Electrical competence

[Cbuk2k2]

Evening folks,

I'm in the process of starting a plumbing and heating business, for some fairly long winded and boring reasons I want to employ a couple of guys from the outset. Plumbers don't seem to bother with any sort of electrical competence, I'd quite like to stay out of jail so was wondering if anyone could advise a basic electrical short course for the very limited electrical work they are likely to do. Essentially it will be connecting a flex to a FCU, possibly swapping a shower or basic fault finding. A fair bit of it is ELV these days which is reassuring.

Cheers
Dave

 

[davesparks]

Its largely from a legal standpoint. I don't want to give an insurer grounds not to pay out on a claim and I don't want to be in front of a judge.

This seems like a pretty poor attitude to me, I would hav ethought any decent employers attitude would be more about keeping their employees safe than just covering their own arse when it goes wrong

 

[Cbuk2k2]

I understand your concern. When you say 'connecting a flex to a FCU' are you considering installation of said FCU.
I'm sure you would come across situations where this would be required. With the installation of such (fixed wiring), there are electrical requirements including installation testing and provision of a completion certificate, in this case a Minor Works cert. The testing would also require a basic check on the existing installation, in case of any problems. RCD protection is another factor to be considered.
If this is what you require, scheme membership would be advised, thus giving scope for further work, if required.

I've got a tame spark in mind for notifiable work, what I'm looking for is a route to competence for the very specific heating/pluming only maintinace activites which I think I've found.

 

[Cbuk2k2]

This seems like a pretty poor attitude to me, I would hav ethought any decent employers attitude would be more about keeping their employees safe than just covering their own arse when it goes wrong

If you read the thread I'm fairly clear the 3 day course or whatever is about legal proof the person is competent.

I have very little faith in this sort of thing so will provide in depth hands on training and hand holding until I'm certain they are safe to work alone.

 

[ipf]

If you read the thread I'm fairly clear the 3 day course or whatever is about legal proof the person is competent.

I have very little faith in this sort of thing so will provide in depth hands on training and hand holding until I'm certain they are safe to work alone.

Why ask in the first place, then???
I had a friend with a new boiler installed last year. The boiler 'engineer' made a right b***s up of a simple electrical job, spurring off a RFC, which could have resulted in serious repercussions but for his diligence in asking for my help.

 

[Cbuk2k2]

Why ask in the first place, then???
I had a friend with a new boiler installed last year. The boiler 'engineer' made a right b***s up of a simple electrical job, spurring off a RFC, which could have resulted in serious repercussions but for his diligence in asking for my help.

Because in this day and age it's not what you know its what you've got a daft piece of paper saying you know. How many sparks with 40 years of experience do you know that have had to do NVQs?

I'm confident in ensuring they have the required skills, I'd like a third party verification a evidence of this.

 

[ipf]

Because in this day and age it's not what you know its what you've got a daft piece of paper saying you know. How many sparks with 40 years of experience do you know that have had to do NVQs?

I'm confident in ensuring they have the required skills, I'd like a third party verification a evidence of this.

What's with the NVQ bull? I've none. Previous equivalent and more. Are you thinking of Regulation upgrades?

 

[Cbuk2k2]

What's with the NVQ bull? I've none. Previous equivalent and more. Are you thinking of Regulation upgrades?

Of the 15 or so courses I’ve had to do for my day job I’ve come away having learnt maybe two things from each. Training and competency is a multi million pound gravy train.

The NVQ or SVQ comment was about how many guys do you know that have decades of experience and an encyclopaedic knowledge of their trade yet there expected to prove themself to a teenager with a clipboard.

I’ve very little fiats in training providers these days, you learn a job from hands on experience and wisdom from journeymen

 

[ipf]

I’ve very little fiats in training providers these days, you learn a job from hands on experience and wisdom from journeymen

Is that 'faith'? If so, I'll agree, generally. It's just that, sometimes, needs must.

 

[Cbuk2k2]

Is that 'faith'? If so, I'll agree, generally. It's just that, sometimes, needs must.

Yes sorry faith.

We’ve all got to start somewhere I guess.

Gas Safe seems to be the ultimate example of an organisation squeezing every last penny out of a trade. Everything you can think of is a separate qualification.

 

[KennyKen]

Hire another E&I (Inelec) mate. Cover both bases. Instro’s have better pipe work skills then Wetpants anyways!

 

[Pete999]

Evening folks,

I'm in the process of starting a plumbing and heating business, for some fairly long winded and boring reasons I want to employ a couple of guys from the outset. Plumbers don't seem to bother with any sort of electrical competence, I'd quite like to stay out of jail so was wondering if anyone could advise a basic electrical short course for the very limited electrical work they are likely to do. Essentially it will be connecting a flex to a FCU, possibly swapping a shower or basic fault finding. A fair bit of it is ELV these days which is reassuring.

Cheers
Dave

ELV??? you mean LV surely

 

[Cbuk2k2]

ELV??? you mean LV surely

Nope, plenty of stuff with a boiler is 24V or less.

 

[Cbuk2k2]

Hire another E&I (Inelec) mate. Cover both bases. Instro’s have better pipe work skills then Wetpants anyways!

If I could hire one that was keen and willing to learn I wouldn’t really have a problem with that. I doubt many guys who’ve served their time would want to go back to apprentice level. It doesn’t really help that heating is 50/50 electrical and mechanical.

 

[Pete999]

Nope, plenty of stuff with a boiler is 24V or less.

Not the feed to the boiler though

 

[Cbuk2k2]

Not the feed to the boiler though

75% of the controls within a heating system are within the boiler itself. With smart controls like Hive/Nest even the external stuff is going low voltage.