Office visit outcome!

[NozSpark]

Just thought I'd post an update following my NICEIC AC office visit this evening...

To get some things straight I asked my assessor a couple of questions, and here are his opinions....

Test equipment does not have to be calibrated annually! So long as you have a procedure in place to check your meters accuracy and record those readings then that's OK

RCDs should be tested at a socket outlet and not at the CU!.... Safe isolation and all

Only test Zs on socket circuits,,, Zs=Ze+(R1+R2) for others.... But I also told him that I do the calc for all RCD protected circuits as low current Loop testing is next to useless

TBH we discussed quite a lot, but thats all I can remember for now...

Oh..

Just remembered!

He also says that I should buy some lighting adaptors, that a B16 doesn't discriminate with a B16, that an LD3 fire alarm isn't an LD2 and that distribution circuits and other circuits over 32A have a 5 second disconnection time

Apart from that little lot all went well,, just go to get the site visits out of the way now!

 

[steptoe]

one part down anyway at least Noz, :Applaud

 

[NozSpark]

5 seconds - What other disconnection time is there ?

3 weeks on Tuesday mate ROTFWL

 

[Evans Electric]

5 seconds - What other disconnection time is there ?

1/2 hour on some of Specs's jobs M8 .

 

[kme]

0.2 on TT, if MY AE is anything to go by.......

 

[ian932]

Test equipment does not have to be calibrated annually! So long as you have a procedure in place to check your meters accuracy and record those readings then that's OK

My AC office visit said the opposite, he wants annual calibration, I tried to argue with him but could not find the bit of paper I had off the NICEIC that said 3 years is ok if you have a regular recorded checking procedure, he also did not like the calcard. Not to worry though he retires before I do my onsite part so no doubt I'll get a different set of opinions on all things electrical. headbang

 

[NozSpark]

Apparently its in the ESC Best Practice guide 7 somewhere

 

[ian932]

Apparently its in the ESC Best Practice guide 7 somewhere

Could not find it in the ESC guide, I'm sure it was in something the NIC sent me about 3 years ago but can't find it

 

[NozSpark]

:OAt the end of the visit he told me that it's usually 5 weeks before the site visit

Got a text message this morning asking if I wanted next Friday:O:O

So,, hopefully I'm now booked in

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Is this your first AC visit ? We have the office & site visit all in one long day.

 

[NozSpark]

Yes, first AC visit..

Transferring from DI to AC mate

Spent 3 hours here the other evening and will have another 1/2 day site visit.. He says he wants to see 3 jobs, so I'm going to arrange 5, just to have a couple of backups..

 

[ADS]

RCDs should be tested at a socket outlet and not at the CU!.... Safe isolation and all

That's all very well as long as there is a socket outlet on the circuit - what if you've got a board full of RCBOs?

Only test Zs on socket circuits,,, Zs=Ze+(R1+R2) for others.... But I also told him that I do the calc for all RCD protected circuits as low current Loop testing is next to useless

That's all very well as long as you've measured R1+R2 - if you've done the R2 Wander Lead you've had it......again!

And what about measuring Ze for that little calculation - that's a 'live' test - or does he want you to use the enquiry figure?

Then you'll have no confirmation of 'earthing' at all.

My Blue.

The good old NICEIC again -

Why don't we just do the dead tests and get rid of the 'live' testing all together.

They are a joke!! headbang

 

[NozSpark]

Well,, just a quick follow up.

I had my site visits today and all went well,, he only picked me up on two things,,,,

1. Schedule of circuits was not to standard,,, (BG board and I used their circuit schedule sticker... Not enough info on it)

2. On a job not yet complete he picked up that I should perhaps have clipped the tails to the wall (CU is in a hallway meter cupboard and has no chance of being knocked)

Also we found on my first job that the owner had changed some light fittings and made a chock joint outside of the light fitting enclosure and that the conservatory installer must have run their addition to my installation by a questionable route (not yet energised)

On my third job we found that a plumber had been there today to reposition the toilet and replace (& reposition) the stop tap and he'd disconnected (and left hanging) the water bond

So I just have to wait a couple of weeks now for the paperwork to come through!!

 

[Manator]

Has he given you a satisfactory visit outcome? The remedials to be honest are hardly your fault but should be rectified, and can easily be done.

Well done.

 

[NozSpark]

Oh yes,, he has recommended me for enrolment..

TBH he wasn't really concerned about items 1 & 2 and the other things were nothing to do with me... I did however refit the water bond while he was there.... and made an arrangement to discuss remedials at the other,,, I think I will also discuss with them about the "other guys" work

My plumber is going to get a rollicking when I next see him

 

[M107]

Well done Noz

 

[Sidewinder]

Good on you bud!

 

[tom1]

well done mate:Salute

 

[steptoe]

Congrats Noz,

well done buddy.

 

[NozSpark]

UPDATE.... Again ; )

I kicked off big time on them today as I still hadn't received any thing from them after 5 weeks from my site visit

Anyway, there and then they emailed me my provisional acceptance letter,,, won't be accepted until I've paid the enrolement fee ..... Hopefully they'll allow me to carry on with my payment plan as I can't afford