Corgi and Screwfix

[steptoe]

IanBy all means protect the term 'electrician' like 'vet' 'doctor' or 'dentist'. I would be all for that. I can see it should be illegal do do any electrical work for anyone else, but you should be able to do whatever you want in your own home. FFS I have a chainsaw and a 12 bore shotgun - I can do a damn sight more damage with them than a CU!

I should be able to buy materials. If they were restricted to 'trade only' the cost of a CU to the punter (ie me) would double. You could charge what you liked. I think it's good for market forces! Competition is healthy.

(personally I have a socket tester, can measure IR/continuity, Ze, RCD tester picked up off ebay for a few quid - also CU changed 18 months ago with full test!)

paddy, most of what you say makes sense, cos you actually stop and state when you thoink you get out of your depth.

and I agree with you on being able to buy what you want and do what you want(within your own four walls)

but I think the point is double standards, but not only to us, why should plumbers get all the protection(trades that is, not including vets/doctors etc).

what about a wall falling on you and killing you, or the new plaster coving hitting you on the head and knocking you out, or the loft hatch falling down?

FFS guys, if the thick *******s want to wire the new shiny CU up in 2.5flex I dont care, at least the undertaker is keeping busy!!!!!!

my point is APACHE, how do you know any of your test gear is accurate, and would you know if a reading you got really made sense in relation to your other readings, and if not, why would it be different?

rant done!

 

[batty]

What worries me about people buying consumer units that are not electricians is what could go wrong. A friend of my wife brought a house a few years back they had trouble with the downstairs ring main tripping out. Anyway I went to look. Consumer unit was a wickes. Downstairs ring main was on a 16 amp mcb. Up and down lights where on 45 amp mcb's i think a fire would have been the result if ther had been a short circuit on these circuits. So I don't think unqualified people should be installing consumer units.

Batty

 

[Jono Pashley]

You are well out of date Jono - I have catalouge 97 in front of me. They mention that certian products that are 'gas safty critical have been marked with the Gas Safe Register Logo' (still page 9).Nowt to stop me buying them!

Think Oliver1234 makes an excellent point.

i have catalogue 97 right here i just noted that they had this in and then it vanished, obviously it didnt work out as well as they hoped as it was gone in the very next issue.

Issue i see with restricting things is, many people taking electrical courses knock themselves rigs up to practice testing if they dont get much or any on the job experience, also i think we would see a marked increase in prices for certain items.

ps when that catalogue was printed it was still Corgi Barx

 

[oliver1234]

Of course there are dodgy electrical installtions out there and there are people who pass themselves off as electricians but restricting the sale of equipment isn't the answer, education is the answer.

We have already had far too much of our freedom taken away by nanny state policing and I for one am glad that we still live in a country where I or anybody else can buy a CU or a gas boiler irrespective of our qualifications to fit it.

Equally I am still able to buy brake pads for my car and the tools to fit them should I so wish, even if I can't prove that I am competent to fit them.

No doubt if the country was suddenly innundated to with DIY related electrical deaths caused by dodgy installation work the government would be forced to legistlate but lets not restrict sales "just in case".

It is now almost impossible to legally own a hand gun in this country, this measure was put in place to prevent gun related crime. That worked didn't it?

 

[ianmacd]

It is now almost impossible to legally own a hand gun in this country, this measure was put in place to prevent gun related crime. That worked didn't it?

That was never going to work as legally owned guns were hardly ever involved in crime and if they were it was usually after they had been stolen anyway. All the time the demand is there for them they will be supplied. That is true of anything so maybe education is really the answer. Maybe all the little clubs should get together with the govt and buy some tv time to get the message across.

Ian.

 

[oliver1234]

That was never going to work as legally owned guns were hardly ever involved in crime and if they were it was usually after they had been stolen anyway. All the time the demand is there for them they will be supplied. That is true of anything so maybe education is really the answer. Maybe all the little clubs should get together with the govt and buy some tv time to get the message across. Ian.

I would be all in favour of that, I think the tide is turning, with Part P, Fensa, Corgi and various other competency schemes the public are becoming more aware of the issues involved I just don't think we should ban the sale of goods arbitarily because to do so is far too restrictive.

I must admit I am a little cynical about all of the above schemes and firmly believe that the government are more interested in preventing people (qualified or not) from working in the black economy than they are about safety.

 

[Andy™]

I must admit I am a little cynical about all of the above schemes and firmly believe that the government are more interested in preventing people (qualified or not) from working in the black economy than they are about safety.

so far hey are doing a wonderful job at making more people working 'black economy'! through not being registered!

previously, some people would have given EIC's etc for work. now, if there not reg'd, they wont want to give a cert for work, even if it is done correctly, because it could easily come back to them

 

[bucketoflard]

We should all have trade cards so the DIY ers can't buy anything be it Electrical or Gas fittings

 

[davetheglitz]

Inspections this week - caravan site (only 5 vans - all on PME + earth rod with no chassis bonding) certified by NICEIC company 12 months ago. Restaurant - no test labels - circuits not identified on CUs. No earth on one lighting circuits (only looked at one of 6 CU's so far!). Previous firm gave no test results - only a satisfactory test. NICEIC certified within last 2 years. They checked 48 circuits in one day and took no fittings apart.

How can we criticise cowboys when we can't even keep our own house in order!

 

[green-hornet]

Inspections this week - caravan site (only 5 vans - all on PME + earth rod with no chassis bonding) certified by NICEIC company 12 months ago. Restaurant - no test labels - circuits not identified on CUs. No earth on one lighting circuits (only looked at one of 6 CU's so far!). Previous firm gave no test results - only a satisfactory test. NICEIC certified within last 2 years. They checked 48 circuits in one day and took no fittings apart. How can we criticise cowboys when we can't even keep our own house in order!

Speak to the company and ask them for an explanation.

Take photo's and any records ie the test results and talk to the niceic and make a formal complaint about your findings. Give them any evidence you have found and state why you think this should be investigated.

The NICEIC take any complaint very seriously.

Any contractor found to be acting inproperly or not to the agreed standards as set out by the NICEIC could be removed from the approved contractors roll.

The third reason my work is of the highest standard is other scheme providers

could follow and report me for shoddy or bad work.

First reason is safety.

second reason is pride.

 

[spinlondon]

Don't know about GasSafe, but under the old Corgi rules.

The restriction was that people were not allowed to offer their services for remuneration.

A house holder was allowed to purchase and install his own gas appliances. A non-registered plumber was allowed to install gas appliances, as long as there was no payment.

In New Zealand, they have recently removed the restrictions that prevented members of the public from purchasing electrical fittings. This has reduced the number of electrically related deaths quite dramatically.

The main causes of the deaths appear to have been the inapropriate use of adapters and extension leads.

With the intoduction of Part P, we are in danger of having a similar situation here. If a housholder wants to run power out to his shed, he would have to notify, pay a fee and more than likely be informed by building control that he will have to pay to get the installation tested. Much easier and cheaper to plug in an extension lead.