It is not only necessary to have a full registration of electricians in the industry, but also the government should have heavy penalties for those who are not registered.
Sale of materials at either wholesalers or the big DIY stores should be limited only to registered electricians.
Also there should be a set standard for electricians regarding their qualifications which would again increase general safety in the industry and cut out not just the "DIY expert" but also those who make claims to be electricians but do not always use the best working practices.
1. Lets remove all electrical material for your local home improvement stores put it back in the electrical supply house and show your card before you can buy it.
2. These home inspectors....if they are going to come into a house and inspect your electrical,plumbing, and HVAC they should hold a card from each field. It took me 4 years of schooling, 4 years in the trade to be able to do this work. It took them about $35.00 and a couple day in a class to tell me what needs to be done to bring a house up to code. What a joke!
I recently had a look in our local paper , tons of handy man adverts advertising we do everything , so i thought i'd put it to the test with everything that is going of at the moment. I made a phone call to this particular one , and asked if he could do a ring main for me . Yes sure was the reply no problem. I asked further you can do the tests as well ? and issue me a certificate ? The answer i got back what tests ? what thats about a certificate ? . I am only just getting started in this buisness , but i guess you guys with the experience behind you know all about this. This is what i will be up against and as Ian said the customers dont know any different , just go for the cheaper price regardless thinking they are getting a proper and correct job done.
For what it is worth guys, here are some of my views.
I think homeowners are partly responsible for some of the bad practices and hazards described above.
Most of us like to think we are getting a bargain, just think about it, we all ask for the “best price” when buying a car, kitchen even my last drill I bought I wanted discount. Its no different for homeowners they want the best possible price without realising that reputable electricians (and other trades) will take there time, be diligent, use quality materials, do the job properly and usually make a nice neat job. But that costs money, and many homeowners wont pay and are ignorant to the implications of shoddy work. Lets face it, unless you are an electrician it’s difficult to judge the standards of work. After all how many non electricians could tell if a cooker should be wired in 6mm or 1.5mm and probably could not tell the difference, they also could not tell if a ring circuit is formed properly, or a light has an earth at it, and unfortunately, there are far to many sparks out there wanting a quick buck and willing to take advantage of peoples ignorance.
Here’s an example of what I am trying to say (could give you millions) but one will have to do for now. In the summer 2011, I priced a rewire of a 3-bed semi detached house. I went armed with my portfolio, including picture of pervious jobs, testimonials etc, I even offered to take them to pervious jobs to they can see my work for themselves. I built up a good relationship with the customer and put in what I thought was a fair price. When I called the following week to see how I got on, I was told that I was beaten on price by £1100, but if I could match the price then the job was mine. I told them I could not even come close to the cost and do the job properly, the customers replied “don’t need a certificate, and as long as it works we would be happy”. Needless to say I walked away from that job. But have been round twice to repair faults.
Basically, If I quote for a job, and someone else quotes for what is perceived to be the same job but costing £000.00 less, they are obviously going to accept the lower quote. However, due to there ignorance / greed they must accept some of the blame for the quality of work they receive. All they need to do is take up references or getting detailed quotes etc. Pay peanuts and you will get monkeys.
I am afraid that is the attitude of many customers I come across, they don’t understand the implications of doggy electrical works, and frankly they wouldn’t know a good job from a hole in my head.
Also, as an industry, we do an awful job of promoting Part P, and electrical safety, and I think the blame lies with our Trade Associations, and US, the electricians. Yes I do believe that we have a part to play in promoting electrical safety and Part P.
In my experience, many electricians don’t prompte or discuss with potential clients; Part P, electrical safety, materials or standards of work etc. Personally, I have this little 4-minute speech and a small handout I leave with every potential customer. I also find that if you convey your message in a concise well-presented manor, people are generally interested and will listen to what you have to say. Unfortunately, most of them tell me, “We didn’t know that” or “the last electrician didn’t say that”
So what I say, is get out there and fly the Electrical Safety flag yourself, if even 50% of us did that, the message would soon get out.
I am sure you are affiliated with the likes of the NICEIC, with a yearly cost of £450.00+ per year, you have public liability insurance, costing you £200+ per year, training courses cost £500+ per time.
The costs of being a competent electrician is vast, this doesn't take into account all the other cost associated with our businesses. To be told we are thousands or even hundreds of pounds out on a job is because the Cowboy that is getting the job, just doesn't care. No safety in mind, no certificate, probably no electrical background, no insurance. But as you rightly said, the customer isn't interested either.
Part P is doing very little to address the situation, unless its a new build, extension or renovation.
Comments
5 comments postedIt is not only necessary to have a full registration of electricians in the industry, but also the government should have heavy penalties for those who are not registered.
Sale of materials at either wholesalers or the big DIY stores should be limited only to registered electricians.
Also there should be a set standard for electricians regarding their qualifications which would again increase general safety in the industry and cut out not just the "DIY expert" but also those who make claims to be electricians but do not always use the best working practices.
1. Lets remove all electrical material for your local home improvement stores put it back in the electrical supply house and show your card before you can buy it.
2. These home inspectors....if they are going to come into a house and inspect your electrical,plumbing, and HVAC they should hold a card from each field. It took me 4 years of schooling, 4 years in the trade to be able to do this work. It took them about $35.00 and a couple day in a class to tell me what needs to be done to bring a house up to code. What a joke!
I recently had a look in our local paper , tons of handy man adverts advertising we do everything , so i thought i'd put it to the test with everything that is going of at the moment. I made a phone call to this particular one , and asked if he could do a ring main for me . Yes sure was the reply no problem. I asked further you can do the tests as well ? and issue me a certificate ? The answer i got back what tests ? what thats about a certificate ? . I am only just getting started in this buisness , but i guess you guys with the experience behind you know all about this. This is what i will be up against and as Ian said the customers dont know any different , just go for the cheaper price regardless thinking they are getting a proper and correct job done.
For what it is worth guys, here are some of my views.
I think homeowners are partly responsible for some of the bad practices and hazards described above.
Most of us like to think we are getting a bargain, just think about it, we all ask for the “best price” when buying a car, kitchen even my last drill I bought I wanted discount. Its no different for homeowners they want the best possible price without realising that reputable electricians (and other trades) will take there time, be diligent, use quality materials, do the job properly and usually make a nice neat job. But that costs money, and many homeowners wont pay and are ignorant to the implications of shoddy work. Lets face it, unless you are an electrician it’s difficult to judge the standards of work. After all how many non electricians could tell if a cooker should be wired in 6mm or 1.5mm and probably could not tell the difference, they also could not tell if a ring circuit is formed properly, or a light has an earth at it, and unfortunately, there are far to many sparks out there wanting a quick buck and willing to take advantage of peoples ignorance.
Here’s an example of what I am trying to say (could give you millions) but one will have to do for now. In the summer 2011, I priced a rewire of a 3-bed semi detached house. I went armed with my portfolio, including picture of pervious jobs, testimonials etc, I even offered to take them to pervious jobs to they can see my work for themselves. I built up a good relationship with the customer and put in what I thought was a fair price. When I called the following week to see how I got on, I was told that I was beaten on price by £1100, but if I could match the price then the job was mine. I told them I could not even come close to the cost and do the job properly, the customers replied “don’t need a certificate, and as long as it works we would be happy”. Needless to say I walked away from that job. But have been round twice to repair faults.
Basically, If I quote for a job, and someone else quotes for what is perceived to be the same job but costing £000.00 less, they are obviously going to accept the lower quote. However, due to there ignorance / greed they must accept some of the blame for the quality of work they receive. All they need to do is take up references or getting detailed quotes etc. Pay peanuts and you will get monkeys.
I am afraid that is the attitude of many customers I come across, they don’t understand the implications of doggy electrical works, and frankly they wouldn’t know a good job from a hole in my head.
Also, as an industry, we do an awful job of promoting Part P, and electrical safety, and I think the blame lies with our Trade Associations, and US, the electricians. Yes I do believe that we have a part to play in promoting electrical safety and Part P.
In my experience, many electricians don’t prompte or discuss with potential clients; Part P, electrical safety, materials or standards of work etc. Personally, I have this little 4-minute speech and a small handout I leave with every potential customer. I also find that if you convey your message in a concise well-presented manor, people are generally interested and will listen to what you have to say. Unfortunately, most of them tell me, “We didn’t know that” or “the last electrician didn’t say that”
So what I say, is get out there and fly the Electrical Safety flag yourself, if even 50% of us did that, the message would soon get out.
Ian
I agree with you completely,
I am sure you are affiliated with the likes of the NICEIC, with a yearly cost of £450.00+ per year, you have public liability insurance, costing you £200+ per year, training courses cost £500+ per time.
The costs of being a competent electrician is vast, this doesn't take into account all the other cost associated with our businesses. To be told we are thousands or even hundreds of pounds out on a job is because the Cowboy that is getting the job, just doesn't care. No safety in mind, no certificate, probably no electrical background, no insurance. But as you rightly said, the customer isn't interested either.
Part P is doing very little to address the situation, unless its a new build, extension or renovation.
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