Why pay for pir assesments

[Atco]

As a time served electrician looking to make a break on my own. I feel a bit cheated by these part p schemes as I feel I've already proved my competance to the jib. However I've decided to join elecsa but don't understand why I should pay more to do pir as these are not notifiable also what's to stop me working on industrial and commercial properties.

 

[DurhamSparky]

you dont need to pay its just another way of them making money on there logo!
nothing to stop you doing comercial and indy work either

p.s im with elecsa and i do it all as well..

 

[SirKit Breaker]

I am with Elecsa, and have been since it all kicked off. To my knowledge they dont stop you doing PIR's under there banner. There is and never has been a requirement to be a member of anything to do these inspections.

Cheers........Howard

 

[telectrix]

not only that, but you do not have to be with any scam (sorry, scheme) or be part p registered to carry out PIR Test/Inspection.

 

[Atco]

Cheers mate just needed it clearing up . I've always worked for an employer so out of the loop when it comes to this stuff. I'm planning on building up custom over the next six months then taking the leap.

 

[Spudnik]

My phone is firmly in the "off" position over xmas.

 

[Atco]

Trouble is all any potential customer is aware of is part p and they think it's a qualification.

 

[telectrix]

easy precis of what work is/isn't notifiable is in the napit brochure which trhey will happily send you if you ask, tell 'em you are considering joining.

 

[rocker]

If you're doing Domestic, you want to be with a scheme whether you 'need' to or not. Pain in the rear but makes everything cheaper and easier in the long run.

The schemes (or at least Elecsa, who I'm with) will say you can go with them for PIRs, and you can if you want to use their certificates, but I think that is the only advantage and you'd have to pay for them! Really all you need to do is find someone who will insure you for Professional Indemnity.....
But you say you've been working for someone and are JIB - does that mean you've been mainly doing new 'site work' rather than house bashing, inspection and testing etc. To do PIRs you need a bit of experience in this field to be honest, if you're new to this side of things I'd give it a miss for a year or two whether you can get the insurance or not.

Part P doesn't apply to Commercial or Industrial. There is no compulsory notification scheme for these areas. Make of that what you will.

 

[DurhamSparky]

Trouble is all any potential customer is aware of is part p and they think it's a qualification.

so do lots of sparks!!

 

[Atco]

I've done a bit of everything from remedials at local uni to currently installing 3200a bus bar trunking. I was thinking pir's in domestic housing rather than factories and what not will I need indemnity insurance for this if so is it hard to obtain

 

[DurhamSparky]

not hard to get but can get expensive!

 

[telectrix]

search web or broker for best deal. public liablity and prof. indemnity can be got as a package and on monthly direct debit. if you are going to employ somebody as well, you will need employers liability on top.see the ad on the right of this page as well.

 

[Atco]

Thanks to all that gave advice. Just got to book my assesment now, as an electrician should I be nervous?

 

[DurhamSparky]

not if plumbers and kitchen fitters can pass!!

 

[Des 56]

Indemnity insurance ?
We are trained to do a job
We are asked,as a competent person to carry out a pir (an opinion on an installation)because thats all it is,an opinion

If you are happy to justify your own competence,why this obsesion with indemnity insurance ?

I dont carry out many pirs,because, the big boys charge extra small prices to reflect the pathetic bits of paper that they con the clients into believing is a pir

They are the people who need indemnity insurance
We need it to a far lesser extent
The scheme backed cost should only reflect any economic advantages it may bring

 

[malcolmsanford]

The majority of PIR's are requested by landlords, estate agents. mortgage providers on a survey advice and insurance companies, espicially in commercial/industrial. The majority of these bodies prefer the tester to be in some sort of competant persons scheme, and 9 times out of 10 will insist on NICEIC, as they have heard of them and not the others.

It is a rarity that a "Mrs Jones" will call and ask you to perform a PIR on her installation. 1) Because she as never heard of it, 2) unlike gas that she knows needs to be tested, why do you need to test the electricity. The majority of PIR's carried out in domestic situations is for a board change, or you may sell one if your working in a house and convince the client that they need one and to spend their money.

I'm not saying that you won't get PIR work, just that as a registered tester with a scheme you might find you can have more opotunities. If NAPIT have not changed their pack I believe that as long as you have the 2391-10 qualification they include the PIR package in their self certification scheme. Perhaps a NAPIT guy can confirm this.

 

[kung]

Hi Atco
Im with NIC but not for PIR's as i think if you only do one every now and then as i do then its not worth the extra cost etc but if you do or plan to do a lot then i would get that put on your membership as its worth it and as said it should help with extra work !