Elecsa Assessment.... parp

[Nicktric]

Hi all, new to the forum but looks like the best one by far so thought I'd air my worries with you helpful lot!
I have my assessment with Elecsa coming up in June, luckily I have 4 weeks to prepare, Ihave all the docs other than risk assessment, complaints log and health and safety policy so any help there would be wonderful.
I can see in my pre pack that they want the last 12 months certs to scrutinize but I've only been trading a few months and can't register jobs so have a few, 10 or so jobs all minor works, hope this is enough...?

My assessors name is Peter Meakin, I can't find any threads so I think he may be a new guy? Anyone met him? Which biscuits does he like etc greatly appreciated!

I still have a board change to do for the major, done the minor, an outside socket off an existing radial. Contacted the council they were cool and just said notify the jobs when you're registered.
I've checked every light fitting sleeved up the lot and checked every socket for grommets flying earths etc, put in new gas and water bonds and clipped up and improved the loft which I am sure he won't go near!

I am trying to answer my own questions and when I was testing I came across a bridge on the socket ring, I know how to recognise this but if the assessor should ask why we test for bridges and the problems they can cause if I'm honest I am not sure the best response. Any advice appreciated?
Do you think he is likely to ask me do full set of tests on a ring or lighting circuit or more likely to be a Zs rcd test etc? Sorry for the barrage of questions!

 

[nickblake]

Well firstly Coffee and a kit kat chunky and your on your way not met the guy but if he's like the other then you'll be fine what you will need is a major work IE consumer unit change , as for the documents compliants regester they normally send out with the info pack they send you ring them up and ask ,risk assesment go to the HSE web site you can down load it there ,also the health and safety policy is also available on there again the risk assesment they mormally send this out , you will be asked some question Zs maximums , and you be asked to show how you test at a site like show how you carry out a Ze test if you do dont forget to remove the bonds to water and gas etc you may well be asked to do an R1R2 test but the questions and what youll be asked to to will be up to the assessorpossible RCD tests x1 x5 ramp etc you'll be fine if youve only beeen trading a few months dont worry they'll take that into condsideration , so good luck

 

[kung]

Hello and welcome Trippedit
Sounds like your be fine and relax ! everyone feels the same ! with regards to the 12mths certs dont worry youve only just started so just have the certs for the jobs you show ! 1st test is norm Ze then R1 + R2, RCD tips, Insulation resistance etc nothing to catch you out ! couple of questions on regs and tests etc and a quick chat ! look at your office side eg paperwork,regs,onsite,EAW regs,part p doc,cal etc then answer all your questions and give advice etc their very helpfull and friendly and remember its your paid for time so get all the advice you want !
Good luck buddy !
Kung.
Also what nickblake said !

 

[Smugley]

An interesting question might be to ask the forum whether anyone has ever heard of someone actually failing a Part P assessment!!

 

[kung]

Nope lol

 

[Nicktric]

Cheers guys! I hope this will be a breeze but keep questioning things and doubting myself!

show how you test at a site like show how you carry out a Ze test if you do dont forget to remove the bonds to water and gas etc

I don't want to start off my fist post disputing things... trying to make friends here!! as I know you are here to help but also got to get this right, surely Nick you are confusing a main bond continuity test and parallel earths with a Ze test as Ze is external loop and irrelevant if bonds are in place or not as load side is not being tested?
Just to check, Ze: Switch off, remove cover remove main earth cable from MET leave water and gas bonding in place, three lead, piggyback neutral and earth clip on disconnected main earth cable, switch on, probe line. Job done?
Thanks for your advice and as smugley says anyone know of anyone failing and how? There's always a first.... I promise I'll post if I do as I'm sure you'll be itching to know what on. Choked on the !**! chunky Kitkat or something.

 

[nickblake]

Cheers guys! I hope this will be a breeze but keep questioning things and doubting myself!



I don't want to start off my fist post disputing things... trying to make friends here!! as I know you are here to help but also got to get this right, surely Nick you are confusing a main bond continuity test and parallel earths with a Ze test as Ze is external loop and irrelevant if bonds are in place or not as load side is not being tested?
Just to check, Ze: Switch off, remove cover remove main earth cable from MET leave water and gas bonding in place, three lead, piggyback neutral and earth clip on disconnected main earth cable, switch on, probe line. Job done?
Thanks for your advice and as smugley says anyone know of anyone failing and how? There's always a first.... I promise I'll post if I do as I'm sure you'll be itching to know what on. Choked on the !**! chunky Kitkat or something.

I was alway taught to test without removing the main earth and test by disconnecting the main bonds to water an gas etc to prevent parallel earth paths , this is the way i have done it on three assesments and its never been question , i can see your point and its a good one , its good to dispute things mate as in the end we all make a better job and get better knowlage of our trade , what i did forget to mention and its important , welcome to the forum im sure you make some great friends on here there are some great lads here too

 

[topquark]

Keep in mind that additional regs (701.415.2) for special locations now mean that there may be connective parallel paths via special locations cpc to earth back at the MET and that just disconnecting the main bonding at the MET is no longer sufficient to guarantee that you are only testing the main earth.

 

[Animal]

Keep in mind that additional regs (701.415.2) for special locations now mean that there may be connective parallel paths via special locations cpc to earth back at the MET and that just disconnecting the main bonding at the MET is no longer sufficient to guarantee that you are only testing the main earth.

good point.

 

[nickblake]

Keep in mind that additional regs (701.415.2) for special locations now mean that there may be connective parallel paths via special locations cpc to earth back at the MET and that just disconnecting the main bonding at the MET is no longer sufficient to guarantee that you are only testing the main earth.

thanks mate its one of those thats crops up learn something every day, if i wasnt out every night this week id get the old regs out , but a note of it has been made and regs will be out soon lol

 

[topquark]

Haven't come across it anywhere yet, but I'm sure that some of the new builds may start to have it.

 

[kung]

Just to check, Ze: Switch off, remove cover remove main earth cable from MET leave water and gas bonding in place, three lead, piggyback neutral and earth clip on disconnected main earth cable, switch on, probe line. Job done?
.

Care to run that past us again ?
Ze = 3 lead test lead then crock disconnected earth then probe line & neutral and test buddy !
dont piggyback the earth & neutral probes or the inspector may think your just about to perform a PSSC test !
and relax ! you've prob done this loads of times before !
Good luck !

 

[Nicktric]

Oops yes sorry Kung. When I do the Ze and switch off to do so, prior to disconnection normally I don't do a safe iso at this point should I run through a safe isolation check at this point in front of the inspector or do you think he will think I'm taking the *!!*

 

[kung]

Best to ask him as your both comp he will prob just say dont worry at this point as the Ze is the first of the live tests but he may say do S.I.P to start with to get it out the way.

 

[kung]

PSSC test !

Or even a PSCC test lol

 

[robsparky1975]

Welcome to the forum trippedit,I had my assesment today with phil noyce,what a nice bloke,we had tea,biscuits,put me at ease,even sharing stories of this and that,i was booked in for 13:30 and he phoned and asked if he could turn up at 11,how could i refuse,i had 45 mins to finish preparing,talk about a headless chicken.NO NEED TO WORRY YOURSELF,i have only been trading on my own for 1 month,only had 1 cu change from last year as have been employed by a firm and got made redundant hence starting on my own,anyways im drinking an ice cold beer now,can relax,i had 9 days to prep from applying for elecsa to todays assesment,the paperwork took a couple of hours,very informal,took him to one job 5 mins down the road,done ZE.full ring final test,ZS on same circuit and rcd test,15 mins at clients house,there is no fail,its banded from a scale of A,B,C.,you will fly through no worries,everyone gets the jitters,even me,just be very thorough with your paperwork/certs,he paid very much attention to the certs as he said some people make up readings,whatttttttt,let us know when you pass,good luck.any questions big or small dont worry about posting regards rob

 

[kung]

Well done Rob and well done Trippedit in advance !

 

[Nicktric]

Hi Rob, well done, must be great to get it out of the way as it does play on your mind, plus it's difficult to earn money until you get the stamp.
It's quite a roller coaster getting all the info in place one thing leads to another, for example I've done my health and safety policy statement which lead on to Health and safety Law poster and leaflets which every company should have but I don't think is an Elecsa requirement? The leaflets you can download but I think it's wrong that the poster has a hologram to stop copying and you need to buy from HSE. It's safety for goodness sake you should be allowed to copy a zillion and plaster the workplace with them! Also did you need a fire risk assessment doc or just a normal risk assessment for the work place? Unfortunately although I love your positive outlook on life a C is actually a fail, B is non-compliance Ie no health and safety policy and A is pass.. When you he studied the certs, do you mean the cert for your major/minor for the assessment or do you mean the past 12 months certs as I haven't got many!

Can someone just check this for me, did my board change yesterday, no probs, There is an old shower cable and immersion both disconnected in loft and at the board, Is it okay just to leave those terminated loose in the DB as the client may need them in the future or would you leave them outside the board?

The DB is in the garage on a brick wall but a few inches above is the ceiling which is unprotected i.e if you look up all you see is joist and tongue and groove board 2 inches above the dis board. I wondered if he may point this out as a fire hazard and if I should plaster board it or fire board over the top?

Sorry for all the questions... Can you think of any stickers I have missed wiring colours, rcd quarterley, next inspection, missing cpc.

Cheers, no doubt be in touch!

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Trippedit,

Dont get too hung up on questions etc in your assessment. Yes you will be asked questions, and no you wont know all the answers, but it is important that you can find the answers in the BRB, OSG or whatever, as we all know we cant remember everything He wont cross examine you, he just wants to know and satisfy himself that you are safe and competent.

On your jobs he wont expect perfection, if you have made minor errors he will advise you, and you will move on. Make sure your paperwork is up to scratch, no silly mistakes, have all your kit and books to hand etc, and you will have no problems.

I haven't had the assessor you named, but i have had 3 different ones on 5 assessments, all great blokes and electricians.

Cheers.........Howard

 

[robsparky1975]

Sorry for being a bit slow to respond but been a bit busy,dont worry about the 12 months of certs as i have only been on my own for 1 month,been with loads of niceic firms,but only had 1 cu change to show him and it was 15 mins on site, job done,imagine yourself as an assessor what would you want to see,they are just like us only have hung up theirtools,although they do have exeptional knowledge,they are sparks who have needed a change,as regard to h&s policy its not even needed for a sole trader but even so you still had to show it to get through to assessment,there is free downloads from the hse website and i filled in the blanks,it was so much easier than i was expecting,if the 2391 was 9/10 for difficulty the elecsa assessment was 5/10,the thing is that they dont want to give a bad assessment,they want to help you fullfill the requirements of part p.