JIB Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) Starting up properly.... the expense and minefield of regs begins...

[DoubleInsulated]

Hello all.

Sparky all my days (but worked in a different industry the last 5 years). Full 17th edition, 2394 and 2395 Testing and inspection. ESC Gold card.

Covid has killed my existing job, and at 53, I am struggling to find something new.
So... do I go back to full time sparking? Ideally not, but means must.

But, I am VERY rusty on some points. Advice VERY gratefully received

1/ Planning to do my 18th edition online. No real issue there I don't think
2/ Do I need 18th edition to be able to register with Stroma/Napit/NIC etc?
3/ Who is the recommended body to go with? Stroma looked good, but did I read that they are no longer accepting applicants? Many years back I was NICEIC (hated them!)

My testing and inspection is beyond rusty. I did the course, and then pretty much never did any testing.
I could probably barely remember how to turn the tester on these days (oh yea, need to buy a new one of those as well)...
That is going to be an issue and the only way I will pick that back up is practice I would think + reading up.

I would assume I will have to start up, get some installations under my belt and get them certified by someone else or building control, and then once I have a few to 'show', have those inspected when I apply to a body?

My old and tired brains thanks you

 

[Dustydazzler]

If you want to do mainly domestic work then ultimately you will need to join one of cps scams , you can live without one by sticking to non notifiable work initially but sooner or later you will get asked to do board changes which require notification under part pee

its not worth going self deployed half hearted, you either go all in or I person ally wouldn’t bother and just get a job in Lidl instead

 

[DoubleInsulated]

But Lidl doesn't pay the mortgage
It's not half hearted, just annoying I have to go back to this. But, this is where I am.

But what is 'non notifiable work'? Just industrial? Commercial?

 

[loz2754]

The only works notifiable in England are: a new circuit, a consumer unit change, additions or alterations in a bathroom.

 

[loz2754]

Which Competent Persons Scheme to go with?
NICEIC, as it is the most well known. Or Napit, as it's a bit cheaper.
Either way, you should make enquiries very soon as to what entry requirements are, as from September 1st it gets a lot harder to be accepted into a scheme due to changes in the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification.

 

[DoubleInsulated]

Electrotechnical Assessment Specification?? ? What the heck is that

WHY do they keep making up this stuff? Just makes it hard those that do it properly (or at least try to), and makes no difference at all to the people that don't care.

The only works notifiable in England are: a new circuit, a consumer unit change, additions or alterations in a bathroom.

Yes, that is on domestic properties. What about commercial and industrial. I read a thread where they said that they worked in an industrial setting and the factory electrician was basically doing what he wanted with no certification. I thought the additions, DB changes etc applied to all settings?

I'm rusty...

 

[loz2754]

Electrotechnical Assessment Specification?? ? What the heck is that

WHY do they keep making up this stuff? Just makes it hard those that do it properly (or at least try to), and makes no difference at all to the people that don't care.



Yes, that is on domestic properties. What about commercial and industrial. I read a thread where they said that they worked in an industrial setting and the factory electrician was basically doing what he wanted with no certification. I thought the additions, DB changes etc applied to all settings?

I'm rusty...

Part P is only applicable to domestic dwellings

 

[Julie.]

The standards that must be attained are the same in all cases, however in England the building regs require notice of works, this is achieved through one of the scams - sorry I mean valuable CPS providers.

As for testing if rusty either get a tester, a copy of GN3 build yourself a bit of a test board (rings, radials etc) and go through the testing again and again until it al comes back (noting the changes in isolation procedures required since your qualifications) OR enrol on a testing course - around a weeks course, you will still need to practice etc, but it would focus the mind.

18th, etc, just buy the book and take the test.

 

[cliffed]

Hello all.

Sparky all my days (but worked in a different industry the last 5 years). Full 17th edition, 2394 and 2395 Testing and inspection. ESC Gold card.

Covid has killed my existing job, and at 53, I am struggling to find something new.
So... do I go back to full time sparking? Ideally not, but means must.

But, I am VERY rusty on some points. Advice VERY gratefully received

1/ Planning to do my 18th edition online. No real issue there I don't think
2/ Do I need 18th edition to be able to register with Stroma/Napit/NIC etc?
3/ Who is the recommended body to go with? Stroma looked good, but did I read that they are no longer accepting applicants? Many years back I was NICEIC (hated them!)

My testing and inspection is beyond rusty. I did the course, and then pretty much never did any testing.
I could probably barely remember how to turn the tester on these days (oh yea, need to buy a new one of those as well)...
That is going to be an issue and the only way I will pick that back up is practice I would think + reading up.

I would assume I will have to start up, get some installations under my belt and get them certified by someone else or building control, and then once I have a few to 'show', have those inspected when I apply to a body?

My old and tired brains thanks you

That’s exactly how I feel…brain tired…I’ve just resigned from my QS job…lots of reasons for that.
ive always kept up to date with every aspect of electrical installation etc..getting more & more knowledge each day & @ W/E…too.
Put this into practice & nobody’s cares enough ..the draft Certs not filled out correctly or completely.Workmanship it’s not as it should be these days …getting ready for retirement I’m afraid.?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Hello all.

Sparky all my days (but worked in a different industry the last 5 years). Full 17th edition, 2394 and 2395 Testing and inspection. ESC Gold card.

Covid has killed my existing job, and at 53, I am struggling to find something new.
So... do I go back to full time sparking? Ideally not, but means must.

But, I am VERY rusty on some points. Advice VERY gratefully received

1/ Planning to do my 18th edition online. No real issue there I don't think
2/ Do I need 18th edition to be able to register with Stroma/Napit/NIC etc?
3/ Who is the recommended body to go with? Stroma looked good, but did I read that they are no longer accepting applicants? Many years back I was NICEIC (hated them!)

My testing and inspection is beyond rusty. I did the course, and then pretty much never did any testing.
I could probably barely remember how to turn the tester on these days (oh yea, need to buy a new one of those as well)...
That is going to be an issue and the only way I will pick that back up is practice I would think + reading up.

I would assume I will have to start up, get some installations under my belt and get them certified by someone else or building control, and then once I have a few to 'show', have those inspected when I apply to a body?

My old and tired brains thanks you

How did it go?
Did you get registered with a scheme?
Rather than get confused by all the different advice on a forum, I would ring either Napit, NICEIC or Elecsa (the only ones left) and ask them what they want.

If you plan just to do small domestic jobs then it may be best not to go through the hassle of getting registered with a scheme. However, if you plan to install consumer units, any new circuits, or any work in special locations (bathrooms), then you need to be registered, as these jobs are notifiable.

 

[DoubleInsulated]

Hello All

Been a few months since I considered this and still not sure what I am going to do. Part of me is sick to death of hoop jumping for the sake of it. I occasionally work with a couple of electrician lads (who are very good), but 16th edition and don't test/certify zip. They seem to be plodding along nicely.

But, I am a 'do it properly' type person. But, you do just get worn down by all the constant rule changes and needless profit making.

But... mortgage isn't getting paid, so decisions must be made.

 

[DoubleInsulated]

Just found this....

18th Edition Online Exam - City and Guilds 2382 - Lantei Learning

You can choose to undertake a City & Guilds 18th Edition Online Exam (no training), in multiple choice format of 60 questions in 2 hours.

lanteilearning.co.uk

I didn't think you could take exams online at home? I like this idea much more than a classroom based exam I have to say. My days of nervous multiple choice exams in a classroom are over.

Anyone recommend a decent all-round tester? Mine is so old, it runs on coal

 

[Julie.]

Just found this....

18th Edition Online Exam - City and Guilds 2382 - Lantei Learning

You can choose to undertake a City & Guilds 18th Edition Online Exam (no training), in multiple choice format of 60 questions in 2 hours.

lanteilearning.co.uk

I didn't think you could take exams online at home? I like this idea much more than a classroom based exam I have to say. My days of nervous multiple choice exams in a classroom are over.

Anyone recommend a decent all-round tester? Mine is so old, it runs on coal

Since Covid they have started to allow exams at home, 18th is on-line in any case. It does cost a little more as they have to have someone at their end watching you for the whole exam (webcam is required) to make sure you only reference the allowed materials.

Any modern MFT should be ok, I prefer megger, but many others like Kewtech, Metrel etc. The more fancy you get, it's no more testing functionality, just add-ons like selecting the MCB type/size and it automatically gives you a pass/fail between the measured Zs and the allowed for that protective device etc - if you then buy their expensive software it can auto fill the EIC etc.

There are specialist ones which do have extra testing stuff such as for EVCP, but unless you go down that route it's just wasting beer tokens.


If they are still working to the 16th/17th then they are really open for court action - the 18th test isn't hard, and being realistic every industry today has to do further training as rules and regulations change, even if you drive a truck every day, you have to take CPD (continuous personnel development) to maintain your knowledge of rules etc as they change.

 

[Vortigern]

So what kind of work do you want to do?

 

[DoubleInsulated]

Hey

Well I have been bashing some seriously heavy industrial electrical installation work lately through an agency (Covid killed my new career stone dead), but these heavy SWA's the diameter of my leg are starting to take their toll!
Plus, some of the guys I am working with ? Lets just say it seems to be a backwards life step.

So, I am probably aiming to go back to domestic installs. It's what I used to do. I am going to be totally honest, it's not my ideal career choice... I stopped it years back because it bored me (did it for 25 straight years), but.... like I said, my mortgage needs to be paid. Go back to what you are good at.

Will probably expand that to CCTV etc later on. Got lots of experience with networked CCTV and access control

I did my testing 2394 and 2395 about 5 years ago, and pretty much never put it into use. So I am VERY rusty on that. I am thinking get a decent tester, dig out the course notes, and give myself a refresher course on my own house.
Being watched by someone for assessment purposes fills me with fear!

I suppose Napit is as good as anyone to go with? £465+vat to register.
There is this whole paradox of how can I register with no work to assess thing? No sure how that works but OK.

I'll probably get myself a new regs book and site guide then and plump for the online 18th course. At 53, I just hate the classroom thing now.