Info for anyone currently looking to join,
Whilst I was very nervous the night before, there is no need to be, as long as you know how to test and your upto date with the regs, then this is a breeze,
Inspector arrived 9am,
Quick meeting explaining about the scheme.
Went through the office audit,
Check all paperwork etc, compliance with building regs, HSE, Risk assessments, safe isolation procedures, QS qualifications, no photocopies allowed, looks at your testing equipment and means of calibration. Selects 3 test certificates.
Then onsite to site visit, had 3 new builds to show them, looks round at the general standard of work and that everything complies with building regs etc,
Carry out safe isolation, lock off, remember to keep the key in pocket, first test was ze. Explained why your doing it and what the allowances are for each earthing system, then PFC, explain why we do it, (icn values) then full test on final ring, end to end, prove all polarity, across neutrals also, then R1+R2, (do cross connections at a socket if you do not want to tackle the ccu) compares your result to what you have on your test certificate, should be exactly the same. Explain why we do insulation resistance test, and expected results, what are allowance for different voltages. Board back on, carry out rcd testing, explain what happens in the test and expected results, (1/2 1x 5x I delta n) explain disconnection times allowed etc. Second job, looks around, checks bonding, makes sure everything complies, look inside board, check everything is all ok, another rcd test on both rcd's, checks against cert. live zs test on sockets (your measured zs will be higher if you are testing through rcds, as you are testing with no trip) zs = ze + R1+R2 these calculations prove the circuit is compliant. Asks some more questions about the regs, nothing to catch you out, if your unsure look it up, they are there to give you advice, your allowed to ask questions, guy was a really nice bloke. Onto 3rd, again looks around, main bonding checked, quick look on board, he is just checking your work is consistent, 3rd job had board in garage, again safe isolation, did R1 + R2 on a radial circuit, checks your results, board back on, live zs test, rcd check, checks against cert.
Back to the office, fills out his paperwork, tells you if you have any non conformances, in my case I had 3, one on each job, although nothing major, it was simply you have to have a circuit details chart next to the board, mine was in the welcome pack, (nobody wants this on the wall in there house, he understood that) just advised sticking it to the inside of the ccu door.
It was a pass, now an approved contractor along with domestic installer.
Like I said before, if you now how to test properly and why you do the tests, expected results along with the relevant regs, you'll breeze it.
Whilst I was very nervous the night before, there is no need to be, as long as you know how to test and your upto date with the regs, then this is a breeze,
Inspector arrived 9am,
Quick meeting explaining about the scheme.
Went through the office audit,
Check all paperwork etc, compliance with building regs, HSE, Risk assessments, safe isolation procedures, QS qualifications, no photocopies allowed, looks at your testing equipment and means of calibration. Selects 3 test certificates.
Then onsite to site visit, had 3 new builds to show them, looks round at the general standard of work and that everything complies with building regs etc,
Carry out safe isolation, lock off, remember to keep the key in pocket, first test was ze. Explained why your doing it and what the allowances are for each earthing system, then PFC, explain why we do it, (icn values) then full test on final ring, end to end, prove all polarity, across neutrals also, then R1+R2, (do cross connections at a socket if you do not want to tackle the ccu) compares your result to what you have on your test certificate, should be exactly the same. Explain why we do insulation resistance test, and expected results, what are allowance for different voltages. Board back on, carry out rcd testing, explain what happens in the test and expected results, (1/2 1x 5x I delta n) explain disconnection times allowed etc. Second job, looks around, checks bonding, makes sure everything complies, look inside board, check everything is all ok, another rcd test on both rcd's, checks against cert. live zs test on sockets (your measured zs will be higher if you are testing through rcds, as you are testing with no trip) zs = ze + R1+R2 these calculations prove the circuit is compliant. Asks some more questions about the regs, nothing to catch you out, if your unsure look it up, they are there to give you advice, your allowed to ask questions, guy was a really nice bloke. Onto 3rd, again looks around, main bonding checked, quick look on board, he is just checking your work is consistent, 3rd job had board in garage, again safe isolation, did R1 + R2 on a radial circuit, checks your results, board back on, live zs test, rcd check, checks against cert.
Back to the office, fills out his paperwork, tells you if you have any non conformances, in my case I had 3, one on each job, although nothing major, it was simply you have to have a circuit details chart next to the board, mine was in the welcome pack, (nobody wants this on the wall in there house, he understood that) just advised sticking it to the inside of the ccu door.
It was a pass, now an approved contractor along with domestic installer.
Like I said before, if you now how to test properly and why you do the tests, expected results along with the relevant regs, you'll breeze it.
