Hi people. I’ve got my first niceic inspection in a few weeks. Any advice on what to expect? What type of installations to show them? Any tips to get through it smoothly would be greatly welcomed.
Remember you are paying them for their services...
Don’t be nervous, turn the tables on the asessor and use it as an opportunity to assess them..
Ask him questions and see what his knowledge is like, ask him about new sections of the regs like SPDs,etc..
Talk about their notification set up, how reliable it is, server problems and whatnot..
You know your jobs and set up is all good, otherwise you wouldn’t be going for membership, relax and don’t waffle...
Yeah don’t be nervous. Nice pile of paperwork ready. Certs for the jobs you are going to. If office audit is good then it starts day of well.
Don’t -------- , if you are unsure if anything ask for their advice as they love demonstrating their knowledge. Are you going ac or di ?
I don’t really do much private work to be honest as up until now I haven’t really needed to and also i wanted to be able to self certify before I started doing pw. Obviously this is going to make the whole process a little more difficult. I was hoping to use my home as the job. Is this exceptable. I’ve done a full rewire and then an office extension, plus loft conversion. The contractor I’m sub contracting from currently told me he was able to get away with using his home as the example job but this was for domestic installer not approved
Also one thing I’ve been unable to find any concrete answers for is the distance of a distribution board to a gas meter. Mine are currently both in the same 900 square cupboard and almost touching. I’m aware of the 150mm distance hearsay that goes round but like I say, I don’t seem to be able to find any concrete evidence for this
Also one thing I’ve been unable to find any concrete answers for is the distance of a distribution board to a gas meter. Mine are currently both in the same 900 square cupboard and almost touching. I’m aware of the 150mm distance hearsay that goes round but like I say, I don’t seem to be able to find any concrete evidence for this
You can use your own premises as on eof the sample jobs.
If it is a domestic installer registration then one domestic job is required.
If it is an approved contractor registration then it needs to be 3 sample jobs demonstrating the full spectrum of work you carry out, not just domestic work.
I put the fuseboard next to the gas meter I didn’t really have much of an option unless I was going to put the fuseboard on show in my kitchen. I was thinking about building an enclosure around the gas meter using fire proof boarding? I was under the impression that as long as there was a non combustible barrier between them that was ok?
You can use your own premises as on eof the sample jobs.
If it is a domestic installer registration then one domestic job is required.
If it is an approved contractor registration then it needs to be 3 sample jobs demonstrating the full spectrum of work you carry out, not just domestic work.
I was told by the niceic that I could do one board change, one eicr and one partial or full re-wire. I did purposefully ask if one needed to be in an commercial or industrial environment and they told me domestic would be “ok”. I’ll wait to hear what the actual inspector says when they call me too book a date in.
You’ll be fine with all domestic. An EICR is good but really ensure your report is accurate as my inspector even had me working out csa and copper equivalent of a 6mm steel bolt. No need for commercial as some ACs never do anything but domestic. The engineers are pretty good guys and don’t mind if you have a few gaps in knowledge, as long as you’re safe and working to a good standard, and you know where to find what you don’t know you will be golden. Always get them talking about their work history as it fills the awkward spaces between jobs etc. Good luck
You’ll be fine with all domestic. An EICR is good but really ensure your report is accurate as my inspector even had me working out csa and copper equivalent of a 6mm steel bolt. No need for commercial as some ACs never do anything but domestic. The engineers are pretty good guys and don’t mind if you have a few gaps in knowledge, as long as you’re safe and working to a good standard, and you know where to find what you don’t know you will be golden. Always get them talking about their work history as it fills the awkward spaces between jobs etc. Good luck
Make sure your wifey or girl or boyfriend is ready first in bed.
And leave a apple on the table just in case to ram it down is throat in case you dont pass.lol.
Make sure your wifey or girl or boyfriend is ready first in bed.
And leave a apple on the table just in case to ram it down is throat in case you dont pass.lol.
Are the nic going to want to see an approved voltage tester and proving unit? Or can I get away with using my fluke t5-1000 and proving it on a known source when doing safe isolation, which I’m assuming you’ll have to show?
When I did my Elecsa assessments (domestic), I used a known source to do safe isolation. However, I did have a proving unit also. If you’re doing commercial/industrial, or new builds, there might be an occasion when you won’t have that known source, so why not get yourself a proving unit. You are responsible for your safety.
I have never used a proving unit.
Hang on, I think I did when I done my testing and inspection assessment..
The trouble I have with proving units is that I don’t trust them.
I have never used a proving unit.
Hang on, I think I did when I done my testing and inspection assessment..
The trouble I have with proving units is that I don’t trust them.
Are the nic going to want to see an approved voltage tester and proving unit? Or can I get away with using my fluke t5-1000 and proving it on a known source when doing safe isolation, which I’m assuming you’ll have to show?
What I have done for the last 27 years is test the supply before isolating and then test it again after isolating it.. Then test the primary side again..
I have never been in a situation where I need a proving unit. I personally wouldn’t put my life or any one else’s in the hands of a proving unit..
What I have done for the last 27 years is test the supply before isolating and then test it again after isolating it.. Then test the primary side again..
I have never been in a situation where I need a proving unit. I personally wouldn’t put my life or any one else’s in the hands of a proving unit..
There must be occasions however, when you test your supply before isolating and a tester indicates the supply is dead. How do you prove the voltage tester is not faulty, without access to a know live supply?
To be honest I’ve always tested on a known live supply. I can’t think of any situation I’ve been in where there’s not a known live supply somewhere in the near vicinity. Personally I have more than one voltage indicator/testing device on me at any one time so if there’s any doubt i can always test with another to verify
There must be occasions however, when you test your supply before isolating and a tester indicates the supply is dead. How do you prove the voltage tester is not faulty, without access to a know live supply?
In my opinion this scenario could continue forever. 15 testers/proving units/voltage indicators down the line there is still no way of truely proving that all the instruments are in perfect working order
I personally do not own a proving unit , I carry 2 volt pens and a multi meter / martindale , so 3 fail safes and I have proved dead this way for over 20 years now.
If all 3 fail me then so be it....
However if the Scams insist on a proving unit for the site visit then I would buy a cheap one for assessment day to 'tick the box'
I personally do not own a proving unit , I carry 2 volt pens and a multi meter / martindale , so 3 fail safes and I have proved dead this way for over 20 years now.
If all 3 fail me then so be it....
However if the Scams insist on a proving unit for the site visit then I would buy a cheap one for assessment day to 'tick the box'
In my opinion this scenario could continue forever. 15 testers/proving units/voltage indicators down the line there is still no way of truely proving that all the instruments are in perfect working order
I’m all for the standard approach to safe isolation, by proving on a known source. My point is, that if you place your tester on your known source, and your tester does not light up, what do yo do then?
I’m all for the standard approach to safe isolation, by proving on a known source. My point is, that if you place your tester on your known source, and your tester does not light up, what do yo do then?
Let’s face it there are times when you don’t really have a choice but to work live. If you can stay safe in this scenario then worrying about 100% sure safe isolation becomes a little obsolete
Even after I have safely isolated a circuit I will still give the end I’m working on a going over with a volt stick or the old quick touch technique lol just to be sure
Let’s face it there are times when you don’t really have a choice but to work live. If you can stay safe in this scenario then worrying about 100% sure safe isolation becomes a little obsolete
What times are those? If you are working live then you will be following a very detailed plan of the work written specifically for the task and will be using temporary insulation, fully insulated tools etc and wearing suitable fire resistant clothing, arc shields etc. None of this makes safe isolation a 'little bit obsolete'
Anyway, I thought you said earlier you only do domestic? There's never a need to work live in domestic work!
Working live is only really going to be considered when paying out the compensation for killing someone is cheaper than the loss of profit from shutting down production.
What times are those? If you are working live then you will be following a very detailed plan of the work written specifically for the task and will be using temporary insulation, fully insulated tools etc and wearing suitable fire resistant clothing, arc shields etc. None of this makes safe isolation a 'little bit obsolete'
Anyway, I thought you said earlier you only do domestic? There's never a need to work live in domestic work!
Working live is only really going to be considered when paying out the compensation for killing someone is cheaper than the loss of profit from shutting down production.
Firstly I didn’t say safe isolation would ever be obsolete, I said ensuring it’s 100% guaranteed safe (which isn’t achievable as someone previously stated) becomes obsolete.
If your working on an apartment in an occupied block of flats, are you going to shut the entire building down purely to work on that one flat? I’ve been in this situation and even after knocking on each apartment to ask if shutting down the power is ok, there is still atleast 1 or 2 that you can’t get into. I always use fully insulated tools and would use temporary insulation but I can honestly say I have never found the need to wear fire proof clothing and use arc shields when working in a domestic or commercial environment.
And also I never said I only do domestic. I said I very rarely do private work as I am not currently able to self certify and personally don’t feel like I should be out there doing my own work unless I can fully test and self certify it afterwards.
Firstly I didn’t say safe isolation would ever be obsolete, I said ensuring it’s 100% guaranteed safe (which isn’t achievable as someone previously stated) becomes obsolete.
If your working on an apartment in an occupied block of flats, are you going to shut the entire building down purely to work on that one flat? I’ve been in this situation and even after knocking on each apartment to ask if shutting down the power is ok, there is still atleast 1 or 2 that you can’t get into. I always use fully insulated tools and would use temporary insulation but I can honestly say I have never found the need to wear fire proof clothing and use arc shields when working in a domestic or commercial environment.
No, but I woukd arrange to isolate the feed to that particular flat if necessary. There will be a means of isolation for the supply to each flat. If work is required to the live side of that means of isolation then you have to contact the BNO to arrange the necessary permissions etc.
I always use fully insulated tools and would use temporary insulation but I can honestly say I have never found the need to wear fire proof clothing and use arc shields when working in a domestic or commercial environment.
Do you not find that it gets expensive using fully insulated tools all of the time, they must get damaged pretty easily in everyday use? We're not talking about your usual 1000V VDE tools which still have a lot of exposed metal but actual fully insulates/all plastic construction.
You aren't risk assessing the job very well if you haven't found the need for arc protection when working live, you don't exactly get a second chance once you've written off your eyes!
No, but I woukd arrange to isolate the feed to that particular flat if necessary. There will be a means of isolation for the supply to each flat. If work is required to the live side of that means of isolation then you have to contact the BNO to arrange the necessary permissions etc.
I was talking about the sub main feeding all the said apartments. On paper it’s fine stating exactly how things should be done but in reality it doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes the job has to be done and it can’t always be done 100% to the book. I think anyone who says they’ve always 100% done things to the book is a liar, in my opinion.
I understand your point of view and I totally agree things should ALWAYS be done as safely as possible. All I’m saying is sometimes they cannot always be done 100% to the book and from what I’ve heard even the niceic understand this as fact.
I was talking about the sub main feeding all the said apartments. On paper it’s fine stating exactly how things should be done but in reality it doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes the job has to be done and it can’t always be done 100% to the book. I think anyone who says they’ve always 100% done things to the book is a liar, in my opinion.
They turned off the power to my local neighbourhood recently, to do some supply work. Sent round a nice little letter a few weeks before. Can't see its a problem. As davesparks said, you should have very good reasons to work live, otherwise you's be in trouble with HSE, should it all go wrong & you survive.
I've had my hands inside a live DB to do some very minor stuff before now, but no one would come to my aid (not literary) if it went wrong.
I wouldn't rely on one of those, with my health on the line. The only way to know that something is 'off', is when it was 'on' and then you've just turned it 'off'.
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