Price check please, NI sparks in particular.

[Phil Thompson]

see his view when I asked the question today was this

You're requested to replace a consumer unit. In an operational domestic property, to improve safety.

You're not getting paid to come in and do an eicr first.
You are there to do the board change and then provide an eicr to state the reason for producing report as "Due to CCU being updated to current standard."
List any limitations. Which there may be in an existing property, and code any issues. Do all your dead tests and live tests. And at the same time your visual inspection. Broken screw on a socket, cracked faceplate, insufficient csa of a services earth. Code them. Then if the client wishes to have the remedial work carried out then you do an MWC, but you should redo the report as well to show it clear for whatever purpose it has been requested. Generally insurance companies.

He stated numerous times throughout the course today, you can only recommend you can't enforce. If you believe something is seriously dangerous you can only try and implore the client & report it to the HSE if they ignore your advice.

Also an EICR is not as important as an EIC, and that an EIC is for new installations or new circuits, and that you are inferring that they meet all BS7671 current standards of installation and have been inspected at all steps of the installation. Which you can't guarantee in a consumer unit change as you're only seeing connections to the equipment in the installation.
Also you should have no limitations in a new install. Which there can be in an existing building.

There's zero places on an EIC to mention any limitations, which is 1 of the reasons his explanation made sense. Along with the fact you can't state installation method meets BS7671 if you couldn't inspect it along the way.

And without damaging the fabric of the installation or removing kitchen units or appliances which can be on many limitations you cannot prove they do.
You can only report on the condition of the installation based on test results on the day and a visual inspection and code any issues if there are any.

I'm lost now lol as his explanation did make sense if you can follow my poor description of what he said.

But basically he said as you are not altering any circuits in the installation it wasn't an EIC, and that effectively a CCU was equipment but as it was such a major piece of equipment was not suitable for a MWC, and therefore you do an EICR.

 

[Phil Thompson]

see his view when I asked the question today was this

You're requested to replace a consumer unit. In an operational domestic property, to improve safety.

You're not getting paid to come in and do an eicr first.
You do the board change and an eicr to state the reason for producing report as "Due to CCU being updated to current standard."
List any limitations. Which there may be in an existing property, and code any issues. Do all your dead tests and live tests. And at the same time your visual inspection. Broken screw on a socket, cracked faceplate, insufficient csa of a services earth. Code them. Then if the client wishes to have the remedial work carried out then you do an MWC, but you should redo the report as well to show it clear for whatever purpose it has been requested. Generally insurance companies.

He stated numerous times throughout the course today, you can only recommend you can't enforce. If you believe something is seriously dangerous you can only try and implore the client & report it to the HSE if they ignore your advice.

Also an EICR is not as important as an EIC, and that an EIC is for new installations or new circuits, and that you are inferring that they meet all BS7671 current standards of installation and have been inspected at all steps of the installation. Which you can't guarantee in a consumer unit change as you're only seeing connections to the equipment in the installation.
Also you should have no limitations in a new install. Which there can be in an existing building.

There's zero places on an EIC to mention any limitations, which is 1 of the reasons his explanation made sense. Along with the fact you can't state installation method meets BS7671 if you couldn't inspect it along the way.

And without damaging the fabric of the installation or removing kitchen units or appliances which can be on many limitations you cannot prove they do.
You can only report on the condition of the installation based on test results on the day and a visual inspection and code any issues if there are any.

I'm lost now lol as his explanation did make sense if you can follow my poor description of what he said.

 

[Phil Thompson]

Also his explanation was that the tick list and test results would certify the change of CCU.

 

[Phil Thompson]

But hey. I'm only getting into this as I'm now working on my own and want to do it right. Hence doing the initial verification course and now the periodic. So am open for any advice. Hence why I checked with the tutor today and will have him double check.

As I will be using the reasons given here to do so lol

 

[Risteard]

OK, didn't realise we were talking about the replacement of a DB. I thought you were referring to remedial works to an installation.

For the replacement of a DB you must issue an EIC. This certificate in no way relates to the existing installation (except for the comments on existing installation section). Your EIC solely relates to the replacement of the DB. You are verifying that ADS will operate for the circuits you are connecting (to ensure that your DB installation is safe) but you are not certifying the existing installation. You won't be verifying cables being installed in prescribed zones, etc. unless you have installed any cables. So this would be N/A. Your schedule of inspections is again only relating to your installation of the DB as confirmed by your extent of works section.

 

[Phil Thompson]

Thanks for that Risteard, I assume that's how niceic require it to be done?

Though I was thinking of doing stroma if I do join a CPS but will decide later in the year or during 2018 what way to go.

 

[123]

What would Stroma do for you in Northern Ireland? Napit used to be required for B&Q Kitchen's, but pretty sure that's NICEIC now. AFAIK Ikea also requires NICEIC.

NICEIC Approved Contractor is the main one, it'll allow you to undertake work for Councils and the Housing Executive.

There is ECA and JIB but this are for bigger firms than one man bands.

 

[Phil Thompson]

So are there actually any benefits from being in Niceic?

Is there actually any benefits for being in a cps in NI? Apart from being eligible to do that stuff mentioned above if in the niceic?

 

[123]

Any of the part p crowd like Stroma, Napit etc etc is of no use at all.

The only one I'd consider looking at is NICEIC Approved Contractor. I'm not with them, but in Northern Ireland for a one man band it's either them or none.
If no one is specifying it, and you're not losing any work from not being registered I wouldn't bother.

I lose about 2-3 small extensions a year and the odd entertainment licence (basically an EICR for a Pub)

 

[Phil Thompson]

So only need stroma if we end up getting part p then?

Are the extensions and entertainment licence jobs only accepting Niceic?

Is it the same on the mainland? Or do we just get ridden by the niceic monopoly?

Have you been asked to join this SparkSafe thing the ETT are trying to push?