how to become a qualified installer of CCTV, Intruder alarms, Fire alarms, Emerg.Ligh

[mikex79]

hello everybody
I just wonder what should I do to become a qualified installer of:

1. CCTV - I mean to be able to install certified cctv systems that would be connected to police etc , that i would be able to do big jobs for comanies

2. Intruder alarms - same like above, certified installations etc

3. fire alarms - as above

4. emergency lighting

do I need to be a qualified electrician 2330 or NVQ3 to do it or i need to finish any particular course to get qualified or i need them two.
Is there anybody in the industry already that would direct me to the right path as I am just about to finish my 2330 level 3 and sit my 17th edition exam. I have 2 years experince as an electrician's mate and some experience in installing cctv and intruder alarms but I would like to become a qualified installer of all above so also if you know please post tha names of courses that i need to do regarding my question
do you know any training centres/colleges in London where i can get this qualifications?
regards

I would like to add that you see many companies on the market that gives you training and some certificates or diplomas but which one is the right one , which one is an approved training centre? what to pay attention to while choosing the education centre and the course?

 

[kablue2000]

Re: how to become a qualified installer of CCTV, Intruder alarms, Fire alarms, Emerg.

hello mate,

Apprenticeship with a company doing this type off work is probably the best way, you cant learn everything at college you need hands on experience.
My mate works for ADT doing the type off work which you want to do, They do in house training.

 

[mikex79]

Re: how to become a qualified installer of CCTV, Intruder alarms, Fire alarms, Emerg.

hello mate,

Apprenticeship with a company doing this type off work is probably the best way, you cant learn everything at college you need hands on experience.
My mate works for ADT doing the type off work which you want to do, They do in house training.

thanks kabule2000 although I meant more about certificates, "paperwork" and legal side of this trade. I know that college will not teach you everything and you need a lot of practice as well but at least you can get the right paper for this job and my question again is: what are tha right papers/certificates to exist in tha above trades as a proffessional installer/engineer.

 

[electricpawn]

Re: how to become a qualified installer of CCTV, Intruder alarms, Fire alarms, Emerg.

hello mate,

Apprenticeship with a company doing this type off work is probably the best way, you cant learn everything at college you need hands on experience.
My mate works for ADT doing the type off work which you want to do, They do in house training.

In house training....excuse me while i fall off my chair laughing.
The in house training is only given to a privilaged few and if you are fortunate enough to get training it will be a miracle if you get the training that you want.
Yes there is training but you make the mistake of thinking you just ask and its given...NOT so.

Its a big area of knowledge that you wish to learn..CCTV ..you need to learn about PTZ ( pan, tilt,and zoom cameras ),dome cameras, methods of recording and what is legal to use in a court of law,infra red, covert cameras,white balance,digital recording and storage,multiplexers..and this is just cameras...then theres intruder which covers a multitude of panels and programming variations, as for fire alarms..you are dealing with peoples lives ..or deaths..so before you step into the field you need to decide what you really want to specialise in.

 

[Edward Harris]

Re: how to become a qualified installer of CCTV, Intruder alarms, Fire alarms, Emerg.

Soundz like good advice thanx my name is Ed' and I am trying too get into CCTV very helpful do you know a good place to start??

 

[accordfire]

Re: how to become a qualified installer of CCTV, Intruder alarms, Fire alarms, Emerg.

Okay, very briefly, do your level best to get taken on by a company already carrying out this kind of work.

For intruder alarms and CCTV, you don't *need* formal quals, though there is a range of C&G vocational qualifications covering off the basics in intruder, CCTV, Access, fire, and EAS. You can see them here.

Regarding connection of any of these installations to a mains supply, in domestic residential environments, you will either need to be Part P, or have a Part P electrician install the FCU for you. For commercial installations you can still get away with "competent person" - though make sure any insurance you have covers you specifically for this risk.

Emergency Lighting is really something a little different, in that you really need to (a) know what you are doing, and (b) certificate the work you've done. As a minimum, 17th edition qual, and a good read of BS5266. Again for domestic or HMO work, Part P - it is notifiable.

Fire alarm systems, whilst covered in the C&G courses above - do as much training as you possibly can - legislation is everything. Take a look at the FIA website, and again, if you get in with an employer, make sure they put you on at least units 1, 4 and 5 of their training courses here.

Wiring standards, as you'll discover, are minimum BS7671, though with extra requirements in places (mainly methods of fixing, type of cable), and the usual thing about Part P applies. Again, installation of a fire alarm in an HMO is not notifiable, but connection to the mains supply is.

To be honest, I would stick to either security or fire, at the very least until I felt very well grounded in the one I'd chosen. To try to learn it all at the same time, and do any electrical quals you need will be too much to take in.

 

[Guest123]

Re: how to become a qualified installer of CCTV, Intruder alarms, Fire alarms, Emerg.

Are there any dedicated C&G courses in fire alarm systems then Bill???

Or is it the FIA ones to go for???

Thanks.

 

[accordfire]

Re: how to become a qualified installer of CCTV, Intruder alarms, Fire alarms, Emerg.

Hi Mate

There's no C&G for fire at all, sadly,

The only real option at present is the FIA courses in respect of engineering, and design skills.

Got to be honest, given the importance of fire alarm systems and emergency lighting, you'd think they'd have hammered it qualification wise.

Figures I guess.

 

[Guest123]

Re: how to become a qualified installer of CCTV, Intruder alarms, Fire alarms, Emerg.

Well, on your reccomendation Bill, I've booked on an FIA 3 day course covering units 1, 5, & 4 in Birmingham on 12th July next year.

Not cheap but I hope it will be more than worth it.


Out of interest, what do you think with regard to the IEE guidance book in fire alarms??? I've been reading it now and again for a while but it seems to conflict itself quite a lot......

 

[accordfire]

Re: how to become a qualified installer of CCTV, Intruder alarms, Fire alarms, Emerg.

Well, on your reccomendation Bill, I've booked on an FIA 3 day course covering units 1, 5, & 4 in Birmingham on 12th July next year.

Not cheap but I hope it will be more than worth it.


Out of interest, what do you think with regard to the IEE guidance book in fire alarms??? I've been reading it now and again for a while but it seems to conflict itself quite a lot......

You won't regret it.

For anyone covering fire alarm work, they're pretty well essential courses, plus they're recognised throughout the industry (and by many insurers) as de-facto proof of competence.

Unit 1 give you fire design knowledge - quite in depth for all the amount it covers - the legislation guidance is well worth it. Few of the lad that I've sent on the course over the years haven't learned a lot from the design module alone.

Unit 4 is the install module - and again, most guys have picked up a lot from it - guys who've been installing for some time too - it'll cover areas such as when specifically to use enhanced cable, as well as fault finding areas such as what to look for when things start going Australian.

Unit 5 is maintenance, and to be fair, is a bit more "admin" than the others, but vital - so much more than "test the batteries, sign the cert, and find the pub" - putting the lot together, will give a big insight to lots of stuff that lots of people miss easily, and it will give you as an installer and maintainer so much more confidence too.

It's three days and a few hundred quid that'll repay itself over and over.

I put a "brief guide" to design in the Arms today (Sintra kindly put it on a sticky for me) - it's in two pdfs, but hopefully, has something of worth for many of you. Worth reading through, as it gives in idea of some of the basics you'll cover in the courses.

If the IEE book you mean is the "orangey" coloured one - I've looked at it, but didn't really rate it as a "good field guide" - mostly I've recommended this to my lads in the past:

A Guide to BS5839-1 at about £48 it ain't cheap either, but it is very good.

Bear in mind though that the regs are different for HMOs, and domestics in that unless Grade LD1 is called for, you're installing and maintaining to BS5839-6:2004 rather than part one. The basic rules remain, however, and there's quite a bit in the way of help on lots of sites out there.

You'll be glad you took the FIA courses though, if you cover any volume of fire work - and if you join the FIA too at some point, it's probably the logo in terms of insurers being happy. There's a bit to do between getting the FIA modules and getting FIA recognition for fire alarms- SP203 is a git, mostly an exercise in paperwork, but a four module necessity for serious work - we're about half way through now, and I really need to kick myself up the butt and get it sorted.

 

[mijam]

Re: how to become a qualified installer of CCTV, Intruder alarms, Fire alarms, Emerg.

C&G 1853-02 Level 2 Certificate in Knowledge of Electronic Security and Emergency Systems with progression onto a Level 3 Diploma

• What sorts of things do they cover?
• You'll cover things like:
• • Electrical and electronic principles
  • Working effectively and safely in the electro technical environment.
  
  You'll also choose one specialism from:
  
  • Intruder Alarms
  • CCTV
  • Access Control
  • Fire detection and Alarms
  • Electronic Article Surveillance
  • Integrated electronic security systems
  This course will give you an excellent underpinning knowledge with regards to British and European Standards and codes of practices.

 

[StePugh]

Re: how to become a qualified installer of CCTV, Intruder alarms, Fire alarms, Emerg.

Their are some courses that skills for security specialise in which intruder alarms fire alarms door access and CCTV where they host dedicated courses for C&G and NVQ check them out online,Skills For Security

 

[alexle]

hi guys!


lets say, I just got all required trade certificates, what should I have additionally to work as self-employed tradesman or as ltd on domestic residential environments? who is doing cable installation design and approve it in regulator office(or its not required?)?

how can I find customers(adwords?)?

thanks a lot!