The Importance of Electrical Certifcation in Scotland
Landlords in Scotland must have an EICR carried out every five years on their fixed electrical fittings and installations. web design dundee, It is a legal requirement that confirms your property's wiring, consumer units (fuse boxes), switches and sockets are safe and comply with the current safety standards.
A qualified electrician is a person who has completed one of the routes to qualification. However, unlike other professionals whose title is protected, electricians do not.free Article Services
Qualifications
The electrotechnical sector in Scotland takes responsibility for tens of thousands of installations which have life-changing consequences. This means that faulty work has the potential to destroy homes, injure people and even kill. It is, therefore, vital that only properly qualified and competent electricians undertake electrotechnical works. However, the absence of overall regulations allows a wide variety of tradespeople to act as “electricians” in domestic settings, including kitchen and bathroom fitters, plumbers and handymen, as well as DIYers. The extent to which unqualified people carry out electrical works is unknown, but it is certainly a growing concern.
To ensure the safety of consumers and prevent fires, electricians are required to carry out periodic testing of all electric installations in residential properties. The results of these tests are recorded in an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report). It is recommended that landlords have their electrics tested and inspected every five years, or more often if they are renting out the property. Faulty wiring is one of the most common causes of house fires.
Despite the dangers, many people still consider themselves capable of carrying out their own electrical work. The SELECT report quotes several testimonials from members who have witnessed poor electrical work carried out by non-qualified workers. This is a serious concern, given the potential risks to health and public safety, as well as economic costs for insurance companies and the NHS.
There are a number of routes to becoming a fully qualified electrician, including the Modern Apprenticeship route. This is a work-based learning programme that allows you to study for a nationally recognised qualification while earning a salary and developing practical skills. In addition to this, you may be eligible for financial support.
In order to protect consumers and ensure the safety of everyone using electricity in their home, SELECT is pushing for Protection of Title, meaning that only people who are trained to UK National Occupational Standards can use the title ‘electrician’. This would help to protect people from unscrupulous traders and prevent the risk of fires and fatalities. The campaign has the support of politicians, surveyors, housebuilders, insurers and professional bodies. In November 2019 SELECT will be exhibiting at Holyrood, where members will join with other groups to demonstrate the urgent need for regulation.
Licensing
There is a wide range of people who call themselves electricians, from kitchen and bathroom fitters to handymen. Many of them are unqualified and may be operating illegally. This poses a risk to consumers, and SELECT has called for regulation of the industry. Incompetent workers can cause fires, damage and injury. They can also increase the cost of insurance premiums and NHS care. In a recent report, SELECT warned that if the problem was not dealt with, the cost to the economy could be as high as PS120 million.
The industry is concerned that a lack of regulations allows rogue traders to operate without proper qualifications. This is a major concern for organisations that work hard to protect the public. They have a daily responsibility for tens of thousands of installations with a potential impact on life and property. Faulty electrical work can lead to serious injuries and fires.
A licence is essential to prove that a person is qualified to carry out electrical work in Scotland. This requires a minimum of three years experience as an electrician and the completion of a relevant qualification such as the Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (BS7671). The electrician must also be registered with NAPIT. The certificate must include the name of the person and their registration number. It should also include the address and telephone number of the person.
If a person is not licensed, they are not eligible to carry out electrical work under Part P of the Building Regulations. This is a legal requirement and can result in hefty fines if the rules are broken. Licensing also provides a guarantee of the quality of a person’s work.
A parliamentary debate has been held on the need for regulation of the profession. MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston led the debate and pointed out that there are more than 100 regulated occupations in the UK, from airline pilots to door supervisors at nightclubs. However, there is no protection for electricians. He called for a Member’s Bill to be introduced to the Scottish Parliament, which would require electricians to be qualified to UK national occupational standards (SVQ in Scotland) and to pass a recognised assessment.
Insurance
The electrical industry has a number of different associations and accreditation bodies which set minimum standards for electricians and other tradespeople. These include trade associations like SELECT and NAPIT, certification bodies such as NICEIC and NICER, registration bodies like the Scottish Joint Industry Board, and the Electrical Contractors Association of Scotland (ECA).
Most of these have minimum requirements for insurance. For example, employers liability insurance is a legal requirement for any electrician who employs anyone. This covers employees in the event of a work-related injury or illness and provides compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs. It’s also required by some employers to be in place before an electrician can work on a client’s premises.
Another type of insurance that’s important for any electrician is public liability insurance. This covers any damage caused to a property by an electrician working on its electrics, such as fire or water damage. It’s important for both the electrician and the property owner to have this in place, as it can help avoid expensive repairs and replacements if something goes wrong.
If you’re a landlord, you need to have an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) done on your properties at least once every five years. This is to make sure that all the fixed wiring in your property meets the safety standards, and it can help to protect your tenants from accidents.
This inspection and testing looks at everything from the fuse box to sockets, switches, and light fittings. It will highlight any problems and recommend any necessary maintenance or repairs to ensure that the property is safe for your tenants to live in.
Landlords have a legal responsibility to keep their properties safe for tenants, and failure to do so could result in fines or even the closure of your business. Having a valid EICR will show that you’re taking your responsibilities seriously and complying with the law.
In addition to an EICR, you should also have a Portable Appliance Test (PAT) carried out every year or between tenancies. This will help to ensure that all appliances are safe to use and prevents accidental fires or injuries.
Reputation
A number of research studies have raised concerns about the level of substandard electrical work carried out in Scotland. These have led to calls for the protection of electricians’ title, which would require them to meet a minimum standard of qualifications. While these measures would help to protect consumers from scrupulous traders, the organisations which set standards in the electrotechnical sector have argued that this could lead to a fragmented and inefficient training system.
Those who are qualified to carry out work in the electrical industry have a reputation to uphold. This is why they are expected to maintain their knowledge and skills by continuing to undertake training throughout their careers. For example, electricians must keep up to date with new regulations and technology by completing courses such as Design and Initial Verification of Electrical Installations to BS 7671. These are available through the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Customised Awards service.
In a recent call for evidence, a high proportion of interviewees in the electrical industry were in favour of some form of licensing. These included a third of electricians who agreed that it would reduce the amount of defective installations by both qualified and unqualified people. Another half of the interviewees felt that licensing would also benefit their own businesses.
The electrical tradespeople interviewed for the research reported that they had experienced a high level of complaints from customers. However, the research by Electrical Safety First did not distinguish between complaints that were caused by defective white goods and those arising from unsafe electrical installation work. The research also did not identify whether the work had been carried out by qualified or unqualified tradespeople.
The electrotechnical industry bodies have urged politicians to ensure that training continues on a national basis. They argue that a one nation approach would ensure that skills and standards are consistent across Scotland and the UK. They also argue that localised training claims to be a quick fix for teaching electricians new skills, but they say that it is inefficient and not practical for what is traditionally a transient workforce.
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