Industry Bodies
There are many different bodies associated with the electrical industry, here are a selection of some of them.
JIB | NAPIT | NICEIC | ECA | IET | ECS | ESC
JIB - Joint Industry Board
The JIB or Joint Industry Board was set up in the 1960's to strike a balance between the union and employers association.
JIB Grading
Today the JIB grades individuals according to their experience and qualifications and sets national standards regarding wages and health and safety issues. Grading can range from apprentice up through improver, electrician and approved electrician, anyone studying the apprentice route or the adult trainee route automatically fulfill the criteria for membership and grading.
The JIB are also responsible for the ECS card, the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme proving health and safety competence. To gain this card you need to pass the multiple choice health and safety exam, which is set and marked by the JIB, and apply through the JIB's website using the grading form. They will send you a book of sample questions before you sit your exam and can advise you on your nearest centre. You can get grading at the same time if you submit your qualifications. The ECS is the electrical version of the CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) scheme and is designed to reduce the amount of accidents witihin the construction industry by promoting health and safety standards.
More information
You can download some sample questions for the ECS directly from the JIB's website at http://www.jib.org.uk/ecs031.htm and the ECS website at http://www.ecscard.org.uk
For more information including forms enabling you to apply for grading, head to their website at http://www.jib.org.uk/
NAPIT - National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers
The National Association of Professional Inspectors & Testers was formed in 1992 because of the lack of understanding in the commercial and industrial inspection and testing field amongst many electricians. More specifically, to plug the “loophole” that allows managers to sign documentation and electricians to inspect and test electrical installations and appliances, even though they may have not had up to date appropriate training, do not possess the relevant qualifications and have probably not acquired the specific experience. Additional companies, NAPIT Registration, NAPIT Certification, NAPIT Training and NAPIT Inspections were added to the NAPIT Group of Companies in 2004 to accommodate the expansion in the range of registration schemes. Current schemes include; Electrical (Domestic Part P, Commercial & Industrial), Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Kitchen Fitting and 5 technologies in Microgeneration.
All the NAPIT Group Schemes are supported by industry technical experts who are able to provide onsite assessments and inspections for a number of different trades; with the majority possessing gas, electrical and plumbing qualifications and experience, thereby providing technical onsite assessments and inspections in Electrical, Gas, Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Oil and Microgeneration all in one visit. NAPIT Training underpins the NAPIT Registration Schemes by providing training and competent assessment services through a commitment to structured skills and enhancements and professional competence.
NAPIT have the only Trade Association dedicated to monitoring the competence of all its members for Inspection, Testing and system Verification. Our aim is to set the standard for the industry. These aims and objectives are being achieved by the implementation of our strict individual vetting policy, cost effective training courses, technical updates & advice, and by harnessing expertise on a regional basis to provide a national network of NAPIT representatives.
NAPIT Inspections has been set up for simplicity for the consumer and convenience to the contractor supplying a professional and efficient service with only standards driving us
For more information, please visit the NAPIT website at http://www.napit.org.uk/
NICEIC - National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contractors
The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contractors (NICEIC or often abbreviated to the NIC) is a voluntary regulatory body for electrical installation safety matters within the contracting industry. Registration with the NICEIC has many advantages and can be entered via the Approved Contractor route or the Domestic Electrical Installer route.
Once you have achieved the necessary qualifications or experience, the NICEIC uses inspectors to assess the standard of your installation work and the capability of you and your staff and decide on the level of registration.
It offers different schemes according to your needs and their own criteria as well as it own training schemes.
The NICEIC are also involved in the promotion of the 17th Edition Wiring Regulation release in 2008 and have a dedicated website solely aimed at the new regulations.
For more information, click the link to access their website http://niceic.org.uk/
ECA - Electrical Contractors Association
Taken from the ECA website:
"The ECA seeks to promote and protect the interests of professional, competent and accountable businesses, and to support this provides a wide range of services covering the whole spectrum of it's members commercial operations. Existing members have identified the following as some of the benefits of being an ECA member."
- Benefit from expert technical advice
- Gain 3rd party recognition in your specialised areas of competence
- Offer your customers guarantees
- Differentiate yourself from your competitors
- Network with other professionals
- Stay ahead on health and safety
- Avoid legal pitfalls
- Consult experts on debt recovery
- Take advantage of excellent-value training courses
- Influence the future of the industry
For more information, click the link here: http://www.eca.co.uk/index.asp
IET - Institute of Engineering and Technology
The Institution of Engineering and Technology is one of the world’s leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community. The IET has more than 150,000 members in 127 countries and has offices in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. The Institution provides a global knowledge network to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas and promotes the positive role of Science, Engineering and Technology in the world.
The IET are responsible for the regulations that define the electrical installation industry. They publish BS7671: Requirements for Electrical Installations, a huge source of information for the design, inspection and verification of an electrical installation. Conformance with these regulations is considered to conform with the Electricity at Work Act and as such, almost every electrical installation is widely expected to conform.
There are currently several books published, so I have chosen the most relevant ones to list that would benefit a student or average electrician:
- IEE Wiring Regulations: BS7671 17th Edition Requirements for electrical installations
- IEE On Site Guide
- Guidance Notes 3: Inspection and Testing
- Electrician's Guide to the Building Regulations (Approved Document P)
The other guidance notes focus more on the design of installations and can be useful documents. More information can be found at the following address: http://www.theiet.org/
ECS - Electrotechnical Certification Scheme
Similar to the CSCS card used on construction sites, the electrotechnical industry has its own competency card in the form of the ECS card and has a variety of different cards depending on qualification level. For registration, a new site is now up and running and can be found at www.ecscard.org.uk
ESC - Electrical Safety Council
Information taken from the website at http://www.esc.org.uk/public/about-us/what-we-do/
We work hard to promote safety and good practice in anything related to electricity. We aim to act as the voice of the consumer – that’s you – and make sure that safety stays a top priority. Anything less just isn’t good enough.
This includes:
- Promoting changes in attitude and behaviour by raising consumer awareness of the issues and risks.
- Influencing other stakeholders to consider consumer needs.
- Campaigning in areas of risk.
- Promoting best practice across industry.
As well as running general awareness campaigns and events to help educate consumers about the dangers of electricity, we also run campaigns and initiatives covering specific areas of risk such as product safety, fire safety and child safety. We also have a team of electrical engineers who represent consumer interests on standards-setting committees, including the committee responsible for the IET Wiring Regulations, and other committees responsible for British, European and international standards.
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