When welcoming an Electrician into your home or business, it’s important to make sure that they are fully qualified. Below is a quick guide to help you verify them.
WHAT ACCREDITATIONS CAN AN ELECTRICIAN HAVE?
There are several government-approved schemes that electricians can register with, helping customers to ensure that they are adequately qualified and that they follow all necessary safety procedures.
Hiring a registered electrician means that they are regulated by the government, their work is regularly assessed, they work to the BS7671 safety standard, and they are insured.
Various accreditations and membership schemes for electricians in the UK include:
○ NICEIC
○ NAPIT
○ ECA
HOW DO I CHECK IF AN ELECTRICIAN IS ACCREDITED?
If an electrician claims to be registered with a certain body, you can check this on the registration body’s website, or contact the registration scheme by telephone if you are struggling to find confirmation.
For example, you can search the NAPIT database to check whether an electrician is a registered contractor. If a person or company falsely claims to be registered, you should report them to the relevant registration body.
CERTIFICATES AND ID
All qualified electricians hold an ECS Scheme card which will contain a photo plus their qualifications on the rear. In addition, you can visit the following website to verify this information: www.ecscard.org.uk/ecs-check-card-search
It is always advisable to check the ID and relevant paperwork of any electrician before allowing them onto your premises. A legitimate, qualified electrician will be more than happy for you to check their identification and wait for you to verify it if necessary. Never work with an electrician who refuses to show you these documents.
When an electrician carries out work for you, they should provide you with the relevant certificates for any installations. An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) or Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC) is a declaration that the new installation or alteration is safe at the time of issue. In many instances, this certificate is a legal requirement.
HOW QUALIFIED SHOULD YOUR ELECTRICIAN BE?
Depending on the complexity of the work, some jobs require a more highly qualified electrical contractor than others.
For example, a simple residential installation can be carried out by a domestic electrician without the Level 3 qualification required to be a registered electrician.
If you’d rather be safe than sorry, it’s not a bad idea to opt for an over-qualified electrician. While this might be more expensive, it could be a small price to pay for peace of mind. However, remember that highly qualified electricians might be more in demand and may turn down simpler jobs.
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Not all electricians have the same experience, so you should make sure that your chosen electrician has the right skills for the task at hand.
Commercial electrical work can often be extremely complex. These jobs may deal with large currents, dangerous locations or stricter regulatory practices and should only be handled by an electrician with commercial experience.
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