To stay compliant, firms have a responsibility to make sure their test instruments are accurate and consistent, and each asset should be clearly and uniquely identified for record and traceability purposes, for example with durable labels. The final of a three-part series taken from Brother’s recent report, ‘Competent, compliant and ready to grow – A guide for electrical contractors to build stronger businesses’, looks at labelling equipment for electricians.
There’s an entire section of the 2019 UK wiring regulations that is dedicated to labelling, and ensuring installations are correctly labelled is a prerequisite for businesses looking to be accredited by a professional body.
There are two main areas to consider where consistent labelling can prove crucial to compliance.
Firstly, all test instruments must be clearly and uniquely identified for record and traceability purposes. Electricians often find that unclear or poor-quality labelling can lead to mistakes when using equipment on-site, or with the testing, accreditation or documentation of equipment.
This can lead to non-compliance with insurance policies, which could be invalidated.
Secondly, the 2019 UK wiring regulations state that “any electrical device/item must be labelled for the life and duration of use otherwise it loses its certification of compliance.”
While handwritten labels are technically compliant, creating them is time-consuming and the labels and the ink used are often not long lasting or weatherproof. Over time, they can deteriorate, meaning jobs are no longer compliant and they will have to be revisited and repaired.
As a result, mobile label printers have become essential tools that enable electricians and installers to professionally create compliant and durable labels for cables, conduits, switches, fuse boxes and plug sockets in the field, without the need for a laptop or any pre-printed documentation.
Making labelling more efficient
Digital connectivity can help speed up labelling and increase productivity.
Many equipment manufacturers, including Brother, provide apps which enable label printing directly from a smartphone or tablet, with a library of up-to-date compliant label templates for all the different applications electricians will need. These are frequently updated to incorporate new assets. For example, the Brother Cable Label Tool app now includes a section of templates for labelling electrical vehicle charging stations in accordance to the amendments made in the UK wiring regulations.
Apps like these are enabling electricians across Europe to save time and ensure accuracy.
Ged Cairns, Head of CIV, Brother UK, says: “Alongside the right certifications and accreditations, CPD and internal regulatory compliance, equipment plays a vital role. And labelling is a vital part of ensuring each electrician across a business is delivering compliant installation and maintenance work.
“Leaving customers with an electrical system that is labelled with clear and customised labels will give them the confidence that the work is safe, in line with wiring regulations and has been completed by smart, competent professionals. Not only will this help uphold the reputation of firms and their electricians, it will also make things simpler and safer for customers in the long term, increasing the potential for repeat business.”
To read the full report, ‘Competent, compliant and ready to grow – A guide for electrical contractors to build stronger businesses’, click here.
To learn more about how the latest in label printing technology can ensure simple, durable and compliant electrical labelling, click here.