Here we answer some of the more common questions that our customers ask. Click on a question to reveal the answer...
There are many reasons as to why. The first would be safety, from actually working on the electrical installation in your house or place of work to making sure the protective devices operate, as they should in the event of a fault during normal use.
The second would be the peace of mind that only comes from people who understand their chosen profession. You would not have your haircut by someone who bought a comb and a pair of scissors and watched a couple of hair dressing videos online. So why do the same with any electrical work you require?
Other good reasons include:
- They're regulated by the UK Government
- They work to the BS7671 safety standard
- Their work is regularly assessed
- They're insured, so you're protected
- It's a legal requirement for certain electrical work
Personal recommendation is a good start, ask friends and family if they know any qualified electricians. The next essential check is to see if they are a member of an Electrical Governing Body, such as NIC EIC or ELECSA. This can be done on the Electrical Safety First website or by visiting each Governing Bodies own website. If they are not registered then do not use them, please see the previous question.
Try to get two or three written quotes from other electricians. If in doubt, you can call the helpdesk of any of the Electrical Governing Bodies to ask advice. Never pay any money up front and make sure all the work you require is covered by the quote. However, do not be surprised if the work required is more than you expected. Regulations change over time and when having new work done, some parts of the electrical installation may have to be altered to comply with the new requirements.
Please bear in mind that all of the services offered by an app or website to find you a tradesperson, comes at a price!
Without exception, all of these services will charge the tradesperson to advertise or be a member of that particular website. Depending on which site you use, this can be up to £36 just to be shortlisted for a job, to an annual fee of £500.00, to 20% for labour and materials +VAT. These costs are normally reflected in the price you pay.
By using the Electrical Safety First website or by searching directly on an Electrical Governing Body website like NIC EIC, you are able to find a qualified electrician that has already gone through to a strict assessment process to prove they have the necessary qualifications and practical experience, as well as Public Liability insurance. There are other requirements that they must meet, which are set out under each Governing bodies assessment criteria. The NIC EIC's Approved Contractor Scheme requirements are available here.
Building Regulations is divided into 16 Parts. These Parts are approved documents that deal with the specific technical aspects of the regulations. Part P is the approved document that deals with Electrical Safety.
The Competent Person Scheme is a Government scheme where by registered electricians can self-certify the work they do and notify the relevant Building Control. All of the electricians that are registered have been assessed that they comply with Part P of the Building Regulations. This is a requirement for work on domestic premises and notification to Building Control is required for certain jobs around the home.
Building Control notification should not be confused with Electrical Certification, for example an Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Works Certificate. These should be completed and given to the person requesting the work regardless of whether Building control need to be notified. Certification is required for almost all electrical work, in both domestic and commercial environments. It is important, as it provides the client with the evidence that the work has been completed in accordance to the current regulations.
As the saying goes “you get what you pay for”, which is true of any professional service.
A fully qualified and registered electrician has spent years training and continuously updating their skills. They have spent thousands of pounds on specialist equipment and tools, pay an annual membership fee to a Governing body, and are required to have Public Liability insurance. They normally have the expense of running a van, advertising, and all the other costs associated with running a business.
Now consider an enthusiastic amateur, armed with a set of screwdrivers and YouTube videos! It is not hard to see why the qualified, registered electrician may cost more.
This is a common request, as the client rightly believes that a modern consumer unit will give a higher level of safety and ease of use compared to an old fuse box with plug in fuses and replacement fuse wire. There are some things to bear in mind before going ahead with a replacement.
If the fuse box is old, then chances are the wiring, sockets and switches are too. Everything deteriorates over time. Some wiring and equipment may fail the tests that an electrician will conduct, and will need replacing. Wiring Regulations change and an electrical installation that met the 13th Edition of the Wiring Regulations will not meet the current 18th Edition. The Earthing conductor and Main bonding conductors may not be installed or require upgrading. A modern consumer unit is more sensitive, and may therefore detect faults that the old fuse box did not. These faults will need to be corrected, which can add to the time taken and an increase in the costs involved.
Guidance note 1, from Electrical Safety First (available here), recommends that an assessment is made of the existing installation to ascertain exactly what work is required, this can involve tests to ensure the existing wiring is suitable for continued service.
As you can appreciate, there is a lot to consider, as each electrical installation is different. It is impossible to give a quote over the phone to replace a consumer unit, given all the variables involved. Clients should be mindful of this and should be not engage the services of an electrician who does need to visit before providing a quote, especially if the price seems too good to be true!
Contact us now for a no obligation quote.
