Notifiable work process - damn 25 charactors!??

[gazdkw82]

whats the process to follow for notifiable work?

Iv not done the process before and I'm getting asked to do jobs within my scope (new circuits, move CU etc) however, Im not sure how to actually notify properly

 

[SparkyChick]

If you're a member of a scam it will no doubt vary, but for NAPIT, I do the work, record the test results, generate the required certificate (either my own format MEIWC or use NAPIT Desktop for EICs and EICRs). Then using NAPIT desktop, I create a notification (they have an on-line system), you say what type of job it is, what work was carried out (not in any great detail - e.g. installed new circuit) and click the button (you have to provide customer details obviously), then some time later, the customer gets a certificate from NAPIT telling them the work has been notified to LABC.

If you're not a member of a scam, there is an upfront cost, you have to notify LABC in advance and they will arrange to come along whilst the work is being carried out to ensure it complies, they'll also arrange for someone to test it and certify it's OK.

That's about the long and short of it. I'm guessing it's either going to be Leicester City Council or Leicestershire County Council... check out the website, and have a read of their process and charges.

 

[SparkyChick]

Should add, there is a small charge for notifications through your scam, I pass that on to my customers.

 

[gazdkw82]

It's a tough one because I'm getting asked to do small notifiable jobs but it probably doesn't warrant signing up.

Napit are generally the cheapest to sign up too?

 

[SparkyChick]

It's not necessarily a matter of the cost, it's really being able to meet the requirements of the scheme. For NAPIT, it's £2mil pub li insurance and £250k prof ind insurance if you're doing EICRs and such like, plus the qualifications they want.

Let me put it into perspective in terms of costs.... if I do 3 notifiable jobs in Cardiff/Newport, the cost of those would more than cover the cost of joining NAPIT. I've done more than that already, so my membership has paid for itself.

Edit:-

Plus it has the benefit of you can work now, notify later. LABC will give you some wriggle room in the case of emergency works (say a CU has gone up in smoke and needs replacing), but other than that you have to give notice for planned work and it's a headache.

 

[Richard Burns]

SC has covered it, in general it is most cost effective to join a scheme even if you only do three notifiable jobs because the BC procedure is so excessively expensive and inconvenient (so as to make you join a scheme!).
Stroma is the cheapest, Certsure and Napit the most popular, the others are more limited.
Read the approved document P that explains the legal side of things, the individual scheme requirements are buried somewhere in their websites.
Most common
Ascertiva Group Limited, NICEIC, www.ascertiva.com, Supporting contractors in the building services sector | NICEIC - http://www.niceic.com/, 01582 531 000
ECA Certification Limited, ELECSA, www.elecsa.co.uk, 0845 634 9043
Both of the above are now Certsure

These two are also common:
NAPIT Registration Limited, NAPIT, www.napit.org.uk, 0845 543 0330

Stroma Certification Limited, STROMA, www.stroma.com, 0845 621 1111

These are also schemes that provide the same service:
Benchmark Certification Limited, Benchmark, www.benchmark-cert.co.uk
0238 051 7069
Blue Flame Certification Limited, Certification - Certification - http://www.blueflamecertification.com/
0845 1940 31, (possibly via NAPIT)
Building Engineering Services Competence Assessment Limited, BESCA
www.besca.org.uk, 0800 652 5533
Oil Firing Technical Association Limited, OFTEC, OFTEC - Oil & Renewable Heating Technologies - http://www.oftec.org.uk/
0845 6585080
More geared to heating

 

[gazdkw82]

I think it would be a massive inconvenience to have to notify prior to work and have it inspected every time.

How does the assessment type thing work with joining a scheme? Would they just come and inspect an example of your work?

 

[SparkyChick]

Basically, they come and see you, check the required paperwork is in order, ask you a bunch of question about the regs and such like and then you toddle off to a job and go through some inspection and testing. Exact requirements differ between schemes I believe, but it needs to be fairly major work that would be covered by an EIC and a notification.

So when I had my NAPIT assessment, I'd changed a consumer unit and used that. Testing wise, I refused to fully isolate the property as there were people there, so talked through safe isolation procedures and demonstrated them on the circuit I would be testing. The advice I got at the time was try and pick a ring final because of the testing it requires.

Sat down had a cuppa with the chap, learned some useful nuggets along the way (like the suggestion that you get yourself a lower tier waste carriers licence).

 

[gazdkw82]

So just thinking, (and apologies if this is a daft question, iv had a few shandys)

If I was to install a new circuit (after informing local authorities) and then get them to come and check it, what test results would they expect to see? IR, continuity,ze, zs? Basically periodic inspection?

 

[SparkyChick]

My understanding is that they get someone in to test if you are not considered competent. If you are considered competent, I believe they would expect you to submit an EIC for the work, and that would obviously include all the testing required for initial verification.

Edit:-

If they are going to have it inspected, their inspector would need to see the first fix stage as well to ensure you've complied with the relevant regs.

 

[SparkyChick]

The best plan is ring up the LABC that covers your area and have a chat. In my dealings my LABCs, they have been very helpful and even committed conversations to email so we were all clear on things.

 

[gazdkw82]

Thanks sparkychick