The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET - www.theiet.org) recently made an important announcement regarding training standards. In order to raise the bar in maintaining safe practice for anyone working in the UK electrical industry, all Qualified Supervisors will - from July 2011 - need to hold higher qualifications. An industry wide agreement means that a Level 3 qualification, or equivalent, will become the minimum technical requirement for all new applications for the position of Qualified Supervisor.
This news was aired in Voltimum UK and it received one of the biggest user responses we have seen in our seven years of existence. The responses were not completely uniform, but it was clear that many users have little faith in existing standards, yet cannot see how the new requirements will help – mostly, they only see greater red-tape and higher costs, which is just what they don’t need right now, as they see it.
To reiterate:
All new applications for qualifying supervisors who are legally responsible for the day-to-day technical activities of electrical companies in scope to Part P of the Building Regulations will require the new QCF Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Installing, Testing and Ensuring Compliance of Electrical Installation Work in Dwellings. This qualification will include the requirement to undertake an occupational competence assessment.
This important decision, taken by an IET committee, chaired by the ECA’s Giuliano Digilio, and made up of representatives of trade associations, including the ECA, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Electrical Safety Council (ESC), the IET and the competent person scheme, sets the benchmark – it is claimed - for ensuring safety standards within the electrical contracting sector.
Commenting, David Thomas, the ECA's Education and Training Manager said: "Maintaining safe practice should be the driving force for anyone working in the electrical industry. Taking the decision to set the industry recognised Level 3 qualification as the minimum technical competence required for qualifying supervisors is a significant step towards delivering safe practice. The ECA looks forward to the day when everybody working unsupervised on electrical installations is properly qualified to this standard."
ECA Group CEO, Steve Bratt, said: "The ECA warmly welcomes the Committee's decision, and we applaud it for taking this stand. The ECA represents the best in electrical engineering and building services, which is ultimately underpinned by maintaining standards of competence. This is a major step in the right direction as we look to establishing a minimum requirement for the whole industry.”
The following varied responses provide a flavour:
Hi,
While in principle, I think this is a good idea, there isn't provision for people already holding NVQ Level 3 and a City & Guilds in inspecting and testing to automatically qualify for this new standard.
This is not a new concept as it has been in existence since I started as a J.I.B. apprentice in 1968. Supervisor status was only allowed to holders of an approved electricians card. I think that this should still be the norm, and any person holding this type of card should qualify automatically.
Most of these ideas, I believe, come about to generate money, and are not in the best interests of safety (although this excuse is used as a thin veil).
Ian Frazer
Dear Sir,
Yet again the electrical industry seems to hold the view that personnel within this industry don`t appear to be competent. All Qualified Supervisors are up to date with current regulations - a minimum requirement I believe, to become one. Our yearly NICEIC inspections are adequate enough to prove that our Qualified Supervisor is suitably qualified to hold this position.
The problem is that you still have self-employed electricians carrying out work who are not registered with any governing body. The fact that we are registered is reflected in our prices, as we have to cover the cost of being so.
All electrical contractors, big or small should be made to sign up with one of the respected governing bodies so that it becomes a more level playing field. I know of many 'one-man bands' that are still out there carrying out work and getting registered contractors to sign it off. This is not acceptable, as it makes a mockery of those who abide by the rules.
This is yet another money making scheme, and more red tape too, which we don`t need in the current climate. Once again, non-registered companies will escape this additional enforcement whilst the legitimate ones bite the bullet and swallow the cost.
Steve Taylor,
Electrical Contracts Manager
Swindon, Wiltshire
Hi,
Well, it's really good that all these people have got together to raise the standards by introducing a new Level 3 NVQ qualification for Qualified Supervisors. After all, it's no longer sufficient to have the City &Guilds BS7671 Wiring Regulations and the Inspection and Testing qualifications. Come to think of it, the City &Guilds 236 as well...
But I expect an old lad with 30 years in the trade will find this new course a gold mine of information he never even knew existed, and the best most generous part of all this training to gain a new qualification - it's free, funded jointly - I expect - by the ECA, IET, ESC and not forgetting the good ol' British Government (at this time of cutbacks - how do they do it!).
I expect that lots of electricians up and down the country will be thrilled to pieces at this latest generous training opportunity,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, errr,,, hang on,,, errrrm,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, yeah, penny's just dropped, it's not free is it? We will have to fund this ourselves, won't we?
I think you get the point. Yet more crap by the usual lot, the 'jobs for the boys' IET and the 'blimey is that the time? I need to do my expenses return' politicians, and all the rest of the hopeless cretins involved in the sorry 'Part P' saga. I've nothing against training and education, but I cannot see how this will be of any use. We don't need to be re-taught what we already know and have been practising for years. This is yet another rotten slice of the 'Part P pie'.
I think it's fair to say that most electricians are of the opinion Part P is not working and yet the clowns involved in its conception and delivery think it is and won't hear otherwise. The idea, in theory, is good but in practice it is not; it needs to be changed.
I'm assuming that the aforementioned wooden tops must have decided that it's time to squeeze a bit more money out of hard pressed electricians, as they won't be doing anything out of the goodness of their hearts, will they? Sort of stinks, doesn't it?
So for all you electricians everywhere, pinch your nostrils and put your head back cos yer gonna have a piece of rotton Part P pie shoved down yer throat, whether yer like it or not!
Jason Horrocks
Hello,
Creating a requirement for people to be qualified and actually enforcing it are two very different things. Many of my colleagues have not, or are not bothering, to renew their Part P registration. I too am seriously considering not bothering.
Councils are not enforcing the registration of work by any of the means available. I have seen new builds being passed with no certification for electrical installation.
Any new qualification is just making money for trainers and adding cost for honest businesses and making it harder for them to compete in very challenging times.
Instead of wasting money trying to think of ways to disadvantage the professional electrician, maximum resources should be put into compelling councils to take responsibility for work carried out in their regions - and taking hard action against individuals who illegally install electrical systems.
I cannot imagine that this situation will get any better with the massive cuts councils face. Yet again, it is the honest worker who ends up footing the bill and being burdened by more over regulation.
Have any of these bureaucrats not got the point yet? Banning the legal ownership of handguns has not prevented one dishonest person intent on getting one from doing so. Creating more regulations for people who are already following the rules is pointless. It is the ones who do not follow the rules who kill people - they are the ones who need regulation.
Saddened,
Mark McElligott
Coventry
Hello,
Instead of bringing out new qualifications, supervisors should hold the 2391 and the 2400, which are far harder to achieve than an NVQ. With all the recent changes in the electrical industry, why stick a new qualification in (which means more money)?
What the industry needs to look at is this - if you don't hold the 2391, you should not be testing, and if you don't hold the 2400, you should not be designing.
Why don't people look at the qualifications available and set out a minimum requirement of qualifications before one can become a supervisor?
Clive Pybus
Guisborough, Cleveland
Hello,
New qualification for supervisors? I am glad to see this at last! However, I hope you have informed the NICEIC or what ever they are now calling themselves. It is strange - a friend of mine phoned the NICEIC and the people there knew nothing about this subject !!!!
I know of a person aged 36 who has never worked in the industry, but who went on a three-week course, gaining Domestic Installer status with the NICEIC - despite not knowing that before he took a spur off another socket, he should check to see whether it was on a ring!!!
The whole industry has become a JOKE; not only should the supervisors be qualified, but so also should anybody who is taking on electrical work.
I can tell you that all qualified electrical contractors are supporting this. We all feel that it is a disgrace that after a mere three week course, ex-trainees are let loose on the public.
I have been in the industry for over 40 years. I served my time with the local electricity board and undertook a four-year apprenticeship, plus an extra year in college to do my City & Guilds C Certificate. To see what has been done to our trade is a disgrace.
Steve Tate
Denbigh, Clwyd
Hi,
While I am all for appropriate qualifications to stop idiots, does this replace an existing qualification, or is it just another piece of paper that will be required before we can do any work? What happens to the existing L3 qualifications such as 2391, 2330?
From the little information contained in the press release, it just appears as yet another opportunity for the training and regulation bodies to make more money!
Kevin Holmes
Hello,
This is another money making idea for the electrical industry.... about time to print a few more books too, IET... boost the economy for the trade associations and training companies!
I would like to know when they expect electrical contractors to make a profit to stay in business? Also, what is the point of the 2391 and 2400 courses now? Will these be obsolete? Bring back the A, B, and C Certificates...I say.
Name Witheld.
Good morning,
In response to the news article regarding yet another qualification for the electrical industry, I agree in principle with anything that is going to make our industry a safer place. However, there has been a qualification out for some time that recognises the competency of a person. Yes of course I'm talking about the City & Guilds 2391, Inspection and Testing Level 3 qualification.
Initially this became 'watered down' with the introduction of Part P, and now it seems it will become a worthless piece of paper. Will people who have this qualification be exempt from having to obtain the new qualification? Or is this just another money making scheme for academics that don't actually get their hands dirty.
Is the JIB going to recognise this qualification?
Name Witheld.
Dear Sir,
With respects to the new qualification for Qualified supervisor, i.e: QCF Level 3 NVQ certificate in installing, testing and ensuring compliance of electrical installation work in dwellings, will existing qualified supervisors retain grandfather rights, or will they be expected to achieve this qualification prior to their next assessment date?
Name Witheld
Hi,
I believe that all electricians should reach a Level 3 standard. We have seen such a decline in the skills of new electricians over the last 15 years.
Name Witheld.
Dear Sir,
Most managers and supervisors I know have never reached their next level of competence. They may have passed an exam but remain they incompetent in implementing what they have learnt.
The colleges only teach how to pass exams, but most students don't understand what they are being taught. I appreciate that the trade bodies like to be seen to do something to stop poor workmanship, but this won't.
The latest scheme is a waste of time too; many sparks are utterly useless and seem to have no conscious idea about how they should carry out their installations. Many wouldn't have an idea on whether something was safe or not, let alone give an expert opinion.
The cursory inspection by the trade bodies does little to stop the idiots either.
Name Withheld.
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