Unregistered Electrician gaoled

[333rocky333]

Reminds me of the time I once relamped an office in london with about 100 staff in.
I was told there job was just to scour the internet for pics.
Aparently someone like the new york post or something wants to run an article on say some one in romford this office then collect relevant pics, handle any copyright issues, etc then sell them on to the person requesting them.
At the time all the Rolf harris and Jimmy saville thing was really kicking off and the place was frantic with calls coming from worldwide

 

[PBC_1966]

In which part of the UK is Blessington situated?

The bit which ceased to be part of the U.K. in 1922.

Oh and the referance to PBC-1966 was bloke in the picture fitting whats possibly an american socket

Nothing like it. And we don't "do" that crazy brown, blue. green/yellow nonsense here.

 

[ericmark]

So should this post be moved to "Electrics outside of the UK"? It seems the Irish have similar laws to us which raises the question was Part P required by Europe? I thought Ireland used same sockets as us, clearly from pictures they use German sockets? As far as I am aware we don't have a Commission for Energy Regulation it is up the the local council here and one wonders if they have the expertise required to know when work is sub standard? In the main it seems in this country it is only the claiming to be a scheme member when your not a scheme member which gets one into the courts or if the work was so bad it has killed some one.

 

[EFLImpudence]

So should this post be moved to "Electrics outside of the UK"?

Yes.

Perhaps then we can highlight similar barbaric practices in other countries around the world.

"Saudi electrician sentenced to a thousand lashes for being gay and poor standard of work."

Assuming the reporting is accurate:
"Judge Desmond Zaidan imposed the sentence on the unregistered electrician because of the severity of the case and the poor standard of the work."

 

[JohnW2]

So should this post be moved to "Electrics outside of the UK"?

I would say not, since it fits quite nicely with the recent discussions here about whether it would be desirable that in the UK (as in many other countries, including Ireland), there was a statutory requirement for those undertaking paid electrical work (or, at least, some types thereof) to be 'registered'/'licensed'.

As far as I am aware we don't have a Commission for Energy Regulation it is up the the local council here and one wonders if they have the expertise required to know when work is sub standard?

Not only don't we have such a body but, as above, in the UK there is no statutory requirement for people undertaking paid electrical work to be 'registered with' (or 'licensed by') any body.

As I've written, the recent prosecutions and convictions in Ireland were seemingly not anything to do with sub-standard work, per se, (although that's seemingly what brought to culprit to the attention of authorities). He was sentenced to 3 months for undertaking certain paid electrical work without having the registration which was statutorily-required for those undertaking such work, and to a further 3 months for untruthfully claiming to be so registered.

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

Assuming the reporting is accurate: "Judge Desmond Zaidan imposed the sentence on the unregistered electrician because of the severity of the case and the poor standard of the work."

That might well be what was in the judge's mind (and he might even have said so in Court) but, as I've just written, the convictions for which he was sentencing had nothing, per se, to do with "poor standard of work". I wonder if he was allowed to take such 'extraneous factors' into account in his sentencing or whether this might represent grounds for appeal (against the sentence, since guilt seems pretty clear-cut)??

Kind Regards, John

 

[Risteard]

So should this post be moved to "Electrics outside of the UK"? It seems the Irish have similar laws to us which raises the question was Part P required by Europe? I thought Ireland used same sockets as us, clearly from pictures they use German sockets? As far as I am aware we don't have a Commission for Energy Regulation it is up the the local council here and one wonders if they have the expertise required to know when work is sub standard? In the main it seems in this country it is only the claiming to be a scheme member when your not a scheme member which gets one into the courts or if the work was so bad it has killed some one.

The law in the south of Ireland is not particularly similar to the law (as I understand it) in England and Wales. Restricted Electrical Works (which includes all electrical work in a domestic premises other than Minor Works) does not permit anyone other than a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) to carry out the work. There is no scope for regularisation of work by an unregistered person/company (which is a criminal offence).

As for the Shuko sockets that is a stock photo used by the Irish Examiner. The south of Ireland uses sockets which are identical to BS 1363 socket outlets (although they are actually technically designated under an Irish Standard I.S. 401)

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is a government watchdog which oversees energy regulation. The Electrical Safety Supervisory Body (SSB) is RECI - the Register of Electrical Contractors of Ireland.

 

[Risteard]

in the UK there is no statutory requirement for people undertaking paid electrical work to be 'registered with' (or 'licensed by') any body.

In the south of Ireland under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 there is no exemption for unpaid work.

Restricted Electrical Works (paid or unpaid, or in your own home) can only legally be carried out by an REC (Registered Electrical Contractor - i.e. RECI member).

Controlled Electrical Works on the other hand are self-certified by an REC but a RECI Inspector can certify (for a fee) for a non-REC.

 

[PBC_1966]

Restricted Electrical Works (which includes all electrical work in a domestic premises other than Minor Works) does not permit anyone other than a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) to carry out the work.

What sort of things are included within the definition of minor works?

I thought Ireland used same sockets as us, clearly from pictures they use German sockets?

I believe that significant numbers of Schuko sockets were found in some installations through to about the 1960's.

 

[Risteard]

What sort of things are included within the definition of minor works?

http://safeelectric.ie/minorWorks.pdf

 

[JohnW2]

in the UK there is no statutory requirement for people undertaking paid electrical work to be 'registered with' (or 'licensed by') any body. Restricted Electrical Works (paid or unpaid, or in your own home) can only legally be carried out by an REC (Registered Electrical Contractor - i.e. RECI member).

In the south of Ireland under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 there is no exemption for unpaid work.

Fair enough, so you could, if you so wish, extend my comment about what the law does not say in the UK to be even wider.

However, what I was saying/implying in relation to the UK is probably, in practice, more realistic. Whilst it could be argued to be desirable, to attempt to regulate what people do 'not for payment', particularly for themselves in their own home, is all-but 'unpoliceable' (in much the same way as is the case with the laws/regulations relating to notifiable work in the UK) - and that is presumably as true in Ireland as it is anywhere else. I would imagine that the only way it could work (is this how they do it in Australia?) would be to severely restrict (to 'registered people') the availability of materials used for electrical work.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Risteard]

the only way it could work (is this how they do it in Australia?) would be to severely restrict (to 'registered people') the availability of materials used for electrical work.

I am pretty familiar with Australia, and as I understand it you probably would have difficulty obtaining materials if unlicensed.

 

[JohnW2]

the only way it could work (is this how they do it in Australia?) would be to severely restrict (to 'registered people') the availability of materials used for electrical work.

I am pretty familiar with Australia, and as I understand it you probably would have difficulty obtaining materials if unlicensed.

As I implied, that is what I assumed would be the case.

Is the same true in Ireland?

Kind Regards, John

 

[Risteard]

Is the same true in Ireland?

Not generally in the south. Although many (though not all) wholesalers etc. might want to confirm that you are an Electrician before selling goods to you, online orders from the UK or physical purchases in the north would negate the effects of this. So it is probably a matter of this individual being reported to the CER by a person or persons unknown.

 

[JohnW2]

Is the same true in Ireland?

Not generally in the south. Although many (though not all) wholesalers etc. might want to confirm that you are an Electrician before selling goods to you, online orders from the UK or physical purchases in the north would negate the effects of this. So it is probably a matter of this individual being reported to the CER by a person or persons unknown.

If one doesn't have tight control of the availability of materials (and 'regulating' the imports would be particularly difficult), I doubt that, in practice, there is much hope of controlling what people other than registered electricians are getting up to. Yes, the occasional person might get 'caught', but that would only be a tiny tip of an iceberg.

Kind Regards, John