Electrical Industry Experts
British Standards Institution (BSI)
BSI produces British Standards including, amongst others, those for fire alarms (BS 5839), emergency lighting systems (BS 5266), and electrical installations (BS 7671) (IEE Wiring Regulations), which it jointly produced with IET.
BSI is also an organisation authorised by the Government to operate an electrical self-certification scheme for firms carrying out domestic electrical installation work in England and Wales (see under Communities and Local Government).
Building Standards Division (BSD) , Scotland
BSD is part of the Scottish Government and is responsible for writing the Scottish building regulations. Under these regulations, electrical installation work covered by a building warrant must either be done by an installer registered with a scheme provider approved by BSD, or the customer must let the local authority check and approve the work when it has been done. BSD has approved the following scheme providers:
• NICEIC • SELECT
Scottish Government Building Standards Denholm House Almondvale Business Park Livingston EH54 6GA
Tel: 01506 600 400 Fax: 01506 600 402
E-Mail: buildingstandards@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
The City and Guilds of London Institute (City & Guilds)
City & Guilds is an examining and accreditation body for vocational, managerial and engineering training, many of which relate to the electrical industry.
City & Guilds 1 Giltspur Street London EC1A 9DD
Tel: 020 7294 2800 Fax: 020 7294 2400
Communities and Local Government (CLG)
CLG is a Government Department responsible for, amongst other things, the Building Regulations in England and Wales. Part P of the Building Regulations covers electrical installation work in dwellings and their gardens, conservatories and outbuildings. Under Part P, proposals to carry out much of this electrical work must be given to a building control body before the work begins, unless the work is carried out by a firm registered with an electrical self-certification scheme prescribed under the regulations, such as:
- British Standards Institution
- ELECSA
- NAPIT
- NICEIC
Communities and Local Government Eland House Bressenden Place London SW1E 5DU
Tel: 020 7944 4400
E-Mail: contactus@communities.gov.uk
EAL (EMTA Awards Ltd)
EAL is an awarding body for engineering National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and their Scottish equivalents (SVQs).
14 Upton Road Watford Hertfordshire, WD18 0JT
Tel: 01923 652400 Fax: 01923 652401
Electrical Contractors Association (ECA)
The ECA is the UK's largest trade association representing electrical and electronic installation engineering companies. ECA member companies range from local employers having as few as one or two operatives, to multi national companies with thousands of staff. In total, ECA’s members employ more than 30,000 operatives and provide support for around 8,000 apprentices in their craft training.
ECA ESCA House 34 Palace Court London W2 4HY
Tel: 020 7313 4800 Fax: 020 7221 7344
ELECSA
ELECSA is an organisation authorised by the Government to operate an electrical self-certification scheme for firms carrying out domestic electrical installation work in England and Wales.
EC Certification Ltd Mansfield Business Centre Ashfield Avenue Mansfield NG18 2AE
Tel: 0845 634 9043 Fax: 0845 634 9039
E-mail: enquiries@elecsa.co.uk
Electrical Safety First
Electrical Safety First is the UK charity dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries caused by electrical accidents, it aims to ensure everyone in the UK can use electricity safely.
The Charity campaigns on behalf of consumers and electrical trade professionals to improve safety regulation and ensure safety messages are appropriate, up to date and well communicated. It provides expert information and advice to help people protect themselves from faulty, damaged, sub-standard, and poorly maintained electrical installations and electrical appliances.
Electrical Safety First is recognised by government and industry as the leading campaigning charity and technical authority on electrical safety.
www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/
London Office Electrical Safety First 45 Great Guildford Street London SE1 0ES
Scottish Office The Walled Garden Busk Estate Midlothian EH26 0SB
E-mail: enquiries@esc.org.uk
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
The IET is one of the world’s leading professional organisations for the engineering and technology community. It has more than 150,000 members in over 100 countries. The categories of membership, which depend on skills, experience and qualifications, include Technician Member (TMIET), Member (MIET), and Fellow (FIET). Members may also have the title of ICT Technician (ICTTech), Engineering Technician (EngTech), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). One of the IET’s functions is to publish BS 7671 (the IEE Wiring Regulations) — a book of rules that electrical installers have to follow to make electrical installations safe, which IET publishes jointly with the British Standards Institution.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology Michael Faraday House Stevenage Hertfordshire SG1 2AY
Tel: 01438 313 311 Fax: 01438 765 526
E-Mail: postmaster@theiet.org
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
The HSE is a public body sponsored by Government. Its job is to prevent death, injury and ill-health to those at work and those affected by work activities. It investigates industrial accidents, small and large, and is responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks. In particular, HSE has responsibilities relating to the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
HSE Infoline Caerphilly Business Park Caerphilly CF83 3GG
Tel: 0845 345 0055 Fax: 0845 408 9566
E-Mail: hse.infoline@connaught.plc.uk
The Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry (JIB)
The JIB is a partnership between the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) and the trades union, Unite. JIB agrees and publishes wage rates and benefits for operatives working for its member companies. It also has a grading system for the operatives. The grades include (amongst others) Technician, Approved Electrician, Electrical Improver and Labourer.
Kingswood House 47/51 Sidcup Hill Sidcup Kent DA14 6HP
Tel: 020 8302 0031 Fax: 020 8309 1103
E-Mail: administration@jib.org.uk
JTL Training
JTL is the leading work-based learning provider to the building services engineering sector in England and Wales. It offers Advanced Apprenticeships to 16 and 24 year olds in plumbing, electrical, engineering maintenance, heating and ventilation, and motor rewind. Each year around 30,000 young people apply to start a JTL Apprenticeship but only around 3,000 are given a place. Apprentices study theory at colleges and training centres across the country in order to become a qualified craftsperson with a nationally recognised qualification, while a dedicated JTL Training Officer supports apprentices in their daily working life.
National Administration Centre Unit 3H1 Third Floor Redwither Tower Redwither Business Park Wrexham LL13 9XT
Tel: 0800 0852308
NAPIT
NAPIT is an organisation authorised by the Government to operate an electrical self-certification scheme for firms carrying out domestic electrical installation work in England and Wales. NAPIT is also a trade association, with members in electrical installation, plumbing, heating and ventilation, in the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors.
4th Floor, Mill 3 Pleasley Vale Business Park Mansfield Nottinghamshire NG19 8RL
Tel: 0845 543 0330 Fax: 0845 543 0332
NICEIC
NICEIC an organisation authorised by the Government to operate an electrical self-certification scheme for firms carrying out domestic electrical installation work in England and Wales (see earlier under Communities and Local Government). It is also an approved scheme provider to register installers to carry out electrical work in Scotland (see details earlier under Building Standards Division (BSD) ). NICEIC also maintains a roll (or register) of Approved Electrical Contractors that work in all sectors, such as commercial and industrial, not just domestic.
Warwick House Houghton Hall Park Houghton Regis Dunstable LU5 5ZX
Tel: 0870 013 0382 Fax: 01582 539090
SELECT
SELECT is Scotland's trade association for the electrical, electronics and communications systems industry. SELECT is an approved scheme provider to register installers to carry out electrical work in Scotland under a (see details earlier under Building Standards Division (BSD) ).
The Walled Garden Bush Estate Midlothian Scotland EH26 0SB
Tel: 0131 445 5577 Fax: 0131 445 5548
Email: admin@select.org.uk
SummitSkills
SummitSkills is the Sector Skills Council for the building services engineering sector. It was created to ensure the sector has the right people, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time. It covers the electrical, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration and plumbing industries. SummitSkills can advise on all areas relating to skills and training, pointing you in the right direction on apprenticeship recruitment, business and management skills, funding routes, careers and training advice.
Vega House Opal Drive Fox Milne Milton Keynes MK15 0DF
Tel: 01908 303960
E-mail: enquiries@summitskills.org.uk
TrustMark
TrustMark is a Government-backed initiative. Amongst other things, it offers advice on how to find reputable firms to do repair, maintenance and improvement work. The TrustMark logo on a firm’s letterheads or vehicles indicates the firm has been checked by an approved trade association or other certification organisation and found to meet certain standards set by the Government. Englemere Kings Ride Ascot Berkshire SL5 7TB
Tel: 0330 100 0021
E-mail: enquiries@trustmark.org.uk