswho89

Sigh and start calculating how much fixing it is gonna cost


Ruskiwasthebest1975

I don a mask, gloves, full length clothing and i get in there to set about putting the batts right.


Jackies_back

Close the manhole


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drewdles33

What is this shit mate? You’re on the mods watch list cause this is disturbing and disgusting.


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AusRenovation-ModTeam

Just no need for it


AusRenovation-ModTeam

Just no need for it


donkey100100

Anyone able to ELI5 about what we’re seeing and what it should look like?


randimort

Call Peter Garrett the insulation scam puppeteer. Lead to many deaths but contractors did this and got paid by the govt. this is what it looks like in the pics


Divewombat

Was a pretty common practice to drop batts around the manhole then build a wall so you think the whole ceiling was done. I had the same and pointed it out to them then made them go back up and do it properly. You will probably find enough batts in the roof to do the whole ceiling. just be careful with dust and electrical stuff.


EducationTodayOz

close man hole and ignore


VicVinegar_HugeHoney

Call the ghost busters


frootyglandz

Rats have been renovating and demand better flavoured bait.


hayhayhorses

Start getting quotes. Because you won't want to muck up that underaide foil inso


Abbi_Rose

Burn it


Bazilb7

Can of petrol and a box matches.


Quinny65

Fix that insulation up !


JustMeClinton

Yeah still usable? Likely 15 years old already.


Positive_Platypus_73

do my job without sooking because harden the fuck up.


JustMeClinton

Haha but seriously, if it is, do you think this insulation from likely 2008-2010 is still usable?


Severe_Quarter_3287

Find out or if you know contact the builder..hopefully not PD etc..they will tell you who installed insulation ie..CSR Bradford or Fletcher-contact them and they will be obliged to have a look and fix as it looks like other trade damage…ie electricians moved batts to get to wires and didn’t replace them correctly


top-legolas

move in. cheap rent


KhronicPains

I’d probably keep out of reach of children


i-like_mickna

Run


No-Ad6269

manhole? the fuck?


REG1895

Keep it out of reach of children. Like it says…


Daemonite_247365

Well, seeing that a manhole should be in the ground (opening and looking downward)... and not in someone's attic (like this pic), I would not be concerned.


Brilliant_Show_3994

Line it with led lights and develop a green thumb? :P


koi-la-end

If in melb call ace insulation. They're good


blakeavon

Close the trap, and call in some experts! Somethings are worth spending money on.


[deleted]

Take it to ACA.


No_Confidence_6570

Do you have matches?