2391

[dave19]

As I have just qualified as a JIB electrician I am starting to think about doing the Testing and inspection. I have heard it is very hard. Anyone who has passed it could you give me some advice ?

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Hi dave,
Get your self a copy of IEE/IET Guidance Note 3, Inspection and testing and thoroughly learn it. Particularly the specific terminology used, inspection & test procedure, test methods and reporting.
Guidance Note 3: Inspection and Testing Guidance Notes for Bs 7671: Amazon.co.uk: Jon Elliot: Books

Also a copy of City and Guilds Exam Success: Inspection and Testing (IEE Wiring Regulations)
City and Guilds Exam Success: Inspection and Testing IEE Wiring Regulations: Amazon.co.uk: Jonathan Elliott, Mark Coles: Books

You may also find Practical Guide to Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical Installations useful, but be careful as 10% pages have mistakes or incorrect information.
Practical Guide to Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical Installations: Conforms to 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations BS 7671:2008 and Part P of Building Regulations: Amazon.co.uk: Christopher Kitcher: Books

 

[Dave_]

All the books above are invaluable sources...

also you need to get practical experience! Dont know your current situation - if you are on the books try and get on testing jobs etc... or if self employed then it may be more difficult.... But primarily read those books until you understand the lot!!

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Pass rate is about 30 something percent, so go into with eyes open, you have a (roughly) one in three chance of passing first time.

not trying to put you off (!!) just what lecturer said first off, and was useful I think, when were all sitting there first night. Think he was hoping half of us would get up and walk......

I found the Kitcher book brilliant, but someone else will post it was rubbish probably.

In my opinion the exam is easier than the practical, you're timed, and the bloke next to me had the meter taken off him and marched out the building ("youre a danger to yourself and everyone in the building") !!! Bit over the top but there you go. I kept my head down.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

As I have just qualified as a JIB electrician I am starting to think about doing the Testing and inspection. I have heard it is very hard. Anyone who has passed it could you give me some advice ?

Guidance note three mate......and study it hard. Never mind emmerdale, corry or the pub...gn3, gn3 and gn3 again: for a month at least and any inspecting, pir`s and testing you can get in at work:do it! Even if you have to work late it dont matter as it WILL count in the exam room. Check my thread out "happy days" from about a week ago for info/tips about how to approach this one............

 

[dave19]

Thanks Glen. I read your post. Your doing well for an apprentice. I will take note of what you said. I have the guidance note 3 book but not sure if I will pick up any testing experience at work though.

 

[mickys86]

Thanks Glen. I read your post. Your doing well for an apprentice. I will take note of what you said. I have the guidance note 3 book but not sure if I will pick up any testing experience at work though.

If you have a tester you could always do testing at home?

 

[dave19]

That's true Micky. Only have a Volt tester though so I'd be limited to what I could test.

 

[platty1005]

I teach 2391 theory and practical the biggest problem students have is lack of experience and lack of knowledge of BS7671. 2391 is a highly rated qualification meant to be taken by experienced installation electricians unfortunately many employers are demanding 2391 for all sparks. This has lead to a high failure rate often above 60% fail. My advice learn what you can about inspection and testing from a practical point of view. If you work for an approved contractor try to get work helping the Inspector(s). Take your Wiring regs exam first 2382 or equivalent. Talk to local colleges or training providers about the course many will take your money and not be surprised when you fail. As others have posted it is a memory exam no books allowed and the practical requires you to have a full understanding of inspection and testing techniques. Reading the books is no substitute for practical experience. Would you try to pass your driving test after just reading a book NO you need practice, good instruction and a lot of hard work

 

[dave19]

Thanks for your feedback. I need to take the 17th edition update course so I'll look to get that done first. If you fail the course can you resit at a cost than the circa £600 I've seen quoted ?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Fail the 2382 dave? Thats open book mate and if you are into bs7671 regularly then you WILL NOT fail that one.
I also think that £600 seems a bit steep to me: normally about £450-£500 for the 2391 which i know isn`t cheap so failure shouldn`t really be an option. Like other more experienced guys than me have posted here......guidance note three mate for at least a month and beg or borrow a tester and practice at home like micky says..........it will all count in the exam room mate.
Best o luck.
Glenn.

 

[dave19]

Hi Glennspark,

No, I was on about possibly failing the 2391 which I wouldn't want to do for 4, 5 or £600 . I'll definitely take your advice on board. Cheers mate.

 

[vaughant]

Well,I pretty much broke the mould as regards 2391 as I did none of the above,but still passed it first time!!!
I took a ten week course in nightschool off my own back as I was thinking of jumping on the inspection&testing bandwagon back in 2006/2007.
The above advice is excellent,but what I would say is listen in class,make tons and tons of your own notes,buy the cd rom of t'internet/your lecturer and don't go into it without some prior knowledge.
I'd been a control spark for 12 years at the time and had done the 16th Ed back in 1998 so I was far from the ideal candidate to go into it,I didn't even know how an rcd worked(don't use them much in industry)!!!

It's a great course,but very theory heavy,the testings pretty easy,but a lot to remember.

I think where I did well was that I deal with 3 phase and "open circuit" "short circuit" faults daily so I wasn't daunted by the little rigs that they set up,I think the fault finding bit using the circuit breakers took me about 2minutes where as one domestic lad was on it nearly 1/2 hr.

Good luck and well worth doing mate!!!

 

[codger]

Hiya. You can always resit just the exam. I teach the 17th edition and the Inspection and Testing and I wouldn't ask someone who recently failed to stump another full fee.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Do it At night school over 10 weeks cost£260 all in at local college. Plus thats how it was designed to be done originally. £600 is daylight robbery