PIR wanted

[Observer]

I want to commission a periodic inspection report on my house (South Bucks area). It's a reasonably substantial job - four bedroom detached house on three floors with four reception rooms + kitchen and garage.

I don't have a regular electrician who is NICEIC registered so have spoken to one found on a simple search. His quote (without visiting) is for not more than half a day, which is a bit less than I would have expected for what I understand is the scope of testing needed.

Any of you sparkies care to comment and anyone local enough to be interested in quoting for the job?

 

[Adam_151]

When comparing quotes for PIRs, ensure you also compare the limitations of the PIR (no PIR is ever 100%, this should be agreed with the client!), and on a similar note, the percentage of inspections (sometimes its dragged out to extremes!)

I'd expect about a day for a biggish house

 

[sparkyspike]

Has this Spark actually given you a quote, or is he doing it on an hourly rate? If it's a quote based on half a day then it sounds cheap - but check it's for a full test. If you're employing a spark on a hourly rate then unplug all of your portable appliances, washing machines etc to save paying him half a day just to do your insulation tests.

Why do you need an NICEIC certificate as opposed to any other?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Probably aprrox half day on site plus time to get the report together.

Its a report, not a certificate btw!

 

[Observer]

Has this Spark actually given you a quote, or is he doing it on an hourly rate? If it's a quote based on half a day then it sounds cheap - but check it's for a full test. If you're employing a spark on a hourly rate then unplug all of your portable appliances, washing machines etc to save paying him half a day just to do your insulation tests.

Why do you need an NICEIC certificate as opposed to any other?

Thanks for that tip. What constitutes a 'portable appliance'? Anything that is 'plugged in' as opposed to fixed wiring?

Ref NICEIC, I may be getting this wrong but I thought I need a report by a NICEIC approved person to satisfy the HIP requirements?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Go round your house and make a list of anything that is connected that cannot be unplugged. On the list state where the isolation switch is for each (there should be one!)

Things that add time to a PIR are forgotten items like TV amplifiers buried in the loft attached to lighting circuits, intruder alarms, PIR lights, etc etc.

 

[DESL]

Ref NICEIC, I may be getting this wrong but I thought I need a report by a NICEIC approved person to satisfy the HIP requirements?

Doesn't have to be NICEIC, there are several other schemes NAPIT, ECA, ELECSA, & BRE.

Who ever is insisting on NIC should be educated to the fact.

Also you should check that whoever does the PIR has professional indemnity insurance.

 

[GaryMo]

Doesn't have to be NICEIC, there are several other schemes NAPIT, ECA, ELECSA, & BRE.

Who ever is insisting on NIC should be educated to the fact.

Too right, the NIC will have a monopoly at this rate

 

[Taylortwocities]

I thought I need a report by a NICEIC approved person to satisfy the HIP requirements?

You dont need any report on the electrical installation by an independant person (NICEIC or not) for a HIP. The person preparing the HIP will give a cursory opinion on the state of the electrical istallation. they'll do teh same for other services and the building fabric . That's all, no detailed info.

They will then spend an inordinate amount of time scoring your house for energy efficiency