Course Advice

[AndyG321]

Firstly hello everyone as I am a new member to your forum!

I am looking for some advice as to what qualifications I need.

I have recently left the miliatary and am now starting up self employed installing Security systems including:
Intruder alarms
CCTV
Access control
and external security lighting, mainly in domesitc properties but I hope to install into some comercial and industrial properties.
I have plently of experience and qualifications in the security industry but it's more my electrical side I feel may be letting me down.
in 2001 I recieved my certificate in Electrical Installation theory & practice part 1 which is C&G 2360
I have booked myself on a Part P domesitc installers course which I was advised I would need (City & Guilds 2393 Part p)
I was also recomended City & Guilds 2382-12 17th Edition Course if I wanted to register with NICEIC.

So I guess my questions are what I need ontop of my current qualifications to do the following:

What do I need to install domestic & comercial security systems which would cover small works ie putting in fused spurs but also external security lighting?

What do I need if I decided to do full domestic electrical work ie full re-wire/ major works

and what if I wanted to do full comercial electrical installations?

I hope this is clear and makes some sort of sence...?
I welcome any advice as I have been on quite a few websites and also spoken to quite a few training companies who seem to want to sell me every course going!!!

Thanks in advance,

Andy

Edit: I forgot to mention that I have current experience up to 5 years ago.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

In a nutshell mate all you need is Competency. This is the words of the Electricity at Work Regs, not mine. There is no need for qualifications, but how you prove competency without them is another argument.

In my humble opinion, you have all that you need. The 2382-12 17th edition wiring regs will look good, and you need to be competent with testing if you are fitting fused spurs etc.

To do domestic rewires, or any domestic works which fall under the remit of needing building regs notification, then you will find it easier to be registered with one of the scheme providers.

All industrial work falls under the Electricity at work regs, and most commercial, i say most because in some cases if the commercial and domestic supply is shared in say a pub, then Part P notification can kick in, but if it doesnt, then its the EAWR again, in these cases no notification of any kind is required other than issuing the normal paperwork to your client.

Save your cash on a Part P course, not worth the time or effort, buy the electricians guide to the building regs instead. You cant get a qualification in building regulations, yes they will sell you a course, but it wont have anymore content than the book i mention, and if you install as per the wiring regs, then you comply with part P by default anyway, as the wiring regs are the standard for compliance.

Cheers.............Howard

 

[AndyG321]

Thanks for your reply Howard,
So this is where I am probably being a bit naive but what tests and certification would I need to hand over after a complete re - wire or for example installed an external lighting system to 'sign it off' so to speak?

This probably sounds a little odd but I never had to do it as all the work I did in security never warranted it.

In a nutshell mate all you need is Competency. This is the words of the Electricity at Work Regs, not mine. There is no need for qualifications, but how you prove competency without them is another argument.

In my humble opinion, you have all that you need. The 2382-12 17th edition wiring regs will look good, and you need to be competent with testing if you are fitting fused spurs etc.

To do domestic rewires, or any domestic works which fall under the remit of needing building regs notification, then you will find it easier to be registered with one of the scheme providers.

All industrial work falls under the Electricity at work regs, and most commercial, i say most because in some cases if the commercial and domestic supply is shared in say a pub, then Part P notification can kick in, but if it doesnt, then its the EAWR again, in these cases no notification of any kind is required other than issuing the normal paperwork to your client.

Save your cash on a Part P course, not worth the time or effort, buy the electricians guide to the building regs instead. You cant get a qualification in building regulations, yes they will sell you a course, but it wont have anymore content than the book i mention, and if you install as per the wiring regs, then you comply with part P by default anyway, as the wiring regs are the standard for compliance.

Cheers.............Howard

 

[SirKit Breaker]

You need to get hold of IET Guidance note 3, Inspection and Test. This explains in detail what to test, how to do it, and the forms you need to complete. It is too long winded to explain it all in a forum reply. Get hold of it, read it, then post back with what you don't understand. If your experience is limited with testing, and my guess is, it is, as you are not familiar with the forms, then get a local spark to hold your hand so to speak, and show you how etc.

Cheers...........Howard

 

[AndyG321]

Brilliant, thanks for the responce. I will have a read through it and get back to you.
My testing and inspection is very rusty I haven't done any for a good 10 years so I will need to get myself up to speed.

Thanks again for quick advice I really apreciate it.

Andy

 

[telectrix]

howard's advice is all good. i would consider the 2382-12 as you would need this to join niceic, elecsa etc. a simplistic guide to certificates is that if you modify an existing circuit, you complete a MWC ( minor works) . for any new circuits, CU replacements etc. you would complete a EIC ( installation cert,). ifCsite, it tells you what work needs to be notified to labc and what doesn't. ( for notifiable work, you would be best joining one of the scams, ( niceic etc,)