NICEIC Certification Scheme Tips for my first niceic inspection

[Dustydazzler]

I personally do not own a proving unit , I carry 2 volt pens and a multi meter / martindale , so 3 fail safes and I have proved dead this way for over 20 years now.

If all 3 fail me then so be it....

However if the Scams insist on a proving unit for the site visit then I would buy a cheap one for assessment day to 'tick the box'

 

[Sparksaflyin]

I personally do not own a proving unit , I carry 2 volt pens and a multi meter / martindale , so 3 fail safes and I have proved dead this way for over 20 years now.

If all 3 fail me then so be it....

However if the Scams insist on a proving unit for the site visit then I would buy a cheap one for assessment day to 'tick the box'

This is probably the best bet and was what I was intending to do I just wanted to check if anyone knew for sure either way.

 

[Midwest]

In my opinion this scenario could continue forever. 15 testers/proving units/voltage indicators down the line there is still no way of truely proving that all the instruments are in perfect working order

I’m all for the standard approach to safe isolation, by proving on a known source. My point is, that if you place your tester on your known source, and your tester does not light up, what do yo do then?

 

[Sparksaflyin]

I’m all for the standard approach to safe isolation, by proving on a known source. My point is, that if you place your tester on your known source, and your tester does not light up, what do yo do then?

I would give it a second check with an alternative test instrument. Even if it’s a volt pen.

 

[Des 56]

There are different "accepted" methods for proving isolation for electricians

There is only one single 100 % assured means of removing all danger of never getting it wrong,its a little drastic so cover your ears


The person needs to earn a living in a different occupation

 

[Sparksaflyin]

There are different "accepted" methods for proving isolation for electricians

There is only one single 100 % assured means of removing all danger of never getting it wrong,its a little drastic so cover your ears


The person needs to earn a living in a different occupation

Lol I would have to agree

 

[Sparksaflyin]

Let’s face it there are times when you don’t really have a choice but to work live. If you can stay safe in this scenario then worrying about 100% sure safe isolation becomes a little obsolete

 

[Sparksaflyin]

Even after I have safely isolated a circuit I will still give the end I’m working on a going over with a volt stick or the old quick touch technique lol just to be sure

 

[davesparks]

Where is this?

They will have sent it to you when you applied or else it is on their website.
It tells you exactly what you need to have and what to expect.

 

[davesparks]

Let’s face it there are times when you don’t really have a choice but to work live. If you can stay safe in this scenario then worrying about 100% sure safe isolation becomes a little obsolete

What times are those? If you are working live then you will be following a very detailed plan of the work written specifically for the task and will be using temporary insulation, fully insulated tools etc and wearing suitable fire resistant clothing, arc shields etc. None of this makes safe isolation a 'little bit obsolete'

Anyway, I thought you said earlier you only do domestic? There's never a need to work live in domestic work!

Working live is only really going to be considered when paying out the compensation for killing someone is cheaper than the loss of profit from shutting down production.

 

[Sparksaflyin]

They will have sent it to you when you applied or else it is on their website.
It tells you exactly what you need to have and what to expect.

I got an email with a list of paperwork I needed to sort out and that’s about it

 

[Sparksaflyin]

What times are those? If you are working live then you will be following a very detailed plan of the work written specifically for the task and will be using temporary insulation, fully insulated tools etc and wearing suitable fire resistant clothing, arc shields etc. None of this makes safe isolation a 'little bit obsolete'

Anyway, I thought you said earlier you only do domestic? There's never a need to work live in domestic work!

Working live is only really going to be considered when paying out the compensation for killing someone is cheaper than the loss of profit from shutting down production.

Firstly I didn’t say safe isolation would ever be obsolete, I said ensuring it’s 100% guaranteed safe (which isn’t achievable as someone previously stated) becomes obsolete.

If your working on an apartment in an occupied block of flats, are you going to shut the entire building down purely to work on that one flat? I’ve been in this situation and even after knocking on each apartment to ask if shutting down the power is ok, there is still atleast 1 or 2 that you can’t get into. I always use fully insulated tools and would use temporary insulation but I can honestly say I have never found the need to wear fire proof clothing and use arc shields when working in a domestic or commercial environment.

 

[Sparksaflyin]

And also I never said I only do domestic. I said I very rarely do private work as I am not currently able to self certify and personally don’t feel like I should be out there doing my own work unless I can fully test and self certify it afterwards.

 

[davesparks]

Firstly I didn’t say safe isolation would ever be obsolete, I said ensuring it’s 100% guaranteed safe (which isn’t achievable as someone previously stated) becomes obsolete.

If your working on an apartment in an occupied block of flats, are you going to shut the entire building down purely to work on that one flat? I’ve been in this situation and even after knocking on each apartment to ask if shutting down the power is ok, there is still atleast 1 or 2 that you can’t get into. I always use fully insulated tools and would use temporary insulation but I can honestly say I have never found the need to wear fire proof clothing and use arc shields when working in a domestic or commercial environment.

No, but I woukd arrange to isolate the feed to that particular flat if necessary. There will be a means of isolation for the supply to each flat. If work is required to the live side of that means of isolation then you have to contact the BNO to arrange the necessary permissions etc.

 

[davesparks]

I always use fully insulated tools and would use temporary insulation but I can honestly say I have never found the need to wear fire proof clothing and use arc shields when working in a domestic or commercial environment.

Do you not find that it gets expensive using fully insulated tools all of the time, they must get damaged pretty easily in everyday use? We're not talking about your usual 1000V VDE tools which still have a lot of exposed metal but actual fully insulates/all plastic construction.

You aren't risk assessing the job very well if you haven't found the need for arc protection when working live, you don't exactly get a second chance once you've written off your eyes!