Voltimum samples an NICEIC 17th Edition course

For those unsure, or who are not intending to purchase their own copy of the 17th Edition, there's a wide range of 17th Edition courses and seminars available from many organisations, including the NICEIC Group. I went along to one of these courses, held in the NICEIC's Dunstable HQ, to see what electrical contractors and installers have to go through, and to learn for myself.

The new NICEIC 17th Edition training courses are three-day events, though electrical contractors can do only the first day if they wish - this will be an update only on what the 17th Edition is all about. The full three-day course, on the other hand, provides contractors with all the information they'll need to take and pass the subsequent written multiple choice question exam.

At the course I attended, the NICEIC Group's experienced Fred Skipper and Terry Gray were in charge, explaining all the changes that the 17th Edition makes over the 16th Edition to a total of 14 electrical contractor students that day, plus myself. Most of these students were attending the full three-day course.

This course was held in one of the NICEIC's training rooms, and the comprehensive course materials included the usual pad of notepaper plus pencil etc., plus a copy of the 17th Edition. It also included the NICEIC's own excellent A4 sized and spiral-bound 17th Edition Learning Guide - a full 432 pages plus covers in colour, produced in association with City & Guilds.

The Learning Guide, which has a huge number of explanatory full-colour schematics and photos throughout, provides a clear summary of all Sections It features an introduction showing students how to use it to best advantage, together with a look at the structure of the 17th Edition, followed by a run-through of all chapters, sections and appendices over the three days. Each section, in this very clear and concise Learning Guide, which provides students with guidance on how to pass the exam, has its own exercises, based on questions likely to be asked. The Learning Guide was posted to all students well before the course date, so that they could acquaint themselves with it.

Fred Skipper helped guide the students through each exercise, emphasising again and again that, used properly, the Learning Guide would provide the right answers for the exam - all students had to do was ensure that they knew their way around it.

The morning session:

Fred, who is not only an expert lecturer with great knowledge of the UK electrical industry, but who also has a dry sense of humour and a very precise way of getting important points across, started the first day's morning session. He introduced the 17th Edition, explaining what it is, its reason for being, what it does and what its scope is. As he pointed out, the 17th Edition is essentially a significant restructuring job to maintain technical alignment with CENELEC harmonisation documents. Much of this is covered by Part 1 of the 17th Edition. Fred also pointed out from the outset that the 17th Edition is not legally binding, but instead provides highly important recommendations to best wiring installation practise.

Fred Skipper used little verbal examples and anecdotes, as well as PC projections, to illustrate the points along the way. These I found very useful in helping me remember the points concerned. One of Fred Skipper's always to-the-point anecdotes, albeit a tragic one, was the emphasis on electrical safety, bearing in mind, he said, that on one occasion in the UK, 439 people died as a result of a major accident caused by a 24V DC supply - the equivalent of two lorry batteries today! The incident occurred on October 14th 1913 in a coal mine. An HSE inspector told Fred Skipper that the cause was a spark from the DC supply, which was thought to have ignited coal dust/methane, and a huge explosion ensued. Only three people escaped the incident.

Fred then followed this by outlining each section in turn, looking at, for example, the all-important definitions (Part 2) - such as that of a 'Competent Person' (different from that provided for Part P of the Building Regulations), as well as the new definitions for Protection against electric shock - provisions for 'Basic Protection' and 'Additional Protection'.

The quite short Part 3 - Assessment of general characteristics - was covered relatively briefly. Then followed Part 4 - instruction on Protective Measures (Sections 411, 412, 413 and 414, as well as Protection against Thermal Effects, Overcurrent and Voltage & Electromagnetic Disturbances etc.

The particularly important change (Chapter 41) was covered in more detail than most of the others, bearing in mind the fact that it's stirred a great deal of controversy. This concerns socket-outlets in the home, and where 'ordinary persons' are in charge. Additional protection is now required for all socket-outlets - for automatic supply disconnection. Specifically, in AC systems, additional protection is to be provided by using an RCD (I?n not exceeding 30mA). Such RCDs must be provided for 'socket outlets not exceeding 20A rating for use by ordinary persons and intended for general use', and 'mobile equipment not exceeding 32A rating for use outdoors; and, mobile equipment not exceeding 32A rating for use outdoors'.

Therefore, essentially, every room in a house now requires RCD protection for each socket, though there is debate about the best way of achieving the required protection. The only exceptions are socket-outlets for use under the supervision of skilled or instructed persons (in certain commercial / industrial locations), or a specific labelled, or 'otherwise suitably identified', socket-outlet provided for the connection of a particular item of equipment.

Fred Skipper explained the ramifications, saying that he thought that the consumer unit/RCD/RCBO manufacturers will eventually come up with varying products and protection device scenarios to suit the new regulations. In fact, this is already starting to happen, though most manufacturers seem to be holding back with new product introductions until nearer July 1st.

Part 5 - Selection and erection of equipment followed. Fred Skipper emphasised at the outset, that this section - with its six questions - is worth 20% of the total marks available, so is important.

In particular, he examined 522, concerning cables buried in walls, and the new 17th Edition requirements for these. The requirements have changed because of modern methods of house construction, which often involve steel parts between and within floors and walls, rather than traditional wooden joists and lathes. It has been found that the steel parts can easily damage electric cables, which now need extra protection or careful routing.

Lunch and afternoon:

An excellent lunch is included in the cost of the course. This gave me the chance to speak with several of the electrical contractor students (see later on in this article for their views on the 17th Edition and the course itself).

Terry Gray took most of the afternoon session, which included - briefly - Part 6 (Inspection and Testing), and Part 7 (which used to be Part 6 in the 16th Edition) on Special Locations, a number of which are new to this Edition. New Special Locations are Marinas and similar locations, Exhibitions, shows and stands, Solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems, Mobile or transportable units, Temporary electrical installations for structures, amusement devices and booths at fairgrounds, amusement parks and circuses, and Floor and ceiling heating systems.

The day ended with Terry Gray taking a look at the Appendices to the 17th Edition. He explained the essential difference between those that are normative and those that are informative. Normative means that the information is regulatory and holds the same status as the main body of the Regulations, whilst informative means that the information is for guidance only.

Locations containing a bath or a shower were also covered. There is no Zone 3, and zones have been simplified. No supplementary equipotential bonding is required in bathrooms. Socket-outlets are allowed in bathrooms, but must be 3m from the boundary of Zone 1. All circuits need 30mA RCD protection. All of this was explained very clearly and the student contractors, judging by their questions and comments, seemed to be equally clear about the points raised.

There was a great deal for the electrical contractor students to absorb in one day, especially as there was an exam the next day for those only taking the one-day part of the course. The others had another two days to go, looking at the 17th Edition in considerably more detail.

The students:

The 14 course students were made up entirely of electrical contractors and installers, several having their own businesses or being sole traders. I spoke with several in the short time available over lunch.

Typical was Charlie Murphy from Technicool. This company provides heating and cooling solutions, along with services to business and domestic users throughout the UK. Charlie said he found the 17th Edition to be 'a distraction, but necessary'. However, he said that he had not had sufficient time at that stage to fully absorb its implications. "In any case", he said, "I'm not often involved in domestic installations." Even so, he had already found the course to be useful, though he felt that he had a comparative disadvantage compared with the others, as his17th Edition Learning Guide had not arrived in the post until the day before.

Another student owning his own general electrical contracting company was Glen Lovell. His company carries out industrial, commercial and domestic installations, as well as emergency lighting and fire alarms, so he considered the NICEIC's 17th Edition course to be highly relevant. He thought the course lecturers were of high quality, an especially relevant view considering that he also lectures to local self-employed (in Bedford) and to other electrical contractors. He is also a full member of The IET (IEE). He said: "The lecturers are very good. We've come across Fred Skipper before - he gets the message across. It's a good course with excellent materials. Ten out of ten for the Learning Guide and for delivery!"

Jo Glavey, who ran his own electrical contracting company, JG Electrical, complemented the lecturers on a job well done, saying that both were very clear. He also enjoyed Fred Skipper's sense of humour, which, he thought added to his understanding. Jo did, however, believe that the 17th Edition 'was going to complicate a lot of things, especially testing and certification'. He commented: "It is especially difficult for younger people to keep up with all the changes and with legislation." Jo also said what many in the industry have already commented on, that the new requirement for additional protection for all socket-outlets would 'have a big impact on costs. This is because, it is likely that RCBOs will be used far more, and they are really expensive at about £50 to £60 each'.

Justin Collison of JDC Electrical, which carries out both domestic and commercial installation work, commented: "This is a very good course, and the lecturers are very knowledgable".

Nigel Garrard, who also has his own electrical contracting business, agreed with Justin Collison that the course was a good one, and necessary too, but complained: "I and my staff go on lots of courses, at least four each year on average. This is difficult for self-employed people, as it takes a lot of time and money to do. Really, they go on too many courses." Nigel did concede that being trained on the 17th Edition was necessary.

Clearly, the NICEIC Group’s 17^th Edition courses, which are nearly always fully-booked, are appreciated, and are seen as being essential towards gaining a proper working knowledge prior to full introduction on 1^st July 2008. Book now if you haven’t already. Go to www.niceic.com or call 0870 013 0389.

Please note that delegates cannot keep the 17^th Edition copies supplied for the course. If you want to buy one of these, they are available from NICEIC Direct www.niceicdirect.com, or telephone 0870 013 0382.