What exactly do you need to be able to sign off electrical work in the UK?
Depends rather on exactly what is to be signed off for what purpose
A lot of electrical activity needs no sign off at all and at
At one end almost anyone with a pen and nerve can do an inspection, but for the purposes of 'notifiable' domestic works, membership of a self certification scheme is the only cost effective legal way.
For example http://www.niceic.com/join-us/part-p-domestic-installer-scheme
For commercial and industrial it rather depends on who has asked for the work, and if there are requirements imposed either by contract or by insurance. It is sometimes done on large projects, that designers, installers and inspectors are 3 different people or organizations, and they may all in part sign the installation paperwork, but only in respect of their respective functions.
It is not simple, but with a bit more detail of the sort of thing you want to sign off, then it can probably be clarified.
Mike.
Electrical installation work in the U.K. usually follows the requirements of the BS7671 current at the time. That being the case, the person verifying the installation would need to be electrically skilled and competent to verify that the installation met those requirements.
Whilst BS 7671 is non-statutory, any issue arising from inadequate verification that caused injury in a place of work, is likely to be viewed by HSE as resulting from a breach of statutory obligations.
Depends what you mean by signing off. Pretty much any electrical work requires a certificate of some sort, be it minor works or an EIC. The only thing that may not is general maintenance work although that obviously still needs testing. If you want to cover your back on that then some sort of test record should be left with that as well, even if it's only a note on an invoice.
Gary
What exactly do you need to be able to sign off electrical work in the UK?
As you might have gathered, there's no simple answer to that. The wiring regs simply ask for whoever does the work (design, installation & verification) to sign for their own work, and to be 'skilled and competent' without specifying any qualifications or membership needed to justify that.
Normally you'd need some insurance to cover you back, so you might find your insurer will have some more specific requirements for qualifications (or want to charge you a much larger premium on the basis that they can't have as much confidence you won't get into trouble).
For commercial work, the main mechanism for regulating was membership of an organisation that tried to ensure a good standard of work was done - traditionally that was the NICEIC but there are many others (e.g. NAPIT) too these days. Membership isn't compulsory but as the majority of commercial specifiers would only offer work to members of such organisations, it became pretty much 'the norm'. The advent of part P of the building regulations (for domestic work) muddied the water somewhat, as that introduced the need for 'Registered Competent Persons' schemes for domestic work and all the traditional bodies picked up that responsibility too - but be careful - there are often different types of membership covering different areas (domestic, commercial) and differing scopes (simple installation, more complex installation, periodic inspection etc.) which all appear at first glance to come under the same logo. All the schemes will insist on some level of qualification in order to join (usually City & Guilds) - the exact requirement depending on the membership level and your circumstances (previous qualifications, experience etc.)
- Andy.
It is actually non-statutory as such and has always been so (slight difference recent mention in some slight way in statutory requirements).
But, probably similar to the relationship between the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Acts etc, I think. It might be prudent to guard against you Gripping the Rail before someone in a wig asking "why did you not follow this nationally recognised good practice minimum requirement idea then ?".
Other forum members might correct some of what I`ve just said here though
It is actually non-statutory as such and has always been so (slight difference recent mention in some slight way in statutory requirements).
BS 7671 ("The Regulations") are not legislation, agreed.
BUT BS 7671 is mandated in legislation for certain installations - see Regulations 21 and 22 of ESQCR (meaning, for example, every installation with grid-connected Solar PV and/or a grid-connected battery is required by legislation to comply ... presumably fully ... with BS 7671).
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