Competitive pricing for Domestic EICR's. Why so low?

I know of one company who do council houses in London and have specialised in this sector for 20 years. 


They'll do an EICR for like £50.(Plus VAT)


When I asked how is that possible?


They'll do maybe 10 - 15 flats a day per tester - every flat and/or house is right next door to each other and every electrical system is the same. 


The first flat takes a small while to write up the circuits (probably no more than 6 circuits, maybe 4 circuits) and cable sizes in the DB. Check the bonding. Do maybe 4 Zs checks on the only existing 4 circuits. 


Move onto the second flat - quick check of the DB - and ensure its the same, copy and paste the results of the first flat and do 4 Zs checks. 


Move on. 


In theory I cant really argue with this, but in practice it means that the accepted cost per circuit is £12.5 or less and when some office numpty is considering who to give contracts to for any job, this is the figure he'll refer to for a guidance on costs. 


Now I certainly don't do occupied council houses because I hate the work - but I'd do a police station or council offices if it was offered to me. I could not - in any way shape or form - compete on that unit rate. I'd need double that on a much larger installation. 


How could I compete? On simple installations like small flats - Well I'd get my apprentice or any number of apprentices on less than £100 per day to form fill and basic checks. Type of MCB, size of MCB. How many circuits. check bonding visually and do a few Zs checks.


So I think this is what happens in reality. 


They certainly seem to do very well out of it.

Point 6. In my class of mature military service leavers, most if not all of us passed the NAPIT accredited domestic installers' course. 2394 was a completely different matter - I think that it was the very thorough testing under direct observation and against the clock that was the killer. The course was intensive and you had to do your homework in the evenings to stand any chance. Once you had passed that, 2395 was practically assured because the difficult tasks had already been done once before. Interestingly, there were about half as many places on the 2395 course than the 2394 one.


I have no idea how this compares with the current 2391-50, -51, and -52 standards.


The consensus amongst the tutors was that a couple of modest properties was a reasonable day's work.

Has the standard been set yet to determine who can do an EICR under the forthcoming legislation?


From the guidance:


“12.10 Carrying out an inspection of electrical installations is a complex task that requires an extra level of qualification and competence achieved beyond the standard 4-year vocational route commonly followed by qualified inspectors and testers. Therefore, Government will develop, with industry experts, new guidance for landlords stipulating who can carry out the mandatory electrical installation checks.

12.11 Within the new guidance landlords will be advised that competence will be met if an inspector and tester is a member of a competent person scheme or has met the requirements set out in a checklist. In addition to the checklist in the new guidance, industry scheme operators will be invited to set up a new electrical inspection and testing competent person scheme which inspectors and testers could choose to join. A reference to these schemes would also be made in the Government’s ‘How to Rent Guide’.”

So picking out from that:


”12.11 Within the new guidance landlords will be advised that competence will be met if an inspector and tester is a member of a competent person scheme “


Then refer to NICEIC Guide to registering as a Domestic Installer


ELECTRICAL INSPECTION CONDITION REPORTS

(EICR’S)

These are not covered by Domestic Installer registrants. Contractors wishing to provide these will need to apply for our Approved Contractor scheme.


So it appears only members of the NICEIC Approved electrical contractors scheme and members of the NAPIT and STROMA competent person schemes can undertake inspection and testing to produce EICRs for landlords, as NICEIC Domestic Installers cannot take the work on.


So how many people can actually undertake this work for private landlords?


Andy Betteridge

I would suggest that maybe a quarter of those electricians who advertise themselves as NICEIC registered are Domestic Installers who cannot undertake EICR work and the same again are contractors doing work such as shop fit outs and petrol stations who are interested in doing domestic EICRs or have the experience.


So maybe half the NICEIC firms may be interested in doing this domestic EICR work?


 Andy Betteridge

This recent video is very topical (it might even have prompted the OP?)

Sparkingchip:

I would suggest that maybe a quarter of those electricians who advertise themselves as NICEIC registered are Domestic Installers who cannot undertake EICR work and the same again are contractors doing work such as shop fit outs and petrol stations who are interested in doing domestic EICRs or have the experience.


So maybe half the NICEIC firms may be interested in doing this domestic EICR work?


 Andy Betteridge 

I missed out the word not.


Insert as appropriate.


Andy Betteridge

There are, of course, folk who are content to do inspections, etc., but do not fix or install installations. Under the current arrangements, it is difficult to see how they could become registered.

I worded that comment about NICEIC electricians all wrong.


Certsure has around 35575 electricians as customers.


I would guess that at least a quarter are doing hazardous area and other work, so have no interest in doing domestic EICRs.


Another quarter may be Domestic Installers who are not approved by the NICEIC to undertake EICRs and will need to upgrade to being an Approved Contractor.


Which may leave around half of the electricians the NICEIC has as customers able and interested in undertaking domestic EICRs.


Andy Betteridge

I thought Mr Savery's video was very entertaining and is language somewhat colourful.


The EICR in the video was yet another sample of the majority of EICRs carried out by knuckle scraping numpties.


I wonder if the NICEIC saw the advert by one of their Approved Contractors indicating their operatives doing 4 or more EICRs a day would cause them to undertake urgent investigations as to the integrity of the enterprise they are approving? After all the are a consumer protection body I believe?


I fully support the new requirements set out in the latest EAS document  ( https://electrical.theiet.org/media/2349/eas-effective-from-1st-september-2020.pdf) for individuals carrying out inspection and testing to be qualified. I assume that the Certsure and NAPIT companies will be revising their assessment criteria and outcome recording forms to reflect their examination of the qualifications held by individuals employed by the approved company?


I note with interest the NICEIC rules have been changed to ensure that individuals need 2 years experience before they can register for NICEIC Approved Contractor, NICEIC Domestic Installer and Elecsa schemes. This is also reflected in an article on page 9 of the latest Connections magazine.


Does anyone want to debate Mr Savery's remarks re. not recording non-compliances with the current standard if they complied with a previous edition of BS 7671 and The HSE note on Page 13 of the 18th Edition.