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Hi guys whats your take of how many EICRs can be done properly in a day average of 5 to 8 circuits ranging from 1 bed flats to 3 bed houses?? This would also include travel and also doing any repairs whilst there?
Discuss How many eicr in a day in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net
Probably not real customers then and more likely a bunch of chancers looking for someone cheap to take the fall when something goes wrongWell I was dubious and raised my rate to £20 to test the water.. My customer s dropped me like a bag of hot potatoes and I only recovered work when I dropped my prices again..in fact I never got some of my customers back...a local housing association being one of them
a local housing association being one of them and as previously mentioned they now use their own maintenance staff to carry out testing so I'm unlikely to get that work back.
I suppose what I'm saying is its fine to charge the high rates of you have the customers who have pockets feel enough to pay it, but for the likes of me and numerous others in this trade we have to take the money our customers can afford
Found 2 so far one in Essex and the other in KentNo I think there are a few up and down the country.
yes have had contact with a letting agency who expressed interest but no jobs as yetThere are a few on here who have passed state retirement age and are still working.
Maybe they would be better placed to give advice.
It does change things a little, though it shouldn't.
Have you approached letting agents for EICR's and small works? It won't be great money but surely better than you are getting at the moment.
Hi Brian I’ve just read all your messages absolutely ridiculous no way would you have agreed to doing an EICR for £40? Did you say you live in west wales? I’m from South Wales valleys and I find it hard to believe I’ve done EICR’s in west wales and charged hell of a lot more than that especially due to the lack of electricians in the area.Probably not real customers then and more likely a bunch of chancers looking for someone cheap to take the fall when something goes wrong
Probably found it is even cheaper to do it in house, would imagine their employees would be hung out to dry if something goes wrong as I doubt the managers would back them up
What you need to do is leave these parasitic customers to someone else they will have the money to pay you and any others properly it is just that they choose not to while you and others are happy to fund their champagne lifestyle. I don't believe that around 15 miles from the centre of the great metropolis and a self employed tradesman can't command more than £10/hr you really sound like you have been groomed or brainwashed by some unscrupulous buyer to bow down and accept this, we keep being told that slavery ended over a century ago but you seem to be saying this isn't so
Found 2 so far one in Essex and the other in Kent
There are a few on here who have passed state retirement age and are still working.
Maybe they would be better placed to give advice.
It does change things a little, though it shouldn't.
Have you approached letting agents for EICR's and small works? It won't be great money but surely better than you are getting at the moment.
No I'm from the South East and I think we have the opposite situation here in that we have too many tradesmen chasing too little workHi Brian I’ve just read all your messages absolutely ridiculous no way would you have agreed to doing an EICR for £40? Did you say you live in west wales? I’m from South Wales valleys and I find it hard to believe I’ve done EICR’s in west wales and charged hell of a lot more than that especially due to the lack of electricians in the area.
I'm guessing that it was a very large building you were testing .I've never managed an EICR in less than a full day. I can't see how it's possible. The one I just did, with hundreds of little and bigger fixes throughout, (paid for separately), took three weeks.
Anyone doing EICR's might do well to listen to the Grenfell tower enquiry podcast. The scale of the complacency of many many involved ran deep. All implicated had variations on a number of themes: That a safety requirement was someone else's consideration, was being lent on by their boss, had no funds to spend, was simply ignorant, or wasn't ignorant at all, but thought it would never happen.
I'm guessing that it was a very large building you were testing .
A large testing organisation I once worked for required 50 circuits a day so 3 weeks is 15 days which equalls 750 circuits so yes I'm guessing a reasonable sized installation .I'm guessing that it was a very large building you were testing .
A large testing organisation I once worked for required 50 circuits a day...
As you say you're not an electrician and as such don't fully understand what's important and what s not. I'm sure you must realise that anyone carrying out these tests do it for money..that is their prime concern...to carry out a periodic test and inspection to the letter of the regulations would take so long that the vast majority of people would bulk at the cost, as such the vast majority of testers will carry out an abridged version with only the most important points listed. The use of the limitations section helps the tester to limit the amount of work required e.g. Many will place a limit of 10% testing ie 1in every 10 circuits are tested..to do otherwise subjects the customers to the potential of massive costs of (in The case of some of the rates quoted in this site) many thousands of pounds, and of course a problem for the sparky in trying to get paid for the work . We all have to be sensible and accept that anywhere near a 100% test is not achievable at a reasonable commercial costI'm not an electrician, so am asking as Joe Public...
What standard of testing could I expect from someone who needed to get through 50 circuits per day? Even working 10 hour days, that averages to 5 circuits per hour.
Let's take a 1990s 3 bed semi, with a total of 8 ways utilised in the board - that would require you to be on site, complete all testing and be well on your way to the next job within 2 hours. At £10 per hour I'd be delighted with my £20 invoice, but how much detail would I expect to learn about the electrical installation? Not much I suspect, beyond confirmation of continuity, earthing, bonding and a quick visual inspection. Doesn't seem like you'd have any time to identify other potential issues provided resistances came up trumps when tested. Surely an "Electrical Installation Condition Report" should include as much information as can realistically be obtained, rather than resistance measurements and visual inspection of that which is on display.
I'm sorry if I've dissolutioned you but that's the way the cookie crumbles and testing a large installation would be like painting the Fourth Bridge..it would never end .As you say you're not an electrician and as such don't fully understand what's important and what s not. I'm sure you must realise that anyone carrying out these tests do it for money..that is their prime concern...to carry out a periodic test and inspection to the letter of the regulations would take so long that the vast majority of people would bulk at the cost, as such the vast majority of testers will carry out an abridged version with only the most important points listed. The use of the limitations section helps the tester to limit the amount of work required e.g. Many will place a limit of 10% testing ie 1in every 10 circuits are tested..to do otherwise subjects the customers to the potential of massive costs of (in The case of some of the rates quoted in this site) many thousands of pounds, and of course a problem for the sparky in trying to get paid for the work . We all have to be sensible and accept that anywhere near a 100% test is not achievable at a reasonable commercial cost
As you say you're not an electrician and as such don't fully understand what's important and what s not. I'm sure you must realise that anyone carrying out these tests do it for money..that is their prime concern...to carry out a periodic test and inspection to the letter of the regulations would take so long that the vast majority of people would bulk at the cost, as such the vast majority of testers will carry out an abridged version with only the most important points listed. The use of the limitations section helps the tester to limit the amount of work required e.g. Many will place a limit of 10% testing ie 1in every 10 circuits are tested..to do otherwise subjects the customers to the potential of massive costs of (in The case of some of the rates quoted in this site) many thousands of pounds, and of course a problem for the sparky in trying to get paid for the work . We all have to be sensible and accept that anywhere near a 100% test is not achievable at a reasonable commercial cost
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I'm sorry if I've dissolutioned you but that's the way the cookie crumbles and testing a large installation would be like painting the Fourth Bridge..it would never end .
in answer to your questions a Periodic test and inspection is the same as a EICR is just that some "new brush" decided to change the name some time back. Yes of course I'm referring to large installations when I'm referring to the 10% limitation but you have to be aware that limitations can/will be applied to domestic installations e.g no inspection of cabling in roof or flooring voids or no testing made at accessories above 3 meters. This last point is in some way due to insurance restrictions where working off ladders is prohibited or at least discouraged under H&S considerations. These limitations may mean that conditions that may be seen as undesirable may go undetected e.g. Rodent damaged cabling however if the cabling passes the insulation test the tester has done his job and cannot be blamed for any consequences arising from such a defectI'm not disillusioned, but based on this thread (and others) I would ensure that the level of testing was agreed upon before contracting anyone to undertake such an inspection, so that the resulting report was up to the sort of standard I expected.
I'm not sure what exactly is covered by the definition of "periodic inspection and testing", so would refer back to the thread title which specifically references "EICR".
Electrical safety first state the five main aims of an EICR as being:
- Record the results of the inspection and testing to make sure the electrical installation is safe to be used until the next inspection (following any work needed to make it safe)
- Find any damage and wear and tear that might affect safety, and report it
- Find any parts of the electrical installation that do not meet the IET Wiring Regulations
- Help find anything that may cause electric shocks and high temperatures
- Provide and{sic} important record of the installation at the time of the inspection, and for inspection testing in the future.
Obviously I understand that there will be limitations on any EICR produced and that it is unrealistic to test at every single point and impossible to inspect every inch of the installation as homeowners generally aren't going to permit an inspector to smash holes in their walls. That being said, I still fail to see how 50 circuits per day can permit any useful level of testing or inspection in a domestic situation. Which circuit do you choose? The lighting circuit with no CPC or that RFC with spurs wired off spurs? The former will be immediately apparent, but the later will not if it doesn't happen to be the lucky circuit on the day of testing. In short; a 2 hour EICR will likely fail to meet requirements 1-4 in the above list.
I'm not sure if we're at cross purposes and you're posting about large commercial installations or if you would really provide a domestic EICR with such a low level of detail as to effectively render the report useless. Think of all those issues you've had to rectify when fixing faults in domestic premises and consider how many would go unnoticed in a 2 hour EICR.
As you say you're not an electrician and as such don't fully understand what's important and what s not. I'm sure you must realise that anyone carrying out these tests do it for money..that is their prime concern...to carry out a periodic test and inspection to the letter of the regulations would take so long that the vast majority of people would bulk at the cost, as such the vast majority of testers will carry out an abridged version with only the most important points listed. The use of the limitations section helps the tester to limit the amount of work required e.g. Many will place a limit of 10% testing ie 1in every 10 circuits are tested..to do otherwise subjects the customers to the potential of massive costs of (in The case of some of the rates quoted in this site) many thousands of pounds, and of course a problem for the sparky in trying to get paid for the work . We all have to be sensible and accept that anywhere near a 100% test is not achievable at a reasonable commercial cost
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I'm sorry if I've dissolutioned you but that's the way the cookie crumbles and testing a large installation would be like painting the Fourth Bridge..it would never end .
I think you've only read part of the reply...secondly you state that you regularly use electrical contractors which rather suggests that you are not an electrical bid yourself..as such i doubt if you are fully aware of how testing is carried out...I can assure you you will not be getting a 100% test ..it is simply uneconomicWhat a load of nonsense limitation used to only test 10% of circuits !! No wonder you are only charging £40 an EICR on a lot of properties you would only test one circuit.
As some one who regularly uses electrical contractors to carry out EICR I can say quite clearly that only test any percentage of circuits is not acceptable.
this is easy simply put ' not tested in the circuit description and N/V in the other boxes.How can you fill out the "Distribution Board Details" sheet in the EICR if you don't test all the circuits?
yes certainly..the inspection part of a test is exactly what it says your are looking to determine any departures from a set standard, this begins at the onset of the test with a check of the installation to determine that it's safe to test e.g. Any bare cabling is made safe. We need to know that everything is secure and not about to fall off the wall and that enclosures are intact, not damaged and@Brian Taylor please could you describe what your inspection of the installation involves for a £40 EICR? Lots of talk of testing from everyone but nothing about inspection?
I'm sure nobody would condemn an installation for having red/black colours!!!
No I'm from the South East and I think we have the opposite situation here in that we have too many tradesmen chasing too little work
A large testing organisation I once worked for required 50 circuits a day
The use of the limitations section helps the tester to limit the amount of work required e.g. Many will place a limit of 10% testing ie 1in every 10 circuits are tested..to do otherwise subjects the customers to the potential of massive costs of (in The case of some of the rates quoted in this site) many thousands of pounds, and of course a problem for the sparky in trying to get paid for the work . We all have to be sensible and accept that anywhere near a 100% test is not achievable at a reasonable commercial cost
I'm sorry if I've dissolutioned you but that's the way the cookie crumbles and testing a large installation would be like painting the Fourth Bridge..it would never end .
well no sensible operator would but I've had a few inquiries in The past over such an issue on the basis that as it is contary to the regs it requires a rewire.I'm sure nobody would condemn an installation for having red/black colours!!!
an interesting message but I can assure you the wholesalers over here will sell to anyone trade or public alike..also I don't see it as my job to hike my prices simply to allow others to continue to charge inflated prices..my job is to carry out the work at the cheapest possible price i can to compete with others...if they can't compete them they have to organise their business in such a way as to try and undercut me ...that's the way the capitalist system works .Brian.... I’m a little perturbed, I used to live in Rainham Essex prior to my departure from the UK. There was so much work. Even when the financial crash of 2008 happened. My day rate was still £150 a day and I was a subbie like yourself.
It doesn’t look good when your pricing other sparks out of the market with ridiculously low rates. Value yourself and Value the Trade.
Over here if you pull that B/S you’ll be blacklisted from the wholesalers. Sparks talk we know what the ball park figures should be. That way it’s a fair crack on your customer relations skills rather than a race to the bottom.
Funnily enough there is a massive Tesco in rainham village. Hit them up.
in addition I'm not sure what the job market is like in Rainha m Essex as I've never been therewell no sensible operator would but I've had a few inquiries in The past over such an issue on the basis that as it is contary to the regs it requires a rewire.
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an interesting message but I can assure you the wholesalers over here will sell to anyone trade or public alike..also I don't see it as my job to hike my prices simply to allow others to continue to charge inflated prices..my job is to carry out the work at the cheapest possible price i can to compete with others...if they can't compete them they have to organise their business in such a way as to try and undercut me ...that's the way the capitalist system works .
I think you need to read the whole of this message....the 50 circuits a day relates to particularly odious company I worked for some time ago and although that's what they wanted it was clearly not possible to do so in order to keep the peace is us testers would simply log the circuits do a few tests write down a few observations and pack up for the dayDon't how you come to the conclusion you do, here is 5 pages of jobs not to far from you from a very quick search
Electrician Jobs in Rainham - March 2024 | Essex Jobs
Search for 1000s of Electrician Jobs in Rainham. Register your CV and apply to the latest job vacancies. Find your next job with Essex Jobswww.essexjobs.co.uk
So 50 circuits a day has now come down to 5 tested circuits and 45 noted or is it 500 circuits a day with 50 tested circuits and 450 noted
100% tests are viable yes they are not as cheap as your EICR's but wouldn't cost the thousands you claim unless it was a very large installation but then again it depends what peace of mind the customer wants
Some very large installations are like that and the customer / dutyholder is prepared to pay that price to avoid the possibility of talking to people wearing wigs who may decide that a stay in one of Her Majesties hotels is necessary because someone died or was seriously injured
EICR's are not some sort of game when you sign it you are making a statement that could and would be used as evidence in a court either for or against you, I have always found it odd that the client does not have to sign it in the limitations section to agree to any limitations as currently the tester does not have any proof that the customer was made aware of them and agreed them after the EICR is done
I also think that the certificates should be changed so green is a satisfactory EICR and red is an unsatisfactory EICR it would make it a lot clearer for everyone involved in the management of premises where a valid EICR is a requirement
On the question of limitations most companies will list the limitations and terms of test in their general terms and conditions in that way the customer(should they bother to read) said terms and conditions would know what they are paying for, so complaining that they are not getting what they expected after the event doesn't cut much icewell no sensible operator would but I've had a few inquiries in The past over such an issue on the basis that as it is contary to the regs it requires a rewire.
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an interesting message but I can assure you the wholesalers over here will sell to anyone trade or public alike..also I don't see it as my job to hike my prices simply to allow others to continue to charge inflated prices..my job is to carry out the work at the cheapest possible price i can to compete with others...if they can't compete them they have to organise their business in such a way as to try and undercut me ...that's the way the capitalist system works .
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in addition I'm not sure what the job market is like in Rainha m Essex as I've never been there
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I think you need to read the whole of this message....the 50 circuits a day relates to particularly odious company I worked for some time ago and although that's what they wanted it was clearly not possible to do so in order to keep the peace is us testers would simply log the circuits do a few tests write down a few observations and pack up for the day
Have a look at the time-cost-quality triangle. I'd think that your job is to make money as an electriian isn't it? You're a business first and a sparky second. Do you not have a business model or USP? Just because somebody charges more than another doesn't make them per se expensive or 'ripping the customer off'. I see that comment a lot on the forum. By way of example if we were to both price to rewire a house and you estimated £5K and I £8K thats my price. Neither of us have gun to the customers head and its a free market so the customer can choose which company they go with.an interesting message but I can assure you the wholesalers over here will sell to anyone trade or public alike..also I don't see it as my job to hike my prices simply to allow others to continue to charge inflated prices..my job is to carry out the work at the cheapest possible price i can to compete with others...if they can't compete them they have to organise their business in such a way as to try and undercut me ...that's the way the capitalist system works .
Not too sure I know what the time cost quality triangle is let alone a UPS and my business plan is get the work do what I need to do and get paid...isn't that anyone's plan in life, we all have to do whatever it takes to achieve thisHave a look at the time-cost-quality triangle. I'd think that your job is to make money as an electriian isn't it? You're a business first and a sparky second. Do you not have a business model or USP? Just because somebody charges more than another doesn't make them per se expensive or 'ripping the customer off'. I see that comment a lot on the forum. By way of example if we were to both price to rewire a house and you estimated £5K and I £8K thats my price. Neither of us have gun to the customers head and its a free market so the customer can choose which company they go with.
I dont want to depress you but my 2nd year apprentice earns more than the figures you quote and I charge out per hour more than you per day/per EICR. I really dont think that a race to the bottom by charging so little is how a capitalistic society works? I really feel your pain and wish something could be done to help you increase revenue.
BTW @telectrix is semi retired and must be at least 300 years old and I bet he doesn't struggle to charge more than your quoted rates
I thank you for your concern and advice but my experience is that it is always the lowest price that gets the job, given your example of the house rewire i know I would go for the cheapest every time,....were those actual prices for a house rewire in your area of do you have very large houses in your area ?Have a look at the time-cost-quality triangle. I'd think that your job is to make money as an electriian isn't it? You're a business first and a sparky second. Do you not have a business model or USP? Just because somebody charges more than another doesn't make them per se expensive or 'ripping the customer off'. I see that comment a lot on the forum. By way of example if we were to both price to rewire a house and you estimated £5K and I £8K thats my price. Neither of us have gun to the customers head and its a free market so the customer can choose which company they go with.
I dont want to depress you but my 2nd year apprentice earns more than the figures you quote and I charge out per hour more than you per day/per EICR. I really dont think that a race to the bottom by charging so little is how a capitalistic society works? I really feel your pain and wish something could be done to help you increase revenue.
BTW @telectrix is semi retired and must be at least 300 years old and I bet he doesn't struggle to charge more than your quoted rates
Whether a certificate is worthless or not is highly subjective, as long as the customer is getting what they require i don't see a problem with the extent of the test carried out as long as it's what they want, to be honest if the customer wanted a blank certificate I'd be only too happy to oblige with a blank signed copy and charge according.my tuppence woth. brian is misguided if he thinks that % testing means only testin some circuits and not others.
% testing means that you test all circuits, but only a percentage of the points on those circuits. an EICR that misses out circuits is like a MOT without checking brakes. pointless, worthless and not worth the paper.
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