Blue Flame CPS

[mackatoon]

Hi Guys

My 1st ever post so please take it easy on me.

Does anyone have any experience around Blue Flame and there CPS? They seem to be the cheapest at the moment and as I'm new to the game and it will be the 1st time ill be going through the CPS process any advice would be great.

Cheers

Andy

 

[Pete999]

Hi Guys

My 1st ever post so please take it easy on me.

Does anyone have any experience around Blue Flame and there CPS? They seem to be the cheapest at the moment and as I'm new to the game and it will be the 1st time ill be going through the CPS process any advice would be great.

Cheers

Andy

Have you a link for them? what benefits are they offering? and lastly the cost?

 

[Dustydazzler]

‘Blue Flame’ sounds more like a gassafe name ?

 

[Pete999]

‘Blue Flame’ sounds more like a gassafe name ?

To the money grabbers Gas, Lectric all the same, leech the professionals as much as you can, got no time for these leeches worse than the plague or Covid

 

[Timbo]

Draw your own conclusions.

Blue Flame

Blue Flame

www.blueflamecertification.com

 

[davesparks]

I've never heard of them before now, but they are listed on the .Gov website as a CPS

So they will tick the box for part P, but wony have the wide recognition of a certain other scheme

 

[Pete999]

Draw your own conclusions.

Blue Flame

Blue Flame

www.blueflamecertification.com

Thanks Mate as I thought just someone else jumping on the band wagon.

 

[Timbo]

Thanks Mate as I thought just someone else jumping on the band wagon.

If you can't beat them, join them ?

 

[Paul L]

I'm all for someone trying to shake up the establishment to be honest. I don't like Part P schemes one little bit because as a qualified electrician with many years experience but not in a scheme it severely restricts what I can do without jumping through hoops, but the rules are the rules.
I think I'm right in saying that Elecsa and Nic EIC are pretty much the same thing now as are Napit and Stroma so it seems to me that monopolies are being created with all that that means.
Blue flame are compliant, cheaper and different so good luck to them although,as others have said, it's sometimes difficult for customers to see past all the big companies because most of them think the Nic EIC are the electrical industry!

 

[Cbuk2k2]

I know Blue Flame as an awarding body for gas qualifications, I guess they are just jumping on the band wagon.

Good to see more more competition in this sector if you ask me, they're basically a tax on trades in my opinion. More competion means lower prices for us in the long run.

 

[davesparks]

Thanks Mate as I thought just someone else jumping on the band wagon.

Alternatively it is a new competitor for the big schemes and competition is a good thing.

 

[cloverman]

No harm in some competition, But as said by others, Probably be very hard for them to break the existing mould of NICEIC, if you are just a one man band and wanting to cut costs then you are still working within the legal framework of Part P notifying your work etc.,

 

[JBW175]

I see it as a good thing and as has been said above, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of competition for the 2 that seem to hold the monopoly on it all.

I know we all bang on about the NIC being the most recognised brand, but I don’t think your average Joe is aware of the different schemes out there, or bothered that you’re a member of one, or have a clue about notification to LABC. Not once have I been asked if I’m a member of a scheme by a customer, all they want is the job doing and most are surprised when you issue them with a certificate at the end of it. I’ve been asked if I’m qualified on a couple of occasions & if I’ve got insurance, but that’s about it.

I should probably say that I’m not with the NIC, I’m with the other one and the majority of my work is domestic.

Have others found this to be the case? Or lost out on work because your not a member of a certain scheme?

 

[Lister1987]

Until we as electricians, and let's face it; thier source of income, take a stand against NICEIC (and others with a seeming monopoly on our industry) then we'll keep having to jump through hoops, cowtow to the whims of our overlords and generally have others errode our industry.

 

[7029 dave]

Until we as electricians, and let's face it; thier source of income, take a stand against NICEIC (and others with a seeming monopoly on our industry) then we'll keep having to jump through hoops, cowtow to the whims of our overlords and generally have others errode our industry.

I remember the good old days when it wasn't like it is now, its just too heavily regulated, all these cash cows just want a big slice of the cake, it has not made the industry any safer than it was 40years ago.

 

[Dustydazzler]

The Scams were never about safety or raising standards, they were a quick way to extract money from hard working trades...

 

[Midwest]

How much is the fee, for one person? Might enrol, so I can notify my garage conversion. Might be cheaper than paying for an EICR.

 

[Dustydazzler]

How much is the fee, for one person? Might enrol, so I can notify my garage conversion. Might be cheaper than paying for an EICR.

‘cheapest’ option is to do nothing and buy a Cheap indemnity against the ‘missing’ certificate when you eventually sell the house. Should cost you no more than 40 quid

 

[Midwest]

‘cheapest’ option is to do nothing and buy a Cheap indemnity against the ‘missing’ certificate when you eventually sell the house. Should cost you no more than 40 quid

Indemnity insurance isn't worth the money. Only cover you from legal action from your LBC, and there's a time limit on when they can take enforcement action. Waste of money.

I more worried about my shoddy workmanship, burning down my house, and my insurance company not paying up, because I haven't followed due process.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Indemnity insurance isn't worth the money. Only cover you from legal action from your LBC, and there's a time limit on when they can take enforcement action. Waste of money.

I more worried about my shoddy workmanship, burning down my house, and my insurance company not paying up, because I haven't followed due process.

why would you do ‘shoddy’ work on your own garage ?

 

[Midwest]

why would you do ‘shoddy’ work on your own garage ?

I would not, but Insurance companies, will use any excuse to wriggle out of a legitimate claim. Not following Building Regs, would be one of them.

 

[7029 dave]

Indemnity insurance isn't worth the money. Only cover you from legal action from your LBC, and there's a time limit on when they can take enforcement action. Waste of money.

I more worried about my shoddy workmanship, burning down my house, and my insurance company not paying up, because I haven't followed due process.

That was my point in my post, just because you have retired and not trading anymore, why should you not be able to work on your own property, just because your not in a scam anymore, the notification to LAB is a nonsense at a fee to them.
Well I know what I would do!!

 

[Dustydazzler]

I would not, but Insurance companies, will use any excuse to wriggle out of a legitimate claim. Not following Building Regs, would be one of them.

which is a valid point , what about if you installed the wiring but none of it was notifiable (no new circuits) but you aren’t part of a scam.
would this be viewed by insurance companies as a legitimate reason to squirm out of paying out I wonder...
or would being in a scam / having a scam cert give enough weight to get the insurance paid.
should it make any difference scam or no scam ?

 

[Pretty Mouth]

I am currently in the process of getting accredited with blue flame. It will be the first time I've joined a scheme, so I cannot compare it with any of the others. I chose them mainly as they were the cheaper option, but also because I thought it would be interesting to try someone different to the main two. Searching their website for electrical installers shows very few members, probably no more than 20 in the whole country, so it appears they are currently a very small outfit, at least on the electrical side of their business.

They seem okay so far, have answered my calls and emails quickly. No site visit ATM due to coronavirus, so I believe everything will be done by email. 1st year is £354 inc VAT.

So far I have sent my qualifications, proof of insurance, regs books, test equipment, complaints policy etc. My test gear comes back from calibration tomorrow so I can get that to them too. Then all I need is a notifiable job to show them. This will stall me a bit as I don't do a lot of notifiable work, but I'll update when I do.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I am currently in the process of getting accredited with blue flame. It will be the first time I've joined a scheme, so I cannot compare it with any of the others. I chose them mainly as they were the cheaper option, but also because I thought it would be interesting to try someone different to the main two. Searching their website for electrical installers shows very few members, probably no more than 20 in the whole country, so it appears they are currently a very small outfit, at least on the electrical side of their business.

They seem okay so far, have answered my calls and emails quickly. No site visit ATM due to coronavirus, so I believe everything will be done by email. 1st year is £354 inc VAT.

So far I have sent my qualifications, proof of insurance, regs books, test equipment, complaints policy etc. My test gear comes back from calibration tomorrow so I can get that to them too. Then all I need is a notifiable job to show them. This will stall me a bit as I don't do a lot of notifiable work, but I'll update when I do.

I have heard scams are now offering a site ‘visit’ via face time / video call...

 

[Pretty Mouth]

I have heard scams are now offering a site ‘visit’ via face time / video call...

I hope not. I've got a granny phone, and my laptop is a heap of spite, not sure it'll manage

 

[Risteard]

I have heard scams are now offering a site ‘visit’ via face time / video call...

Not correct. The office audit can be done remotely (videoconferencing) - along with discussion of works along with a review of the certification (and reports) but site visits, where required, take place in person. This delayed some new registrants from becoming accredited as the visits were suspended for a number of months. Obviously they couldn't be registered without site visits.

 

[Ian1981]

I hope not. I've got a granny phone, and my laptop is a heap of spite, not sure it'll manage

The office audit was done via FaceTime, we have a site visit in 2 weeks in which I need to meet the assessor on site, observing social distancing as stipulated in an email the assessor sent.