Qualifications (and other requirements) required to change a consumer unit.

[dylanoil]

Thanks for all the comments (constructive and otherwise!) I also came across the paragraph below in a inspection training book which probably summarises it nicely. Andy - I think you are right in that it could be a long conversation with the LABC. I might just do it for sport!


Unregistered competent person
If the work is carried out by a non-registered competent person who is capable of completing the correct certification, the localauthority will need to be contacted before commencement of work, and the work will be carried out under
a building notice. This will involve a fee being paid to the local authority and a visit or visits being made
by a building inspector to inspect the work being carried out to ensure that it meets the required standard
(the cost of this will usually be far higher than that charged per notification by a scheme provider to a
registered installer). On satisfactory completion, and after the issue of the correct certification by the
competent person, the building inspector will issue a completion certificate. The issue of a completion
certificate by the local authority does not remove the responsibility for the work including guarantees from
the non-registered competent person; the required certification must still be completed by the person who
carried out or who is responsible for the work.

 

[davesparks]

It would be a sad day indeed if a Chartered Engineer was incapable of replacing a bloody domestic CU. Most if not all; will have had hands on experience at some time during there professional career and this guy has, according to his opening post....

If a 17 day whizzer/Electrical Trainee is supposedly competent/capable, according to these Part P providers, i'm damned sure this guy is and can.....lol!!

I've been to a house which was completely wired by a chartered electrical engineer and I sure as hell wouldn't say they were competant to fit a plug, let alone install anything.

It's the only time I've seen a ring final where every socket was a spur from a joint box with the ring just linking the joint boxes together.

 

[Guest77]

I know a chartered engineer who is brilliant at his job yet he has never held any tools and couldn't do anything work related to save his life, he went to uni and studied for years, has all the initials after his name and works for a consultancy on major money designing huge electrical installations worth hundreds of thousands, he could never change a dist board, but is great at his job.

 

[Engineer54]

It's the only time I've seen a ring final where every socket was a spur from a joint box with the ring just linking the joint boxes together.

That method of wiring ring circuits was once a pretty common practice, in fact i can take you to a small council housing estate built in the very early 60's where all the ring circuits were wired in this method.... In those days people didn't have to amount of appliances that are common today, all the outlets were singles.....

 

[Engineer54]

I know a chartered engineer who is brilliant at his job yet he has never held any tools and couldn't do anything work related to save his life, he went to uni and studied for years, has all the initials after his name and works for a consultancy on major money designing huge electrical installations worth hundreds of thousands, he could never change a dist board, but is great at his job.

Probably because he's not interested in working with his hands on the tools, and therefore he's not a problem is he!! lol!!

But i know of plenty of C' Engineers that can and do pick up tools at every opportunity, and i'm one of them!! Go back and read this guy's OP again, he has hands on experience, as many of them DO!!

 

[Guest77]

Probably because he's not interested in working with his hands on the tools, and therefore he's not a problem is he!! lol!!

But i know of plenty of C' Engineers that can and do pick up tools at every opportunity, and i'm one of them!! Go back and read this guy's OP again, he has hands on experience, as many of them DO!!

I don't need to look at the OP again, my reply was to Dave, I was chatting to him, I was just confirming I also know a Chartered engineer who couldn't change a DB, I wasn't referring to this fella, I think for convenience and possibly cost it may be better for him to get a registered spark to change his DB, they will probably charge 350, he can buy the board for 50 quid but will have to pay 300 for building control, and may need a few other bits and bobs which may not be handly for him to easily get, weighing up the fact of this I suggested he get a spark in, regarding ability, I believe him when he says he is competant, but we all know the silly rules in the UK don't we? If he is happy to pay a bit more and be prepared for another company picked at random from building controls list to visit his home then changing it himself no issue at all.

Lastly we all know if we are living in the house for a number of years then no real issue, if however he intends to sell soon then he may get tied up in the UK red tape, easier to get a spark around IMO.

 

[dylanoil]

OK so local building control only want £120. I've just mailed them - lets see how I get on! I might be back on here looking for a quote if they give me too much grief!

 

[telectrix]

£120 to get some divvy that's got less knowledge than you, confirm that your work is OK. it's a bloody joke.

 

[davesparks]

That method of wiring ring circuits was once a pretty common practice, in fact i can take you to a small council housing estate built in the very early 60's where all the ring circuits were wired in this method.... In those days people didn't have to amount of appliances that are common today, all the outlets were singles.....

That doesn't make it acceptable to install it that way these days though

 

[Engineer54]

That doesn't make it acceptable to install it that way these days though

I'll not say that i would wire a ring circuit using this method, but it complied then, i'm not so sure that this method wouldn't still comply today, certainly wouldn't warrant your comment of....

I sure as hell wouldn't say they were competent to fit a plug, let alone install anything.

 

[tazz]

What makes me laugh here is the the op has more qualifications than most of you Electrical Trainee wonders and house bashers.
I deal with these guys as designers, and although not hands on, they know the commercial site inside out.
This guy gives you your cable schedules and sizes, you containment method, fire proofing and construction details...and if you work along side them, you will make very good friends, and business consultants......And when they feel they need advice, they contact trusted advisers

 

[dingledong]

But has he got part p




It's a joke before some of the more serious people have a go again

 

[Badged01]

But has he got part p.....

Don't go there ....... but anyway, all chartered engineers are gods, their knowledge is unbounded, their word is gospel and mere electricians should be worshiping the path they tread to their offices.

 

[Knobhead]

If he’s anything like the graduates I used to get lumbered with I wouldn’t put money on anything working.

What makes me laugh here is the the op has more qualifications than most of you Electrical Trainee wonders and house bashers.
I deal with these guys as designers, and although not hands on, they know the commercial site inside out.
This guy gives you your cable schedules and sizes, you containment method, fire proofing and construction details...and if you work along side them, you will make very good friends, and business consultants......And when they feel they need advice, they contact trusted advisers

And therein lies the problem.

 

[Engineer54]

Most of the Chartered Engineers that i have known over the years in the buildings services side of our industry take every opportunity to pick up tools and help out. I can't speak for let's say, the younger generation of C Engineers, it maybe a different story as far as they are concerned, but let's not forget even the younger C Engineers are not ''graduate'' Engineers, far from it in fact...