I was with the NICEIC for 12 years when back in the 90's they were the only kids on the block. Then they were fantastic helpful and supportive. I think what went wrong was when the Part P came in.
They thought that as they were the only body for the electrical contracting industry they would be the administrators of it. Then the government, rightly in my view, which is a first agreeing anything about the Part P, opened it up and other bodies emerged, ie NAPIT, ELECSA, BSI. I think then the NICEIC were caught napping and they lost their way a little.
It was then that their attitude changes from a body maintaining standards to becoming a commercial enterprise with training and publication. Again I have no problems with this, everything as to evolve, but I think they now have the attitude that they are superior and how they interpret things is the only way things should be done.
Aside from things like live testing, another are earth electrodes. The BRB clearly states that an ohmeric reading of over 200 ohms is not acceptable as it can prove unstable. The NICEIC say it should be less than 100ohm, they have put their interpretation on it and as far as they are concerend that is it. Whereas in reality with RCD protection of 30mA on a TT system, now for every circuit, the rod could be 1500ohms as long as the R1+R2 for the circuit will bring it under 1666, there are other examples throughtout the NICEIC as well.
I have to say I miss the old NICEIC I had a great relationship with them and my local assessors and management,