Experience of new/established one man bands...

[markc123]

Pretty much why i questioned it to start with bigbaddave, no more than 10% of what i do a year will be EICR...i know some people will have alot higher percentage who aren't doing new builds regular + the day to day mainteance care of regular customers...but even so, i still can't see it being viable to survive off the back of EICR's alone.

Maybe the OP will prove me wrong, and i hope you do.

 

[Octopus]

Just had a look at my books and the last EICR I did was in September last year

 

[markc123]

Just had a look at my books and the last EICR I did was in September last year

Mine was October...remember it like it was yesterday.

Was a church, needed a number 2, gents toilets locked, went into the ladies (naughty) ...only after the dump did i realise there was no water in the cistern and that the stop-tap had been turned off....which happened to be located in the gents toilets (didn't know this at the time, hense the panick that duly followed). Felt rather rude raiding all the draws in the building trying to locate the keys. Nightmare.

 

[Andy78]

You should have just fished it out and hidden it in the cistern.

 

[infinity]

Ive got a horse riding stables to test next week, Just from survey i have seen plastic MK FCU's outside, cables like a spiders nest and lights all over the place installed by.....Handy man john... lol should be fun

 

[SJD]

Just had a look at my books and the last EICR I did was in September last year

I've done just 4 over this last year - I'd hoped it would have been a bigger part of my business, but it seems very few people want to pay for one.

Sometimes the customer expects me to tell them for free everything that is deficient, as part of the "free estimate", e.g. when called in to give an estimate for something, and don't see why they should pay for a proper inspection and test. I've come across this attitude in places like a shop or rental property, with some obvious deficiencies visible without looking.

 

[DNS1]

Out of interest, what qualifications are actually required to do an EICR? I just do installs but would like to do more. Possible with just the 2391?

 

[SJD]

Out of interest, what qualifications are actually required to do an EICR? I just do installs but would like to do more. Possible with just the 2391?

To be competent!
There are a few old threads that "discuss" this, having 2391, or now 2395, is one way of possibly demonstrating the competence.

 

[markc123]

You should have just fished it out and hidden it in the cistern.

You honestly don't realise how close i was to getting a disposable glove out the back of my hand and reaching in. The church warden was back at 5pm and the time was ticking untill i found the key. It was that close i nearly did another number2 in my work trouseres.

When things go wrong, they go wrong in their numbers.

 

[DNS1]

To be competent!
There are a few old threads that "discuss" this, having 2391, or now 2395, is one way of possibly demonstrating the competence.

I was always taught that I can do any work I'm "insured" to do. Just wondering what quals are needed to get the insurance... I always assumed the insurers would like some proof of competence, ie 2391.

 

[thomas-1981]

I do a few of these a month, I don't mind doing them at all. Rather these than being under a floor. Got a call last week to see if I could do a three bed house for less than the £54.00 they had been quoted. Not that keen on getting more.

 

[SJD]

I do a few of these a month, I don't mind doing them at all. Rather these than being under a floor. Got a call last week to see if I could do a three bed house for less than the £54.00 they had been quoted. Not that keen on getting more.

Not sure what the customer would get for £54. I was at a property a couple of weeks ago where they had paid for an EICR, and most of the measurements were not done (citing unable to get into the fuse box, "LIM"), but nevertheless, the EICR stated a full rewire was needed (not a single IR done). Turned out the sockets had actually been rewired in the not too distant past and passed mostly at >1999M for all IR readings. How to educate the customers in terms they understand they get what they pay for!

 

[SJD]

I was always taught that I can do any work I'm "insured" to do. Just wondering what quals are needed to get the insurance... I always assumed the insurers would like some proof of competence, ie 2391.

My insurance cert (via NAPIT) covers me for installation and maintenance of fire extinguishing equipment (amongst other things) but I wouldn't dream of thinking I'm competent to do it. Typically 2391 (or 2395), but you don't actually have to have one of these, if you can prove you are competent (my insurer has never asked me to prove so, though in the event of a claim, that might then happen!).

 

[thomas-1981]

(citing unable to get into the fuse box, "LIM")

This has got to be a new record for least amount of testing during an EICR.

LIM tester batteries dead :tounge_smile:

 

[Octopus]

I do a few of these a month, I don't mind doing them at all. Rather these than being under a floor. Got a call last week to see if I could do a three bed house for less than the £54.00 they had been quoted. Not that keen on getting more.

£54.00 for an EICR on a 3 bed house - not worth the paper its written on.