18th Edition cash cow for the IET

[dksanders]

So the 18th edition is almost upon us, an event which is fast becoming a regular thing from the IET, either as a new edition or a new series of amendments.

I'm a member of the IET (or the IEE as it was), something that I used to be proud of but now find an embarrassment especially within the trade. The reason for that is because every few years the IET feels the need to generate more money for itself and so issues new amendments or a complete issue of BS7671.

And lets' face it, some of the changes haven't been worth while, e.g. harmonising section numbering with EU regulations, or the change of wiring colours to blue and brown ( why I don't know as I have no intention of taking my house to Europe)

As a minimum for the regulated, qualified, conscientious electrician, this means they have to buy from the IET new copies of BS7671, The On Site Guide, and which ever Guidance Notes are applicable to them; so costing £100's. Every now and then, a top up C&G course is also required.

I have over 30 years, on the job experience and I hold C&G 2381, 2381-20 (17th Upgrade) and 2391. Yet to comply with 18th I'm going to have to take a 3 day top up course costing £520 and with 3 days loss of earnings, and the books, I'll be close to £2,000 out of pocket.

I'm a self employed sole trader doing primarily domestic work; there's only so much you can pass on.

Apparently I have two years in which I need to get that qualification. well it's not going to happen, at that point I'm going to quit being an electrician. So though I say it myself, another competent, qualified, consciencous electrician driven out of business by yet more bureaucracy thereby making way for the unqualified, unregulated, cowboys to step in.

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest as it bugs me so much (and as I was hoping to get into The Electricians Arms)

 

[Colin33]

Of course your right, I've not heard of many electricians being prosecuted for not being in a scheme as you've mentioned.

However, it is a criminal offence, not complying with Building regs (Part P), and punishable with a fine up to £5000. It may also be possible that your clients are complicit in the offence, and could also be liable, 'With all building work, the owner of the property (or land) in question is ultimately responsible for complying with the relevant planning rules and building regulations (regardless of the need to apply for planning permission and/or building regulations approval or not)' (Planning Portal).

So if your not complying with Sect 3.1 Part P (England & Wales), you're a very naughty boy, and putting your clients at risk of prosecution. You may also be invalidating your insurance.

So however guiling it is, and it is, its the law. ​

I suppose the maximum fine for speeding is £2500, but I don't know anyone who's ever had to pay that. There's always that little element of risk but it makes life more exciting Looking at that particular wording it seems that the spark may not be liable at all, with all the onus on the client to comply?

 

[Marti]

for the digital / pdf versions of the books and ...

The what! Been chasing the IET for updates on this for months. Dylexia makes the processed tree version a bit of a challenge. Their grasping, money grabbing answer...I can pay a yearly fee of £100 to access the bloody thing on line. No £100 or no internet signal, no access.

Someone with money and time could probably challenge this in the courts under equal access. Me, gotta go to work to pay the IET extortion money.

 

[Marti]

for the digital / pdf versions of the books and ...

The what! Been chasing the IET for updates on this for months. Dylexia makes the processed tree version a bit of a challenge. Their grasping, money grabbing answer...I can pay a yearly fee of £100 to access the bloody thing on line. No £100 or no internet signal, no access.

Someone with money and time could probably challenge this in the courts under equal access. Me, gotta go to work to pay the IET extortion money.

 

[Percyprod]

Although it is against the law to not comply with part p etc, it is also against the law to use a mobile phone, eat or drink whilst driving, yet people do, and 90% of thr time get away with it. Mostly, it is not actually dangerous, but it could be. The consequences could be several people being killed or injured. Even if an electrical installation is dangerous, usua
Lt only one person is affected, still one to many. Same spplues to working on vehicles. How many people on here work on their cars or vans, yet have no qualifications to do so. Again could be very dangerous. Yet someone who asks for advice on here and may do a perfect job on a rewire is slated for not being qualified to do so.

 

[ashrow]

I don't think we should complain....
Plumbers charge so much more as they have to do various updates for their gas/oil etc and they get away with charging their day rate etc due to their over heads.
Us electricians need to start charging what the job is worth.
We have to pay the tax man from our profits but the books and training are running costs......so ie we have to pay someone so let it be us to improve what we offer.

 

[sparksfly]

I did approach the IET stand end of last year at a trade show and questioned why the 17th Amd 3, along with other relevant books, was not on discount as the 18th is 10 months away....reply..."We are not allowed to...sorry".

 

[MFS Electrical]

The way the digital books are supplied, you would have to licence the digital copy to e.g. a single laptop then share that one laptop around.

Compile a pdf of screenshots?

 

[MFS Electrical]

View attachment 41855 I got mine today at ELEX at Westpoint Exeter - here is a picture of it with IGOR my butler holding it for the camera!


Confirmed today that Earth Rods will not be a requirement for PME systems in the 18th because people from Inverness complained about the impossibility in their rock strewn ground so if everyone can’t do it no one will. We can thank Elecsa for arguing our side.

Is that the small print microscope version or just a very big hand

 

[Octopus]

I think ALL signed up scam members need to warn their scams that the 18th maybe an exam too far , and thus the scams will then be under threat

Somebody needs to speak up for us, and the scams / gravy train have absolutely no incentive to do this for us ......

 

[MFS Electrical]

I think ALL signed up scam members need to warn their scams that the 18th maybe an exam too far , and thus the scams will then be under threat

Somebody needs to speak up for us, and the scams / gravy train have absolutely no incentive to do this for us ......

Ive never actually heard of anyone failing an amendment update exam or edition update. Thinking it’s not really worth the paper it’s written on and doesn’t prove competency or even prove the person in question knows how to even use the regs books.

 

[sparksfly]

I have read 16th cover to cover but kept getting lost with cross referencing syndrome. I do hope they have a flow chart in the 18th showing which reg is connected to what reg.