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Insurance requirement for 3phase competence for a single phase building

Hamish Bell

I've just taken over the running of a community building which is single phase and is no more complex than a large 4-bedroomed bungalow in terms of space, load and number of socket outlets. The electrical test electrician currently conducting the test is qualified for single phase only. The new insurance company specifies the tester must be qualified for 3-phase. While they have a right to do this, is it reasonable and based upon a real need? Can I contest it and on what technical basis?

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    Thanks everyone. The replies have confirmed what I thought would be the case. I'll explore the situation a little more, both with the insurance company and the contractor. If I find out the reasons for the requirement, I'll be back (as they say!)

    Thanks again.

    Hamish

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    And what does the statute law actually say? Reg 16 EAWR 1989 that a competent person carries out the work for which they have suitable knowledge and experience to avoid the dangers etc etc.

    So if the person employed is "Competent" and only works on single phase systems and can demonstrate that, then why would somebody and that includes an insurance company ask for qualifications for something the operative will not be working on!

    Must be something more to this I feel.

    GTB

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    ...2nd thought - do any of the "schemes" limit 3-phase work for their "domestic installer" level membership?

      - Andy.

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    The electrical test electrician currently conducting the test is qualified for single phase only.

    It might be useful to find out what's meant by that - as others have said most electrical qualifications aren't qualified on the number of phases used. It might be that the electrician isn't used to 3-phase work and perhaps is reluctant to claim any experience of it, but his/her actual qualifications might not be that restrictive.

        -  Andy.

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    It might be better to ask exactly what qualifications they are expecting and what they will not accept. It is not unreasonable to expect someone to have a reasonably recent  test and inspection qualification, in addition to the basic  knowledge of BS7671, which hopefully ensures you can read the regs  and design stuff that meets them. However to inspect the work of others is rather harder as it needs the ability to reverse engineer the previous work, and then decide if it is working properly.
    I'm not really sure from the description however what qualifications this chap has and what they are objecting too. 'Three phase' is a wiring system, not a level of qualification - you should expect them to indicate some city and guilds course codes or equivalent.

    Mike.

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    I wasn't aware that there are different qualifications.

    BS 7671 applies in both cases so any exams (e.g. C&G) which are based upon it must cover 3-phase.

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