Would love to Boydy, but dont have the necessary technical ability....
Dear customer,
I wanted to inform you about some developments in the domestic sector further to our recent appearance in front of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Select Committee.
As you may know, Part P of the Building Regulations was reviewed by DCLG following consultation in 2012 and changes were made which are in the process of being implemented. You can view a summary of the changes to Part P here.
During the review process the Select Committee took an active interest and advocated the retention of Part P. The Committee was particularly keen to raise public awareness levels and later the Committee called for one single register of Part P domestic registered contractors as they were concerned about the possibility of consumer confusion.
Following our first appearance to discuss a single register, the Select Committee received a small number of submissions relating to Competent Person’s Schemes and on Part P.
The ESC, ECA, NICEIC, ELECSA and NAPIT were concerned with the content of some of the submissions. However, we were pleased to be given the chance to answer some of the points directly at the hearing and discuss some of the wider issues facing the industry today.
One register
Following the Select Committee’s concerns over consumer confusion in the market place Certsure (which owns and operates the NICEIC and ELECSA brands) and NAPIT, with the support of all scheme operators, have committed to work on a proposal for a mark underpinned by a single register for all full-scope Part P registered electricians. The mark would sit alongside the existing brands and we will keep you informed about this proposal. If we can improve awareness by working together across all the schemes on common issues we will do so.
Short “five day wonder” courses
There were submissions to the Committee referring to short courses as a way of entry on to a Competent Person’s Scheme. Certsure only register companies who can demonstrate their competency through compliance with the Minimum Technical Competence (MTC) requirements coupled with a thorough and robust on-site assessment. We do not believe short courses make anybody an “electrician” but we do believe that for some, who wish to change careers and have gained experience out on-site, short courses may be the affordable and realistic way to gain a qualification leading to assessment for potential registration.
Operating our schemes
We are proud of our robust and professional systems of assessment and certification, overseen by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). In 2012 we signed up to new and enhanced conditions of authorisation to run Competent Person’s Schemes. With over 8 million electrical jobs notified to local building control by NICEIC contractors alone since 2005, we believe Part P has brought electrical safety benefits to the consumer. We acknowledge it can be improved and both awareness and enforcement are too low. We have proposed ideas for improvement within the current system.
Licencing electricians
The Select Committee heard oral evidence from four contractors and one training provider who each called for an individual licencing/certification model (such as that run by Gas Safe). The Committee discussed this possibility, suggesting that every operative within a company should be registered on a certification scheme in the same way that Qualified Supervisors are assessed in the current scheme. They did not fully address the cost burden this could bring to contractors and my letter to the Committee on this topic can be found
here (look on page 2)
We believe that the current Qualified Supervisor system works and has worked for many years. It provides a good balance between electrical safety regulation and the costs and other impacts of regulation imposed on companies – the alternative being every employee pays for and is registered and assessed by a regulatory body. We believe that any proposed changes need to recognise the important role a company plays in a strong system, as it’s the company which carries the insurance and warranties that give consumers confidence and redress. The company registration when combined with the QS model (which recognises an individual’s qualifications and experience) provides the strongest model.
Regulation 16 of the Electricity at Work Regulations (EAWR) states “No person shall be engaged in any work activity where technical knowledge or experience is necessary to prevent danger or where appropriate injury unless he possess such knowledge or experience or is under such degree of supervisions as may be appropriate having regard to the nature of the work.”
It’s this fundamental principle that underpins the basic structure of the scheme and our operations.
Have your say
I would like to hear your opinions on this matter so please email me at
[email protected].
