Testing and Inspection - requirements of test engineer

[chronyx]

The company I work for recently issued a PIR for my father's employer's property (Commerical and domestic.)

I have been looking into the 2391 myself and realised that the person(s) who performed the PI are not 2391 qualified.

Is this PIR therefore worth the paper it is written on, (Or simply at best a list of what an electrician believes is wrong with the installation) and what is to stop me not bothering with the 2391 if anyone can issue a PIR regardless of qualification?

Your thoughts/comments welcome!

 

[squidgycubit]

You need to be 2391 qualified in order to do PIR's. It also takes a lot of experience too as there are many installation you come across that are very old and this is where the experience counts. As for the PIR that your company issued, your right in stating that its not worth the paper it's written on

 

[Sintra]

I would have to disagree and say that a 2391 is not mandatory for carrying out a PIR. All that is required is that the person carrying out the PIR is competant to do so. Yes the 2391 would be a good way to prove competancy.

 

[alanl]

Agree with Sintra above, 2391 is not required to perform an adequate PIR.

What about sparkies who have been in business 20+ years, many have not done 2391, but have done an apprenticeship, as well as years of experience.

*If you have concerns about his findings, please put them up here, and you can get some advice.

Alan.

 

[mydigitalhome]

? a friend of mine is 16 edition qualified and been testing stuff for at least 30 years, guy in his mid 50's. NIC registered carrying out domestic and commercial works and does PIR's all the time - are you trying to say that because he does not have 2391 that his work is worthless? To my knowledge it is about being competent to carry out the work not just having a bit of paper. I have the bits of paper but i still rate him as having greater knowledge than myself - where does it say that it mandatory to have 2391 to do PIR's?

 

[jeremy]

I have 2391 but there are, I'm sure more able, but less "qualified" electricians. It's not just about the bits of paper you've got....

 

[Des 56]

An acceptable Pir is usually done by an Niceic company
Thats what councils,landlords and insurance companies believe constitutes an acceptable report
Bear in mind, the Pir may be carried out by someone who hasn't a clue,but its oversigned by a Qs and thats the important bit in their eyes

What is usually not accepted, is an individual with years of experience and a 2391 to boot, who then may do a first class inspection at a reasonable rate

Pirs are funny creatures,you have the competence of those who can, but cant
Against the ignorance of those that cant, but can,if you get my drift

2391 qualification is nice to have, but it is neither necessary or asked for, Pirs are open to any who think they can do it, and companies who on the whole con their clients

A genuine test and inspection is less likely than a conspection,but your case could be either,its the content thats important

 

[brucelee]

No requirement to have 2391 just competent for inspection and testing

 

[chronyx]

Thanks a lot guys, it's good to know the PIR is valid and money well spent. :cheesy:

 

[malcolmsanford]

? a friend of mine is 16 edition qualified and been testing stuff for at least 30 years, guy in his mid 50's. NIC registered carrying out domestic and commercial works and does PIR's all the time - are you trying to say that because he does not have 2391 that his work is worthless? To my knowledge it is about being competent to carry out the work not just having a bit of paper. I have the bits of paper but i still rate him as having greater knowledge than myself - where does it say that it mandatory to have 2391 to do PIR's?

Think your mate might be on a sticky wicket if anything went wrong and he doesn't have the 17th edition qualification, as all PIRs need to be carried out with the 17th in mind.

 

[chronyx]

With regard to the remedial actions, once these are completed is a re-test required?

 

[Sparky Ninja]

Will depend on the remedial's.

 

[malcolmsanford]

As widdler it will depend on the remedial carried out. If your having to change protection devices for example because of a high Zs then you need to retest that circuit as you have changed the circuit characteristics.

Also if you felt that the original test threw up so many potentially dangerous situations that you recommended a re-test in say 6 months, then that would cover your retest, but even with an unsatisfactory report the person ordering the test does not need to carry out the remedial, though of course if it was a report for insurance purposes and they never did the remedial work, and something occurred where they needed to claim on that insurance then they most likely not going to get paid.

 

[chronyx]

Thank you, very helpful as usual!