sparky1983

Hi guys, I'm new to the game and a soon to be 25yr old/ 2nd year apprentice with an NICEIC Co in London. Our work usually involves doing "voids" and "remedial" work for one of the councils.

The work I've been involved in has been for one been rewiring new kitchens. This would involve a 2.5mm ring circuit, with spurs and sockets for washing machine, fridge, boiler aswell, done bonding on copper pipes for sink and sink taps and bath and bath taps aswell and installed a circuit for cookers in 10mm T&E.

I've also helped install new lighting circuits mainly through steel conduit in these flats new power circuits through MT2, extractor fans aswell and helped install photocells for communal lighting on estates, through steel conduit.

I've used armoured, pyro and FP200 and although I'm no way competent in all these types of work, as of yet, this will be the type of work I do. We also fix/install intercoms, do "disability" jobs - flashing light/ ringing phone/ door bell etc. And we've also worked on Fire Alarm systems.

Cheers for the help!

p.s Just realised that's a lot actually But is it enough? I'd want to do the NVQ 3 within a year if I could and I've been told by my college tutor you don't need to do the NVQ 2 to sign onto the NVQ 3. Could anyone confirm that?

johny99

there is no NVQ level 2 in electrical installation work now that is currently available, only an NVQ level 3 which is the 2356. How do I know, easy my lad wants to follow Dad into the industry and I have done a load of research on the NVQ and talked to loads of people about it. Johny

sparky1983

Thanks for that Johnny, but do you know if there are specific types of work that you need to be involved in, to pass this NVQ?

markysparky

There are 8 units to complete comprising of:

Ensuring Safe Working
Fault Finding
Providing Technical Information
Maintaining a safe working environment
Preparing to install (1st fix)
Installing Wiring Systems (2nd Fix)
Connecting wiring systems
Test and Inspection

You need to show evidence of any 3 differnt wiring enclosures from PVC conduit & truning, Steel conduit and trunking, basket or cable tray.

You will also need to show evidence of any 3 wiring systems such as MICC, SWA, PVC singles or PVC twin

Hope that helps
Mark

Andy M

You also need to show evidence of indoor and outdoor work, two types of work from domestic, commercial, agricultural, industrial and "working near machines", two types of access equipment and so on, i would say that you should easily be able to meet the range of work requirements, my advice would be to download the JIB 2356 logbook and use this, there is nothing stopping you from starting to collect evidence now. Have you sorted out where you are going to get your NVQ from? put Quickstep into Google they can give you a price for delivering the NVQ.

Sorry if this seems a bit vague, but its late and i am a bit rusty as i haven't worked as an NVQ Assessor for just over a year, but if you have any specific questions i will try to help you, and of course as an assessor i have some good tips on how to acheive!!

But basically you need a minimum of 3 jobs (making sure all the range of work is met) that you work on from start to finish ie planning to 1st and 2nd fix then testing and commisioning (showing or telling someone how something works), making sure you work safely throughout using access equipment, sweep up etc. follow procedures (fire drill, accident book,risk assessment etc) and fault find along the way, tere will always be a chippy putting a screw into a cable and the odd "incomplete ring". Back this up with your underpinning Knowledge and some proof (photos, plans, instructions, certificates and witness statements) and Bob's your uncle!!

Oh and if you are classed as a new Entrant you'll need the AM2 as counts as the PPA (pratical performance assessment), but this will count as one occasion of the 2 Health and Safety Units, Testing and Fault Finding

Clear as Mud

Anyway if i can help i will

Best of Luck

johny99

I was talking to one of the guys on site today about how he did the NVQ and he mentioned Quickstep and he said they provided a guide on how to complete the NVQ, he also completed the whole thing in 4 months!! hard to believe I know but hes a good lad. So I am inclined to beleive it can be done.

Cheers Johny

sparky1983

Thanks a lot for the great info Andy M. Thanks Johny99 aswell.

To Andy M, when you say "two types of work from domestic, commercial, agricultural, industrial" and "working near machines", could you explain a little more please. I don't see myself doing any electrical work in agricultural or industrial (machinery?) sites. I'm in a tiny company that does a lot of varied work and subs to a large Construction firm, but we don't tend to work on large sites, with loads of other tradesmen around.

Also, when you say a "minimum of 3 jobs (making sure all the range of work is met)", does that mean it's actually possible to meet all the range of work in three jobs?

Lastly, markysparky said earlier in this thread,

"You need to show evidence of any 3 differnt wiring enclosures from PVC conduit & truning, Steel conduit and trunking, basket or cable tray."

I've seen us use plenty of 20mm steel conduit and MT2, MT4 PVC trunking. I've also seen us using parts of oval trunking sunk into walls. I can't see us using any steel trunking, basket or cable tray. Who knows though, there might be a big job around the corner. But if there wasn't?

For example, today I was working on installing communal lighting on this estate. We were using DesignPlan 28W fluorescent lights, 20mm conduit and FP200 Gold 1.5mm (2 Core & CPC).

I haven't done any real testing or fault finding as of yet, on the job, or even in college and I've completed my first year. I think we'll going into it this upcoming college year. I suppose if I could all this with ethe above installation this could count as one of the 3 jobs for my NVQ?

Thanks again for all your help. I will look into Quickstep.