Part P On-line Exam

[coatesykid]

could someone please help, I took the part p on-line exam a week ago (failed had questions about roofing and bricklaying) What guidance material is needed in order to pass this exam?

is the electricians guide to the building regulations worth buying?

 

[SMB]

Depends where your drilling the joist I reckon.

Start installing your sockets at 300mm from floor level on a new build in England and see what the building inspector has to say (whether he/she is French, Portuguese, or even Nepalese)





Perhaps its been a long day and your confusing Part P with BS7671?

 

[Paul.M]

1. Part p took this reg and others from the BS7671. Just look at any old brb or OSG.


2. Even in a new build if the home owner wants the sockets at another height that is fine, just need to make note on cert.

3. Easy to tell them apart. One has been around for that long it has had 17 up grades, hundreds of amendments and is 389 pages long. The other is a leaflet that came out in April 2005.

 

[Paul.M]

Double posted.

 

[SMB]

Hi Paul,

I was talking about new builds.

Rewires are a different matter I know. (just don't leave the installation in a less accessable state than it was before you started is the key I think?)

Sorry if you have mis-understood me. Or perhaps im wrong about the height of accessories?

I thought that notching a joist in the middle was a no-no. Thats what Part P talks about isnt it?

Im not trying to be argumentative by the way. Im just saying what I thought I understood mate. (Im on your side Paul).

All the best.

 

[martysparky]

Its also only a GUIDE. Installations need not adhere to it at all. You could carry out an installation to say PORTUGUESE or FRENCH standards and still be within EU laws.

Are you referring to The Electricians Guide To Regs or Approved document P

 

[Paul.M]

I could go into detail regarding heights and safe zones but I won't because its boring. Basically the chaps that write the building regs asked the experts, BS7671. If you compare part p to brb and ask which came first? Where did the building regs come from? That's why (specially the older sparks) get really wound up about people saying part p qualified when its been adhered to for donkey years. The world of electrics has been down a long road. For example, do you know why rcd's ate 30mA? It is because it was tested on prisoners on death row in the UK! They were given an option of go to the gallows or be tested on. Remember that next time you install one. What I'm getting at is part p is not the be all and end all. I mean I read a leaflet years ago on the highway code and I can cross the road without getting run over. I haven't got a qualification, I'm just abiding with some procedures that a government body has set out has this is how it should be done.

 

[martysparky]

I assume you are speaking about the C&G 2393-10 City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in the Building Regulations for Electrical Installations in Dwellings which covers the items within Part P a qualification that is worthwhile for any electrician so they understand the impact of their works on building structure. Have passed this exam myself surprising how many electricians out there who have been in the industry for years fail it!

Agreed

here we go lets start a controversy

Part P includes the build regs appropriate to electrical work in a domestic environment. A lot of it common sense YES, but if you were the customer would you employ someone with qualification for Part P or with none deeming it a load of whatever you want to call it. Albeit having superior electrical knowledge in commercial, industrial electrics there are sparks with bags of experience and knowledge in these genres but would get it wrong in a domestic despite living in a house as it depends on your experience and training. No prejudice intended.

 

[IQ Electrical]

The customer won't have heard of Part P so in that respect, it will make no difference.

Also, complying with building regulations relevant to our work really isn't a difficult task in the scale of everything else we are expected to comply with so I'm not condoning another course and another exam.

 

[Paul.M]

We come across it on here. Long time served industrial sparky posts a question about putting in his own cooker. Fair enough, we tell him due to his abilitys as a professional. But other questions on here from people that have done a short course and a part p course don't know what they are supposed to know at that level of education. (and today there has been loads of it. Can't give examples but have a look and you'll find them). I blame the fast track colleges without offending them or people that have passed or on a course. The greed if people trying to make money quick, have a look on this forum how many people are looking for work. The industry itself needs to be simplified so everyone knows what a "real electrician" is (thanks Manda for that saying)

 

[martysparky]

I agree with that too IQ and having done the exam its brief TBH.

But the qualified in Part P would proudly tell the customer wouldn't they.

One question I have raised previously is installing a vented cooker hood with relation to the vent hole and proximity to the joist and structural integrity. NO one here has positively answered what is a safe distance between the two.

 

[manda]

I think the problem with part p is that as most will agree, it's just not enough to ensure the customers safety. The course I'm taking includes the online domestic installers exam, part p blah, and I was informed by the sales rep that after this it would be fine for me to go out and start taking on small jobs once registered. However, there's no way on this earth I'd dream of it! Many however probably will. The course I'm doing overall will take me around 3 years, and still at the end of that there's just no way I'd venture off on my own, but there's nothing to stop me from doing!!

 

[IQ Electrical]

And that's the problem, BS7671 compliance ensures client safety, not a 'part p exam'

It's amazing how 'good' some of these training package salesmen are!

 

[martysparky]

And you do the Part P / 17th exams then realize you need 2391 to insure it is safe competently.

Really how can you take on work without it unless doing a total in domestic or non notifiable.

 

[manda]

To be fair he did mean after the 17th exam, but still, There just isn't the hands on experience to back it up, I could basically learn it all from the books, do a few exams and bit of practical in a controlled environment, and hey presto! Off I pop basically using the customer as a Guinea pig to hone my skills on. Personally I wouldn't, and I hope nor would any sensible person. But the reality is, some people don't give a you know what, so long as the money is rolling in. I've in no way got enough experience to be saying how the problems be solved, but it's plain to me there is problems and it's frustrating to see the potential dangers to the public through the gaping loop-holes.

 

[martysparky]

To be fair he did mean after the 17th exam, but still, There just isn't the hands on experience to back it up, I could basically learn it all from the books, do a few exams and bit of practical in a controlled environment, and hey presto! Off I pop basically using the customer as a Guinea pig to hone my skills on. Personally I wouldn't, and I hope nor would any sensible person. But the reality is, some people don't give a you know what, so long as the money is rolling in. I've in no way got enough experience to be saying how the problems be solved, but it's plain to me there is problems and it's frustrating to see the potential dangers to the public through the gaping loop-holes.

True but you are supposed to put all the safety on labc's head if not passed the competent persons assessment. Let them energize and be responsible thats why they are there so you can put your effort into practice.