Laurier says "Surely, this lets the cowboys in ".
I do have to say that in my view its the householder who lets the cowboy in!
A professional has to spend about £2000 on the relevant courses and buying the required test equipment. In addition he has to subscribe to a certification and notification scheme provider at about £600 p.a.
Obviously a cowboy will agree to do a job much cheaper when he does not have these overheads! BUT the householder does not have to agree to use the cowboy! All professionals will say that the householder MUST not use cowboys.
Unfortunately the electrical industry has sprung these new requirements on people rather too quickly and less than 20% of electricians are fully qualified under the new requirements and even fewer are signed up with scheme providers.
This does NOT necessarily mean they are doing a bad job or not complying with the installation regulations, just that they cannot certify or notify it. Building Control have also had this sprung on them too quickly and they do not have the expertise either.
Requirements to Notify do not apply to all work but it does apply to ANY work in kitchens, bathrooms or outdoor circuits!
There is another can of worms and that is upgrading. There will be some fully qualified "cowboys" who will tell the old dears that they must spend thousands on upgrading to meet the new regulations.
For the next couple of years there will be considerable confusion!
Tony Glazier.
I do have to say that in my view its the householder who lets the cowboy in!
A professional has to spend about £2000 on the relevant courses and buying the required test equipment. In addition he has to subscribe to a certification and notification scheme provider at about £600 p.a.
Obviously a cowboy will agree to do a job much cheaper when he does not have these overheads! BUT the householder does not have to agree to use the cowboy! All professionals will say that the householder MUST not use cowboys.
Unfortunately the electrical industry has sprung these new requirements on people rather too quickly and less than 20% of electricians are fully qualified under the new requirements and even fewer are signed up with scheme providers.
This does NOT necessarily mean they are doing a bad job or not complying with the installation regulations, just that they cannot certify or notify it. Building Control have also had this sprung on them too quickly and they do not have the expertise either.
Requirements to Notify do not apply to all work but it does apply to ANY work in kitchens, bathrooms or outdoor circuits!
There is another can of worms and that is upgrading. There will be some fully qualified "cowboys" who will tell the old dears that they must spend thousands on upgrading to meet the new regulations.
For the next couple of years there will be considerable confusion!
Tony Glazier.