Does anyone else get a little nervous at assessment time?

[Toneyz]

I thought it was published in July and came into effect 1st January 2019?

 

[Nigel]

I thought it was published in July and came into effect 1st January 2019?

There is a six month overlap where either Edition can be used.

 

[Toneyz]

There is a six month overlap where either Edition can be used.

Your right got distracted and forgot to say in my post.

 

[ipf]

I take my assessor for breakfast every year....A skim of the paperwork, a couple of tests and questions and he’s gone until the next year. I don’t really get nervous about it. I’ve just got my 10 year certificate and rosette from the NIC

I've had my 25 year for a while.....stopped with the breakfasts about 10 years back...still waiting for a bacon butty back off 'em….or any sort of concession off the 18th paperwork.
And telling me I've got to do the 3 day course. Maybe they'll offer me a rosette after that.....mind you, they could shove that where the sun don't shine.

 

[Dave OCD]

Do they actually have the right to make you do the 3 day course ? Surely as long as you take the exam,pass and hold the qualification that's all that matters ?

 

[oracle]

I was subbing to a NICEIC registered company, doing period inspection and testing Council homes, when the NICEIC inspector pitched up on my site.

He examined my documents, including JIB card, 3 month old calibration certificate etc then asked for my monthly Check Box records.

I presented my current calibration certificate for the Check Box and explained that I carried regular tests against my tester but didn't record them.

He said it was a requirement so I gave him my Regs and a folder containing the EAWR and asked him to show me where it was required. He said it was an NICEIC requirement so I told him I didn't belong to the Club so their Regs didn't apply to me. He gave up and left.

 

[Nigel]

Do they actually have the right to make you do the 3 day course ? Surely as long as you take the exam,pass and hold the qualification that's all that matters ?

No they don’t. They tried it with my guys when I booked and I said three days is a liberty and is completely unnecessary. They then backed down and they all passed.

 

[Nigel]

I was subbing to a NICEIC registered company, doing period inspection and testing Council homes, when the NICEIC inspector pitched up on my site.

He examined my documents, including JIB card, 3 month old calibration certificate etc then asked for my monthly Check Box records.

I presented my current calibration certificate for the Check Box and explained that I carried regular tests against my tester but didn't record them.

He said it was a requirement so I gave him my Regs and a folder containing the EAWR and asked him to show me where it was required. He said it was an NICEIC requirement so I told him I didn't belong to the Club so their Regs didn't apply to me. He gave up and left.

He is actually correct.

 

[Toneyz]

I was subbing to a NICEIC registered company, doing period inspection and testing Council homes, when the NICEIC inspector pitched up on my site.

He examined my documents, including JIB card, 3 month old calibration certificate etc then asked for my monthly Check Box records.

I presented my current calibration certificate for the Check Box and explained that I carried regular tests against my tester but didn't record them.

He said it was a requirement so I gave him my Regs and a folder containing the EAWR and asked him to show me where it was required. He said it was an NICEIC requirement so I told him I didn't belong to the Club so their Regs didn't apply to me. He gave up and left.

No, but you are working for an NICEIC contractor and part of their rules is that ongoing acracy of test equipment. Who is to say that after a month it has gone out of calibration ongoing checks clarify this. You are already doing that why not keep a record all you would have to do is write it down in columns in a notepad takes minutes. It is partly the fault of the NICEIC companies PDH/Q.S. they should have checked this before you undertaking to test on their behalf. He will walk away and not get into a debate with you they won't. I bet it will be put down as a non-compliance with the rules on the assessment report.

 

[Marti]

OOH Eek! Got my first Stroma assessment in two weeks. Outside workshop on a TT earth prepp'ed, with all cables in kopex; Hopefully to the reg's. 17th and 18th BS7671 to hand plus all the risk assessment, complaints procedure etc. What is the procedure if you fail? How soon can you re-book and can you use the same circuits or is it a new location?

 

[oracle]

Well, they never mentioned a non compliance and I have done a lot of repeat sub work for them Monthly check? Mine are done on Friday when writing up the weekly invoices.

I long for the day when the Regs become statutory and the clubs rules go out the window and everyone is responsible to do their work in compliance with the law.

 

[Marti]

I long for the day when the Regs become statutory and the clubs rules go out the window and everyone is responsible to do their work in compliance with the law.

You'd have a queue of unskilled DIY'ers, multi traders, best mates and dodgy landlords around the magistrates court.

Still no idea how my Stroma inspection will go. My installation is OK according to experienced eyes but my testing is slow and interpreting the reg's take me some time.

 

[Toneyz]

You'd have a queue of unskilled DIY'ers, multi traders, best mates and dodgy landlords around the magistrates court.

Still no idea how my Stroma inspection will go. My installation is OK according to experienced eyes but my testing is slow and interpreting the reg's take me some time.

They are not testing you on your speed.

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

Had my first NICEIC exam last month. Inspector turned up and I invited him in for a cup of coffee, which he only drank about 1/3 out of. He did the paper checks and asked to see my level 3 course qualifications. I pointed out to the C&G Inspection and testing pass papers. He said he wanted to see the actual papers from doing the course at the college. Well, I never did a college course for level 3, just one for level 2. After that, I just booked the exam with a C&G registered test site and did the one week prep course and passed the exam. He scratched his head for a bit, then decided the test results were good enough. He managed to get me thinking there too, for a bit.
Unfortunately, the practical didn't turn out to be as easy: we went to a house rewire I had finished working on about 4 weeks before. Empty house, on the market, to be sold, taking visits every day. We got there and he asked me to test any circuit I liked. I went to the first-floor lighting circuit, only to find a loss of CPC continuity. He said 'OK, just test a ring for me'. There I go, ground floor ring, easy one, no appliances on it. I get a 0 Ohm IR between N and E. He paused, looked a bit funny at me and asked if I had tested these before. I said I had, 4 weeks previously. He asked to see tests on another circuit. The kitchen was closest and I knew it had been fine. I get close to 0 Ohm IR between L and E. I energize the circuits to do a functional test and no wonder I get the RCD's popping on those exact circuits with the problems. Another circuit (ground floor lights)was then found to be intermittently tripping the RCD after about 15 to 20 minutes. I don't exaggerate when I say I felt like being in the Twilight zone all of a sudden. Bless him, he really did try to pass me and help me out, but everywhere I turned, there were problems. So he said exactly that: 'I am sorry, but there are too many problems that will have to be rectified before the installation is given a satisfactory'. I actually congratulated him for saying that, I wouldn't have passed myself if I was him. And I would have really doubted his integrity if he did. There is a reason for regulations being there and people's safety rests with us doing a good job. So I took it like a man, I had to do book a re-visit.
But now the interesting question was: what could have happened between the time I was there and now? The property had been empty for the last week or so, but the week before that, the carpenter was doing second fix in the kitchen and the ground floor area. So here I go, having to fault find a new install that had been fine, designed and installed and tested by myself only a few weeks before. Findings:
1. A screw had been put through a conductor in the upstairs lighting circuit
2. A second fix nail had been put through a ring cable right beneath a socket, on the ground floor(N to E fault )
3. A spur off the kitchen ring feeding a garden socket L to E fault. The same carpenter had worked in there, installing the kitchen.
4. Intermittent RCD tripping down to a poorly wired spot in the downstairs halway, wherethe carpenter was asked to install an extra spot, off the nearest one I had installed(without consulting me). 2 CPC wires were just hanging out, not connected.
Did I mention that the same carpenter guy had the nerve to wire a 7.5 KW induction oven to the 6 mm cable I had as supply, via a 5 core multifilament cable, the white round type that heating engineers use for thermostat controls? I believe the cross-sectional area on those is 0.5 mm. When I came to work one day, he goes to me 'Oh, this oven was delivered and came without a cable, I was just wiring it up so I can fit it'. He had cut 3 out of the 5 wires already, connecting only the brown and blue as he was speaking to me. No comment.
So yeah, took me a few good extra days to get it all back to where it had been, after having to cut access hatches into ceiling and dig out wires from under skirting boards and canceling out the spur to the garden(owner decided it's not worth dismantling the kitchen units in the sink area, new granite worktop, the works).
The good part is that the builder who employed the handy carpenter decided to make good and pay for my £378 revisit. The inspector came back and I did the tests, asked me a few questions regarding max Zs and RCD tripping times and all went well. Now I am having to fight to get the rest of the money I am owed, for the remedial work, as I am withholding the certificate until payment is made.

 

[oracle]

I am a bit critical of NIC inspectors because my very first experience with one it turned out that after finishing his college training his first and only job was as an NIC inspector.

Perhaps we should be able to see their qualifications and experience when they come to evaluate ours. I certainly had far better experience and qualifications than he did.

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

Yes, you make a very valid and astute point. I was wondering myself what the qualifications would be, when applying for a job as an NICEIC engineer. How do they get recruited, I wonder...surely not from an agency. Hopefully, someone who works/worked/knows someone who works for NICEIC can come along and enlighten us?

 

[Dillb]

Yes, you make a very valid and astute point. I was wondering myself what the qualifications would be, when applying for a job as an NICEIC engineer. How do they get recruited, I wonder...surely not from an agency. Hopefully, someone who works/worked/knows someone who works for NICEIC can come along and enlighten us?

I used to work with someone who had very little knowledge of electrics but was a proper creep around certain people, he went and worked for the NICEIC I dont know in what capacity but if he became a assesor its a very scary thought.