switched on issue 10

Electrical safety poster designcompetition 2008

Issue10 | Autumn 2008

2 SwitchedOn

Welcome to the tenth edition ofSwitched On.

As a national charity, we’ve been working

hard to make sure we aren’t perceived as

being ‘London-centric’ and, to this end, we’ve

undertaken activities across the UK to ensure

that we raise awareness of electrical safety as

widely as possible.

To further support our efforts to raise

awareness of electrical safety, I would like to

welcome Tony Maskens who we recently

recruited as the Campaign Manager for

Scotland and Northern Ireland. Tony is based

at the Walled Garden, the headquarters for

Select, the Scottish electrical trade

association. He will be working hard to

develop our initiatives for Scotland and

Northern Ireland over the coming months.

As a charity it is also important that

information we provide is accessible to all

sections of the community and that we

recognise the needs of people with

disabilities. We have recently updated our

website so that it is ‘W3c compliant’, which

ensures people with visual impairments can

use the site. You may have noticed that we

have also catered for people whose first

language may not be English, and we know

from feedback that this has been received

very positively by some of those who have

visited our web pages.

Our efforts to make our information

accessible continue, and our recently-

released DVD which focuses on electrical

hazards around the home includes sub-titles

and sign language. If you feel that there is

more that we could do, please let me know

and we will look to implement the changes

suggested.

We continue to seek to influence politicians

and, as an apolitical organisation, we will be

attending all three main party conferences

this autumn. By attending, it gives us the

opportunity to influence senior party

members thus ensuring that important

messages relating to electrical safety are

delivered to those that can help to effect real

change.

We have developed plans to offer testing of

electric blankets this autumn. This initiative

has become all the more important as, with

the ever rising cost of energy, more people,

particularly the elderly and low paid, will be

facing fuel poverty. There will therefore be a

greater reliance on low cost sources of

heating such as electric blankets, and there is

a risk that very ancient ones will be dug out

of attics which may present shock and fire

hazards to the users. This is something we are

anxious to avoid, so we will be covering the

whole of the UK to try to reduce any risks.

By the time you read this issue, we will have

held our first international product safety

conference in London. Attracting delegates

from across the world, over 150 people are

expected to have been in attendance over

the two days.

The conference covered a range of important

topics relating to product safety including

the importance of market surveillance,

regulation, anti-counterfeiting measures, and

protecting vulnerable consumers. Delegates

included representatives from government,

trading standards and trade organisations,

and the key objective of informing our

agenda for future campaigns was

successfully achieved. Due to the success of

the conference it is anticipated that this will

become an annual event in our calendar.

On a final note, please enjoy reading the

magazine. As always, we would welcome

your feedback on its content – email

[email protected]

WELCOME

We are pleased to report

that our stand at the

Trading Standards Conference &

Exhibition held in Bournemouth

in June was very well received

by Trading Standards

professionals.

We had a large number of

visitors to the stand who were

interested in many aspects of

our work including product

safety initiatives, our product

safety conference in September,

the ‘How to Find an Electrician’

function on our website, our

range of consumer leaflets, the

home safety DVD, and the

interactive game.

We were also delighted to be

awarded the prize for ‘Best non-

local Government Exhibitor’ for

our eye-catching stand design.

TRADING STANDARDS CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

Photos: © Rowan White Photographic

SwitchedOn 3

Electrical Safety Council television adverts see page 5

industry news

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features

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Published by:

The Electrical Safety Council

18 Buckingham Gate London, SW1E 6LB

www.esc.org.uk

www.switchedonkids.org.uk

Tel: 0870 040 0561 Fax: 0870 040 0560

email: [email protected]

issue 10 Autumn ‘08

switchedon

your insight into the electricalsafety industry

Electrical safety posterdesign competitionTrading Standards Conference

& ExhibitionAlso, Welcome

News in briefAlso, Anglesey landlords’ forum, Events

TV advertising

Also, Website update

Which training course shouldI attend (Part 2)?

Why do earthing and bonding needto be checked?

Feasibility of establishing a UK-wideinjury database

Council’s Technical Manualupdated to 17th Edition

Guidance for consumers whenordering electrical workAlso, You are more at risk than you

think: Asbestos - the hidden killer

Scottish Government consults on‘Trusted Trader’ schemeAlso, TrustMark to launch into

Scotland

Family saved by fire alarm

Trading Standards survey findsdangerous electrical goodsAlso, The dangers of domestic

appliances

Concerns raised over the safety ofextension leads in Europe Also, New electrical installation skills

competition launched

Electric shock – what should I do?

Electric blanket safety campaignAlso, Roll of Approved Contractors

rises to 15,000

Best Practice GuidesAlso, Energy Performance Certificates

Electrical quiz – what’s yourcurrent level of knowledge?Also, Electrical Safety Council

Roadshow

4 SwitchedOn

Corrigendum to BS 7671: 2008

At the end of June, just before

BS 7671: 2008 came into full effect, the Joint

IET/BSI Committee JPEL64, which is

responsible for the technical content of

BS 7671, issued a four page corrigendum

containing a number of corrections to the

published version of the revised, ‘17th

Edition’, standard.

Amongst other things, including the deletion

of both references to 2I∆n (which had been

causing confusion in respect of testing

requirements in some quarters) and the

correction of a number of references, the

corrigendum contains two pages which

replace those in Appendix 15. This is the

appendix that gives guidance on the

standard arrangements for ring and radial

final circuits.

Users of BS 7671: 2008 are advised to

acquaint themselves with the content of the

corrigendum as soon as possible if they have

not already done so. The corrigendum can be

downloaded as a PDF document free of

charge from the IET website by visiting

www.theiet.org/publishing/wiring-regulations/updates/

A new regime for domestic gas

safety

In June, the Health and Safety Executive

(HSE) announced that it had selected Capita

as its preferred bidder to run the new

registration scheme for gas installers from

1 April next year.

According to the HSE, the main differences

between the bid from Capita and CORGI, the

other bidder, lay in their approaches to

introducing innovation to the scheme,

promoting gas safety and a new brand,

delivering efficiencies and the continuous

improvement required.

Woman electrocuted after room had

been redecorated

In June, an inquest in Buckinghamshire heard

how a woman was alleged to have been

electrocuted in her home as a result of

electrical work carried out by a decorator.

As part of the decorating work, a number of

socket-outlets in the lounge had been

replaced with a type having a different style,

but they had not been connected correctly.

As a result, the woman was electrocuted

when she picked up a metallic table lamp

that had become live, whilst touching

another lamp that was earthed.

The Crown Prosecution Service had decided

that there were no grounds for prosecution.

Electrical installer fined for

dangerous work

An electrical installer in Warwickshire has

been fined for carrying out ‘very dangerous’

electrical work in a kitchen during August last

year.

According to Warwick District Council

building inspectors, the installer was

responsible for 18 electrical faults, of which

eight were described as ‘very dangerous’.

Having found that the work had not been

carried out by a competent person in

accordance with the Building Regulations,

the District Council took enforcement action.

This resulted in the installer being brought

before Stratford Magistrates Court, where he

was fined £700 and ordered to pay £600

costs for a breach of Part P of the Building

Regulations.

NEWS IN BRIEF

EVENTS IN 2008

We are pleased to have added a new

element to our event activities this year.

We attended the Elex 2008 show in Coventry

on 18-19 September and will also be

attending the show at Sandown Park, Surrey,

on 2-3 December.

This gives us a new opportunity to meet

those working in the electrical installation

industry and to discuss current issues.

We are running seminars at each event about

the latest Best Practice Guide concerning the

impact that electrical installations can have

on the fire performance of domestic

premises.

We will report on our attendance at the three

Party Conferences in the next issue of

Switched On.

We’ve had really positive experiences at all of

the shows we’ve attended this year and are

looking forward to exhibiting at them again

in 2009.

At the request of the environmental health

department of Isle of Anglesey County

Council, the Electrical Safety Council gave a

presentation about electrical safety issues in

rented property at a forum attended by about

35 private landlords.

The presentation covered the regulations and

standards affecting landlords, typical electrical

hazards in rented domestic properties, and

the inspection, testing and maintenance of

domestic electrical installations.

The presentation was well received by those

attending, and finished with a lively question

and answer session. Electrical safety

information for landlords can be found on our

website at www.esc.org.uk/business-and-community/guidance-for/landlords.html

ANGLESEYLANDLORDS’FORUM

SwitchedOn 5

In order to further increase consumer

awareness of our electrical safety role, we

sponsored the pollen count on ITV1, and

have also produced a 30 second television

advert.

The 30 second advert was aired on ITV1, ITV2,

ITV3, C4, Five, Five US, Living, DAVE, UKTV

Gold and UKTV Style (both daytime and

peak).

For those who have missed them on the

television, both can be viewed on our

website (www.esc.org.uk).

We are pleased to report a marked increase in

consumer enquiries since this advertising

activity began.

TV ADVERTISING

Our main website (www.esc.org.uk) has

continued to grow in popularity and is

now receiving over 15,000 visitors a month,

who view around 60,000 pages.

Currently, our most popular consumer

information is the ‘Consumer Guide for

ordering Domestic Electrical Installation

Work’, our home electrical safety video, and

the ‘Your fusebox’ page. And for Business &

Community visitors, it’s the 17th Edition

Guidance, Best Practice Guides and the

‘Electrical Safety in Construction’ leaflet.

During the summer, work on making the

website more widely accessible and

interactive for visitors was completed, and a

new version of the site was launched.

Though the look of the site remains the

same, the new version has achieved ‘W3c

compliance’. This means that it conforms to

the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0,

which explain how to make web content

more accessible to people with disabilities.

Also new to the site is an RSS (Really Simple

Syndication) feed facility, which allow visitors

to click to receive regular updates on areas

such as ‘Latest News’, ‘Product Recalls’ and

‘Press Releases’.

Within the new version of the website is a

‘Talk to us’ section which enables visitors to

let us know what they think about the site,

send in their electrical stories and images,

and to make general

enquiries. This section is

already being put to good

use by visitors to the

website, and a regular

stream of feedback,

enquiries and helpful

information is being

received.

Shortly, we plan to release

a new look ‘Business and

Community’ section which

we hope will make it easier

for visitors to find the

information contained in

that section, as well as

making room for more

content.

Feedback on the website is always welcome,

so should you have any ideas or comments,

we would like to hear from you via the ‘Talk

to us’ facility.

WEBSITE UPDATE

City & Guilds electrical installation

inspection and testing courses

explained...

Following on from the article in the previous

issue of Switched On explaining the City &

Guilds electrical installation regulations

courses, this article outlines City & Guilds

qualifications that are appropriate for

electricians, inspectors and others persons

requiring training specifically in the

requirements for inspection, testing and

certification.

Care should be taken when selecting a

course to ensure that the candidate’s

knowledge and experience are sufficient for

that particular course.

The two City & Guilds inspection and testing

courses relating to electrical installations are:

• 2392-10 City & Guilds Level 2

Certificate in Fundamental Inspection,

Testing and Initial Verification


Certificate in Inspection, Testing and

Certification of Electrical Installations

In addition to these two qualifications, there

are two City & Guilds certificates that cover

the requirements for the management of

electrical equipment maintenance and the

inspection and testing of electrical

equipment:


Certificate in Management of Electrical

Equipment Maintenance


Certificate for the Inspection and

Testing of Electrical Equipment

Details of electrical installation

inspection, testing and certification

courses

2392-10 City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate in

Fundamental Inspection, Testing and

Initial Verification

This qualification was recently developed

with the electrical industry to meet the

needs of industry and training centres, and to

provide candidates with an introduction to

how to inspect and test (conduct the initial

verification) of electrical installations.

It is aimed at practising electricians who have

not carried out inspection and testing since

qualifying, or who require some update

training before going on to achieve the City

& Guilds Level 3 Certificate in inspection,

testing and certification of electrical

installations (2391-10). The 2392-10

qualification is also suitable for those with

limited experience of inspection and testing

of electrical installations, such as those

entering the industry from other engineering

disciplines or working in allied trades.

Students attending this course will be

required to have prior knowledge of basic

electrical principles and science, as well as

some knowledge of electrical systems.

Students will also be expected to have

experience of electrical installation work

either within the electrical contracting

industry or an allied trade. Although not a

requirement, it is recommended that

students have previously completed an

electrical installation regulations course.

To obtain the 2392-10 City & Guilds Level 2

Certificate in Fundamental Inspection, Testing

and Initial Verification Certificate, candidates

must successfully complete one closed-book

multiple-choice examination (maximum

duration 100 minutes) consisting of 50

questions and one practical assessment. The

multiple-choice test and practical assessment

are considered to be separate units.

However, to receive a 2392-10 certificate,

candidates must be successful in both units.

The Guided Learning Hours for this course

are 30-35 hours, which may be on a full-time

or part-time basis.

2391-10 City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate

in Inspection, Testing and Certification of

electrical installations

This qualification is intended for experienced

personnel working in the electrical industry.

Although City & Guilds do not state formal

candidate entry requirements, the

qualification is not intended for non-qualified

electricians and/or those who do not have

experience in inspecting, testing and

certifying electrical installations.

Candidates without this experience should

seriously consider undertaking the City &

Guilds Level 2 Certificate in fundamental

inspection, testing and initial verification

(2392-10) as well as obtaining industry

experience. It is also strongly recommended

that candidates have previously achieved

either the City & Guilds Certificate in the

requirements for electrical installations

(BS 7671 January 2008) (2382), or a similar

6 SwitchedOn

WHICH INSPECTION AND TESTING COURSESHOULD I ATTEND?

SwitchedOn 7

qualification where candidates have

demonstrated knowledge and

understanding of the 17th Edition.

This qualification is not approved for use by

candidates under the age of 18, and City &

Guilds cannot accept any registrations for

candidates in this age group.


Certificate in Inspection, Testing and

Certification of electrical installations,

candidates must successfully complete one

21/2 hour closed-book examination consisting

of 20 short answer questions and six

structured questions in addition to a practical

assessment. The written examination and

practical assessment are considered to be

separate units. However, to receive a 2391-10

certificate, candidates must be successful in

both units.


are 30 hours, which may be on a full-time or

part-time basis.

Details of electrical equipment courses

The two qualifications (2377-11 and 2377-12)

relate to the IEE Code of Practice for In-Service

Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment

3rd Edition published by the Institution of

Engineering and Technology (IET). The

qualifications are aimed at those with

administrative responsibilities for the

maintenance of electrical equipment and for

those undertaking practical inspection and

testing of electrical equipment.

It is expected that candidates attempting

either qualification should be familiar with

electrical systems and the hazards of

electricity in order to satisfactorily complete

this qualification.

Without evidence of formal qualifications,

candidates must be able to demonstrate

adequate prior knowledge and experience to

ensure they have potential to successfully

gain the qualifications. Centres are required

to conduct a practical test to evaluate the

candidate’s ability to undertake electrical

inspection and testing in a competent

manner for the inspection and testing

unit/qualification (Unit 200)

These qualifications are not approved for use

by candidates under the age of 18, and City

& Guilds cannot accept any registrations for

candidates in this age group.


in Management of Electrical Equipment

Maintenance (Unit 100)


Certificate in Management of Electrical

Equipment Maintenance (Unit 100),

candidates must successfully complete one

11/2 hour examination consisting of 45

multiple choice questions. The assessment is

based on the IEE Code of Practice for In-Service


3rd Edition, and candidates will need a copy

for the examination.


are 30-35 hours, which may be on a full-time

or part-time basis.


for the Inspection and Testing of

Electrical Equipment (Unit 200)


Certificate for the Inspection and Testing of

Electrical Equipment Maintenance (Unit 200),

candidates must successfully complete a one

hour examination consisting of 30 multiple

choice questions. The assessment is based

on the IEE Code of Practice for In-Service


3rd Edition, and candidates will need a copy

for the examination.

Note: before undertaking the multiple-choice

test, candidates are required to demonstrate

an ability to undertake the practical skills test

to inspect and test an item of Class I

equipment and correctly complete the

following model forms from the Code of

Practice:

• V1.1 Equipment register; and

• V1.2 Equipment formal visual and

combined inspection and test record.


are 35 hours, which may be on a full-time or

part-time basis.

To help improve public awareness about

the importance of earthing and

bonding, we have produced a new safety

leaflet for consumers called ‘Why do

earthing and bonding need to be checked?’

In plain English, the guide explains to

consumers why, if they are having an

alteration or addition made to their electrical

installation, their electrician must check the

earthing and bonding arrangements and, if

necessary, bring them up to standard as an

essential part of the work.

The leaflet has achieved the Plain English

Campaign Crystal Mark, indicating that it

has been written and designed as clearly as

possible. We will be distributing the leaflet

directly to consumers at events and

through the website.

Having been produced by an independent

and impartial body, however, the leaflet is

also likely to be of considerable benefit to

electrical contractors and installers when

they need to explain to customers why

additional and, to them, seemingly

unrelated work may need to be carried out

for reasons of safety when all they want, for

example, is an additional socket-outlet.

Copies of the new leaflet can be

downloaded from www.esc.org.uk.

Alternatively, up to 500 printed copies are

available free of charge on request, by

emailing [email protected].

WHY DO EARTHING AND BONDING NEED TO BE CHECKED?

8 SwitchedOn

Our electrical safety poster design

competition, themed around

‘electrical safety in your home’,

was part of our campaign to educate

children about using electricity safely.

It was very well received in schools and,

as a result, attracted over 8,000 entries

from primary school children of all ages

around the UK.

One of the judges, Baroness Jenny

Tonge, whose own daughter was killed in

an electrical accident at home, said “The

standard of the entries was quite

brilliant, but the winner had all the

ingredients to get the message across.”

She added, “It is so important that people

understand the dangers of electricity and

I am thrilled that primary school children

are taking this work so seriously.”

The Grand Final Winner and Regional

Winner for Wales was an 11 year old girl,

Beth Eales. Beth scooped first prize,

earning her school £500, and a prize for

herself.

The judges chose Beth’s poster as the

regional winner for Wales and overall UK

winner, beating the other regional

winners from England, Scotland and

Northern Ireland, because they thought

the poster was very effective at getting

the safety messages across through the

use of the standard ‘prohibited’ sign.

These red circles make the images bold,

powerful and eye catching.

“The standard of the entries

was quite brilliant, but the

winner had all the ingredients

to get the message across.”Baroness Jenny Tonge

Electrical safety p

Regional Winner England

Lacey Brooker

Runner Up & Regional Winner Scotland

William Rowse

Regional Winner Northern Ireland

Anna Humphreys

SwitchedOn 9

The winning children, together with their

families and school representatives,

attended a prize-giving ceremony held at

the Gardeners’ World Show at the NEC

Birmingham in June, where their posters

were on display for the thousands of

visitors attending the show. The prizes

were presented by Kirsten O’Brien, who

is a presenter from the children’s TV art

show, SMart.

Kirsten said “These pictures are

wonderful, and the level of entries is

really impressive. I’m encouraged when I

look at the way in which the children

have demonstrated their understanding

of the electrical dangers around the

home and incorporated them in their

designs so creatively.”

All of the winners and their posters are

on display on our children’s educational

website, www.switchedonkids.org.uk.

Please do go and have a look at them!

“These pictures

are wonderful, and

the level of entries

is really

impressive.”Kirsten O’Brien

SMart Art Show

poster designcompetition 2008

7 & Under Award Winner

Isabel Feather

Special Achievement Award

Francesca Petrucciano

Innovative Design Award

Becky Page

Grand Final Winner & Regional Winner Wales

Beth Eales

10 SwitchedOn

RoSPA, in partnership with Electrical SafetyCouncil and Intertek, are researching thefeasibility of setting up a new, UK-wideinjury surveillance system in the UK. The

objective of the database is to facilitate the

prevention of accidental injury by providing

data for research, policy development, injury

prevention programmes, risk assessment,

and product development.

Background

In 2002, the former Department of Trade

and Industry (DTI) ceased to collect injury

data for its Home Accident Surveillance

System (HASS) and Leisure Accident

Surveillance System (LASS). Since that time,

the database has been accessible through

RoSPA’s website and is used by 70,000

visitors per year. The number of website

visits is growing by 40% per year. Users

range from health care professionals and

lawyers, to risk managers and product

designers. Unfortunately, the HASS/LASS

database is now out of date and can no

longer be used to identify emerging injury

trends.

Current surveillance systems

A number of injury databases have been

identified in the UK and internationally. All

of these databases include unintentional

injuries in all settings and some include

intentional injuries. In addition,

there are many specialist

databases at international,

national and local level.

The most frequent

source of data is from

hospital Emergency

Departments (also

known as A&E), although

some databases are

supplemented by hospital

discharge data. Most databases

use a sample of hospitals and there

are two main methods for collecting this

data either by a specialist interviewer (like

the old HASS and LASS system) or by the

Emergency Department’s staff. Another

method is to use a combination of patient

self-reporting supplemented by medical

details from the Emergency Department’s

staff. ‘All-Injury’ databases are usually funded

through the Public Health budget whilst

those databases covering specialist areas are

often funded locally by the public and,

occasionally, the private sector.

Potential data users and their needs

The project team has identified potential

users and their data needs through a series

of meetings and questionnaires. Existing

users of the HASS/LASS database, managed

by RoSPA, and potential new data users

come from the public, private and third

sectors and include professionals such as:

• Injury prevention programme managers

• Product designers and risk managers

from manufacturing, service & retail

• Teachers, academics and researchers

• Trading Standards officers

• Politicians and civil servants

• Journalists.

From Figure 1, it is evident that existing

injury data available through the HASS and

LASS database has provided users with the

ability to influence policy and practice at

various levels, evaluate the effectiveness of

existing programmes, and focus on priority

areas for injury prevention. It has provided a

foundation for evidence-based practice and

product design.

Figure 1: Potential use for the Injury data.

It is clear from the joint research that there is

wide support for access to an up to date

UK-wide searchable injury database. It

should have as much information as

possible about the victim, the

circumstances leading to the injury, and the

injury itself. Case studies or free text about

the incident, provided by the victim or

health professional would give information

felt to be essential for the prevention of

injury. Producing reports (annually or

monthly) was thought to be very useful.

Users would like the data to be as

representative as possible at both a regional

and national level with a maximum lapse of

two years for data availability. It should also

be linked in with the work that is being

completed at a European level.

There has been indication that when this

data is made available, access should be

free, as currently applied to the HASS and

LASS data. However, it is common practice

for charges to be made for more complex,

time-consuming and highly specialised

searches especially those through free text

fields.

Data providers

Discussions have taken place with various

groups within the National Health Service to

assess the feasbility of collecting data

through A&E departments in England.

Parallel discussions have also taken

place in Scotland. Whilst there is

widespread support for a UK

injury database, there are

many more details that

need to be discussed.

Below is a possible model

of how this could be

processed.

A sample of Hospital

Emergency Departments from

each country in the British Isles

would supply data to a local “data

warehouse” where the data would be

anonomysed. Data is anonymised using

various methods; therefore in this instance

we are referring to this as “data warehouse”.

The data would then be sent to a central

data processing centre for consolidation

and analysis. Depending on funding

arrangements, this centre could provide

regular trend reports and free access for

users to carry out their own searches of the

UPDATE ON THE FEASIBILITY OF RE-ESTABLISHINGA UK-WIDE INJURY DATABASE

SwitchedOn 11

database. In addition, the centre would

potentially be able to supply

comprehensive data from the UK to the EU

Injury Database in order to allow EU-wide

comparison.

Design and funding

Once the preceding tasks have been

completed the project team will develop

and consult on a range of design proposals

for a new system. At this stage it is thought

that there are likely to be a range of options

and associated costs. Stakeholders and users

will be consulted to identify the most

sustainable and cost-effective solution.

The research project is due to report its findings

shortly.

The Council’s authoritative Technical

Manual, first introduced in 2002, has now

been updated to take account of the

publication of BS 7671: 2008 (IEE Wiring

Regulations, 17th Edition).

The Manual brings together the

requirements of all associated standards,

regulations and Codes of Practice into a

single, easy-to-use reference source. It is

illustrated in full colour and is updated

regularly to incorporate the latest

developments.

The Manual currently comprises over 300

topics, each dealing with a particular

requirement of BS 7671 in considerable

detail. It continues to grow at the rate of

about 40 new or updated topics each year.

Sample topics can be viewed on the

‘Business and Communities’ section of our

website (www.esc.org.uk).

The Manual is available in both CD and

online formats, each providing exactly the

same content, search facilities and printing

capability.

The CD version is available to everyone on

subscription. New subscriptions can be

arranged via our subsidiary, NICEIC Group

Ltd, through their ‘NICEIC Direct’ service

(www.niceicdirect.com).

The current annual subscription rate is

excellent value at only £50.00 including VAT.

This gives you two issues of the CD,

together with four issues of the NICEIC

magazine, ‘Connections’. The subscription

rate is currently under review, so if you’re

interested, don’t delay!

Currently, the online version is available only

to contractors registered with NICEIC. It can

be accessed via the secure area of the

NICEIC website (www.niceic.com). Non-

NICEIC registered subscribers to the Manual

will be advised as soon as facilities become

available for them to access the online

version.

COUNCIL’S TECHNICAL MANUAL UPDATEDTO THE 17th EDITION

12 SwitchedOn

Last spring, we launched to consumers the

‘Guide for consumers when ordering

domestic electrical installation work’, produced

in collaboration with the Institution of

Engineering and Technology. (The guide had

been launched to the trade in advance).

The media campaign included radio

messaging and a UK-wide press release. This

resulted in 74 radio stations broadcasting the

messaging and over 30 newspapers carrying

the story. In total, the media campaign is

estimated to have reached over 13 million

people.

Following the success of the launch, Yell

Group Ltd* offered to distribute the guide to

consumers via their directories, free of charge.

This enabled us to distribute over 1.2 million

printed copies of the guide with three Yellow

Pages directories over the past three months.

The areas covered were Newcastle upon

Tyne (July, circulation 500,000), Manchester

South (August, circulation 400,000) and the

London Boroughs of Bromley and Bexley

(September, circulation 300,000). We

supported this with local press coverage to

alert consumers living in those areas to the

benefits of using the guide.

We hope that, together with the press

coverage, distributing the guide with Yellow

Pages directories will encourage consumers

to keep it for use when they need to get

quotations for electrical work.

We will be monitoring the effectiveness of

this initiative over the coming months and, if

it proves to be successful, we will be

considering further distribution by such

means.

Copies of the guide can be downloaded free

of charge from our website at

www.esc.org.uk. A printer-friendly version of

the quotation request form is also available

from the website for electrical contractors

wishing to print copies onto their own

letterheaded paper.

GUIDANCE FOR CONSUMERS WHEN ORDERING DOMESTICELECTRICAL WORK

YOU ARE MORE AT RISK THAN YOU THINK:ASBESTOS - THE HIDDEN KILLER

Asbestos-related disease is the biggest single cause of work-

related deaths, accounting for around 4000 deaths each year.

Asbestos can cause three main diseases: mesothelioma (which is

always fatal), lung cancer (almost always fatal) and asbestosis (not

always fatal, but it can be very debilitating). The rate of deaths

continues to rise, and is not likely to peak until 2011-2015.

More people die from asbestos-related disease each year than

are killed on the roads

Every week 20 tradesmen die from asbestos-related disease

Of these, six are electricians

Asbestos can be present in any building built or refurbished

before the year 2000

The issue of asbestos has not gone with our forefathers - risks

with asbestos still exist

You may not realise it, but you may be disturbing asbestos when

you work.

Generally, asbestos is only a risk if it is disturbed or damaged so

that fibres are released into the air. If asbestos containing

materials are in good condition and in a position where they are

not going to be disturbed or damaged, then it is safer to leave

them where they are and ensure that the risks are managed.

The Asbestos Regulations (2006) require mandatory information,

instruction and training for anyone liable to be exposed to

asbestos fibres at work

Don’t work if:

You’re unsure whether asbestos is present – your employer or

the customer should tell you

Asbestos is present but you have not been trained to work safely

with it

The asbestos materials present are sprayed coatings, board or

lagging on pipes and boilers – only a contractor with a licence

should work on these.

Only work with asbestos if:

You have had asbestos training, the work is properly planned and

the right controls are in place (for example, you have the right

equipment)

The materials are asbestos cement, textured coatings containing

asbestos or others which do not need a licence.

HSE campaign

The HSE is launching a national campaign on 13 October to

further raise awareness among electricians that the risk of

asbestos is relevant to them and can damage their health

Adverts will feature in newspapers and trade magazines, and also

on the radio

New awareness packs with additional information and advice on

training will be included in the next issue of Switched

* We would like to thank the Consumer Development Team at Yell Group Ltd for their continuing support to our work.

SwitchedOn 13

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT CONSULTS ON‘TRUSTED TRADER’ SCHEME.

Earlier this year, the Scottish Government

put out for consultation draft guidance

and regulations relating to the Housing

(Scotland) Act 2006. The guidance is

intended as a practical tool to help Local

Authorities work effectively within their new

powers and duties. Because of the

complexity, the guidance has been split into

six volumes, Volume 6 being ‘Proposals for a

National Trusted Trader Framework’.

The proposals for such a framework build on

the Construction Licensing Executive (CLE)

scheme, although they acknowledge that

coverage of some trade sectors is patchy, as

is geographical coverage. They also

acknowledge that the CLE scheme has a

high accreditation level which, whilst being

positive, may discourage some traders in

some industries from joining such a scheme.

A two tier structure is therefore proposed.

The proposals acknowledge other existing

schemes in Scotland, with a view to joining

them up rather than reinventing what is

already in place.

Joining the framework would be voluntary

for traders. It is envisaged that a trusted

trader framework in Scotland would need to

offer a credible level of choice to help

homeowners to confidently select a trader

to carry out work on their home. Initially at

least, evaluation and monitoring of traders is

seen as being by web-based customer

feedback. In the longer term, traders would

be audited or inspected by their

construction body. Mechanisms to audit

those outside a construction body would

however need to be put in place.

Intended as a national framework, Scottish

Government believes that the Trusted Trader

scheme will bring significant benefits for

homeowners and the Scottish housing

stock. The scheme is expected to have the

following broad features:-

• Remove the various barriers homeowners

face when trying to access reliable

tradesmen

• Be accessible to anyone in Scotland

• Have national level branding and

standards to ensure traders and end users

know what to expect wherever they are,

but operate at a local level with central

administrative support

• Have a minimum level of accreditation no

matter the delivery vehicle

• Have the buy-in of the construction

industry as well as trading standards in

local authorities

• Take account of the needs of the owner

and the construction industry equally to

help towards the sustainability of the

framework

• Promote healthy competition and

enterprise in the economy such as by

building in open and comparative pricing

between traders.

The consultation finished on 1 July, but the

full consultation paper can still be found at

www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/04/07144231/0.

A report on the consultation process is due

to be issued in autumn, and final guidance

for Local Authorities is expected to be

published by the end of the year.

TrustMark is planning to launch itself into Scotland in

partnership with the Department for Business, Enterprise and

Regulatory Reform (BERR), the Scottish Government and other

stakeholders.

TrustMark has made a positive response to the Scottish

Government’s consultation document on ‘Proposals for a

National Trusted Trader Framework for Scotland.’ (See preceding

article.)

This was done with a view to TrustMark participating more

comprehensively in Scotland in support of homeowners and

TrustMark members already operating in Scotland.

In support of this launch, the first piece of promotional activity

will be distribution of a new TrustMark

leaflet which will be going into people’s

homes across Scotland through the

distribution of Yellow Pages.

TrustMark TO LAUNCH INTO SCOTLAND

14 SwitchedOn

Afamily of five survived when fire ripped

through their three storey home in

Headington, Oxfordshire in the early hours of

a May Sunday morning. The mother of the

family was woken by their smoke alarms,

providing vital time for the fire and rescue

service to be called. The prompt attendance

by firefighters resulted in the family being

rescued and their lives being saved.

Fire alarm systems

The Oxford Mail article highlights the

importance of having a functional fire

detection and alarm system. Smoke alarms

detect smoke at the earliest stages of a fire,

giving the occupiers an early warning and

vital extra time to take appropriate action.

The main danger associated with fire in its

early stages is not flame, but the smoke and

noxious gases which not only cause the

majority of casualties by inhalation, but may

also obscure the way to escape routes and

exits. The statistics show that in 2006, of the

491 fire related fatalities in the UK, 196 (40%)

were as a result of being overcome by

smoke.

Being able to hear a smoke alarm is vital,

which is why two documents relating to fire

safety in dwellings, BS 5839-6 Fire detection

and alarm systems for buildings and The

Building Regulations 2000 Approved

Document B recommend at least one smoke

alarm on each floor level.

However, where a floor level contains

bedrooms, to provide sufficient sound levels

to rouse person(s) from their sleep, it is

recommended by BS 5839-6 that a smoke

alarm should be located within 3 m of the

bedroom door. This will not guarantee that

every person will be awakened, particularly if

the occupiers are under the influence of

alcohol, drugs, have reduced ear sensitivity or

the building has good sound proofing

properties. Under such circumstances, due to

the enhanced risk, a designer may decide to

mount smoke alarms in the bedroom.

The design for a fire detection and alarm

system should take into account: the type of

building, the use of the building, the

potential sources of fire, the potential for fire

to spread through a building, and the

characteristics of person(s) using the

building. For a dwelling, the design may

result in either a system of smoke and heat

alarms or a more complex system such as, a

BS 5839-1 Grade A which may be found in a

large dwelling or a house in multiple

occupation. The design of the system can

either meet the requirements of BS 5839-1,

BS 5839-6 or, for a new or materially altered

dwelling, Approved Document B.

It is essential that an occupier of a dwelling

or user of the system, who may be a

layperson, understands the operation of the

system, the action to take in the event of a

fire alarm signal, the means for avoidance of

false alarms, the procedures for testing the

system and the need for routine

maintenance of the system.

To ensure functionality, all types of fire alarm

system need to be subject to periodic

inspection and testing. In a dwelling where

the type of system contains smoke and heat

alarms, this may be carried out, quite easily,

by the occupier, as generally it involves

operation of a test button and cleaning the

alarms in accordance with the manufacturer’s

instructions. For a more complex system such

as a BS5839-1 Grade A, a competent person

with specialist knowledge will normally be

required

Fire statistics

The saving of the Oxfordshire families lives by

firefighters prevented them from being part

of the statistics collated by Communities and

Local Government. In 2006, 491 deaths

(including 2 firefighters) and 13,800 non-fatal

casualties were fire related, of which 363

deaths and 11,200 were in dwellings. The

cause of deaths were 196 (40%) overcome by

gas or smoke, 111 (23%) by burns alone, 104

(21%) burns and overcome by gas or smoke,

13% were unspecified and 3% were by other

causes.

In 2006, the fire and rescue service attended

426,200 fires, of which 55,800 (13%) were in

dwellings. However, a ‘Survey of English

Housing’ suggested that, as some domestic

fires are minor and are extinguished by the

occupier, there are in the region of 250,000

fires in dwellings per year.

FAMILY SAVED BY FIRE ALARM

THE DANGERS OF DOMESTIC APPLIANCES

We all know that dangers lurk in the

home and that electrical appliances

can pose a risk for consumers if not treated

with care. However, judging from the latest

claims made to domestic warranty provider

Domestic & General, appliances are just as at

risk from their owners!

Analysing the last six months’ claims, D & G

found that televisions were most at risk from

children, with 29% of claims involving them.

Examples included:

"My three year old son was watching Scooby

Doo the Movie, got scared of the monsters and

threw the remote at the screen."

"My seven year old grandson pulled the TV over

onto himself while trying to climb the

wardrobe to get at the Christmas presents."

"My little daughter sprayed furniture polish

onto the screen. It now has big black patches

all over the screen."

Virtual games (such as the Wii) can also

cause people to hit the screen by accident

or throw the control at the screen in their

excitement as they get carried away with

the game.

An amazing 4% of claims for TVs are caused

by vacuum cleaners. Their handles can fall

into the screen if not secured into the

upright position, or owners trip over the

lead and knock the TV off its stand.

People dropping their TVs while moving

them caused a further 27% of claims. It

seems that we still don't appreciate how

heavy new LCD or plasma televisions are,

and we don't always clear the route of

potential hazards beforehand.

Moving laptop computers also provides a

rich source of accidents, with people

tripping over hazards (often pets) or even

dropping them down the stairs. Dropping a

laptop while moving it accounts for 29% of

claims.

Spilling liquids onto laptops causes a further

fifth of claims, and children account for 15%.

It seems that people are prone to leaving

the laptop on the floor or on a low table,

and small children can't resist sitting or

standing on them.

Trailing cables cause 10% of laptop claims.

People either trip over the cable or walk into

it pulling the laptop onto the floor.

Finally, Domestic & General have had some

unusual claims involving white goods. One

lady's oven door shattered when she fell

over in the kitchen and hit it with her head.

Many ceramic hobs were broken when

items were dropped onto them, and a

tumble dryer got smashed when its owner

reversed into it by mistake! - it was installed

in a garage.

SwitchedOn 15

East Riding of Yorkshire Council Trading

Standards Service has been advising

consumers to be vigilant when purchasing

second hand electrical goods, following a

survey into the safety of such items.

Following the summer floods last year, the

trading standards service became

concerned that electrical goods damaged by

water were starting to appear on the second

hand market. Information from the market

place also indicated that there was an

increased demand for second hand electrical

goods from people who were not insured

against the damage caused by the floods.

As a result, the trading standards service

took the decision to purchase a portable

appliance test instrument, enabling officers

to test the safety of electrical goods on sale.

Inspections were then carried out at second

hand outlets across the East Riding of

Yorkshire. A third of all the items tested failed

to meet electrical safety requirements, the

majority of faults being found in the plug or

the flexible cord. In most cases, trading

standards were able to work with the

proprietors of the businesses concerned to

ensure that either the goods were removed

from sale and disposed of, or the fault

rectified.

Trading standards are continuing to advise

consumers to carry out visual checks before

buying second hand electrical appliances

and, if possible, to buy such goods only if

they have been tested for safety.

Any member of the public or businesswho have concerns about the sale ofsecond hand electrical goods shouldcontact Consumer Direct on08454 040506

TRADING STANDARDS SURVEY FINDS DANGEROUSELECTRICAL GOODS

16 SwitchedOn

In April this year, the European Commission

announced the findings of a European-

wide market surveillance project that

looked at the safety of cord extension sets

(commonly known as ‘extension leads’), and

sought to determine the level of non-

compliance in an area already identified by

EU authorities as problematic.

The project, launched in 2007, was carried

out by EU Member State market surveillance

authorities, co-ordinated by the LVD ADCO*

(Low Voltage Directive Administrative

Cooperation) group.

Cord extension sets were chosen as a

subject for cross-border market surveillance

action because of their widespread use

across European households, and because

safety shortcomings can be severe, leading

to risk of electric shock or fire, or damage to

connected equipment.

In total, 210 cord extension sets were tested

in over 20 European countries, including a

limited contribution from the UK.

Worryingly, the results indicated that only

one in six cord extension sets fully complied

with statutory safety regulations.

Non-compliant samples included those

which exhibited only administrative failures,

such as deficient declarations of conformity

or missing technical documentation.

However, around 58% of the cord extension

sets tested were considered sufficiently

unsafe by the authorities to justify a sales

ban.

The most frequently detected deficiencies

included wrong shape and dimensions of

plugs and sockets (50%), insufficient diameter

of the cord (27%) and insufficient dielectric

strength and resistance to ageing,

temperature and fire (10%).

In a press release issued by the European

Commission, it was stated that “These cross-

border market surveillance actions found a

significant number of non-compliant

products on which action was taken, and

concluded that more needs to be done to

further safeguard the safety of European

consumers”.

Although the project confirmed the

concerns being raised over the safety of cord

extension sets throughout Europe, the

failures related mainly to products taken from

the market outside the UK. Indeed,

investigations carried out at around the same

time by the Electrical Safety Council on

samples of cord extension sets taken from

the UK market found none of the deficiencies

identified in the Commission’s report.

An independent specialist laboratory was

commissioned by the Council to carry out

safety screening on a selection of 4-way cord

extension sets purchased from UK high street

retailers. All of the samples, as tested, passed

the safety assessment with no departures or

observations being noted, and were

therefore found to be compliant with the

general safety provisions of the relevant UK

product standards.

The full laboratory report detailing the results

of the cord extension set safety screening

can be viewed on the Council’s website.

So, are multi-way “extension leads”

purchased in the UK safe?

In general terms the answer is yes, provided

of course they are used as intended by the

manufacturer.

Further advice on the use of extension leads

can be found in the ‘Safety in the home’

section of our website.

* The LVD Administrative Cooperation group is

constituted by EEA market surveillance

authorities enforcing safety of electrical

products and Commission representatives. Its

role is to discuss electrical safety issues related to

market surveillance from an EU point of view,

primarily to promote a harmonised

understanding as to what is safe, to increase

understanding of methods used by other

Member States, and to benefit from the

knowledge and experience of others. This Group

reports to the Low Voltage Directive Working

Party.

CONCERNS RAISED OVER THE SAFETY OFEXTENSION LEADS IN EUROPE

SwitchedOn 17

Anecdotal evidence suggests that a large

proportion of the adult population has

experienced one or more electric shocks

from electrical installations or appliances

during their lifetime, often as a result of

carelessness. Fortunately, relatively few

people are killed each year as a result, but

the fact remains that any one of the ‘near

miss’ events could have been fatal if the

circumstances had been different.

Recent cases have highlighted the need to

know what to do if you think that someone

has had, or is having, an electric shock.

The effects of an electric shock might be of

a short duration, such as an unpleasant

tingling, muscular reaction and a shortness

of breath, or be of a more permanent

nature, including burns and death.

The likelihood of an electric shock having

fatal consequences depends mainly on the

magnitude and duration of the current flow

through the body, but several other factors

including the current path through the

body, the degree of moisture of the skin and

the surface area of contact also play a part.

Additionally, the risk of a fatal electric shock

is increased in places such as gardens where

people are in direct contact with the

ground, which may be damp or wet.

In practice, where the flow of current

through the body exceeds 30 mA for more

than a very short time (measured in

thousandths of a second), there is a

significant increase in the risk of a fatal

electric shock.

What to do if you believe someone has

received or is receiving an electric shock

It may not be immediately clear that

someone either has received or is receiving

an electric shock. Smoke is unlikely to be

pouring from their ears! If it is suspected that

a person is suffering from electric shock,

anyone coming to their aid should approach

with extreme caution.

The first step would be to separate the

person from the source of electricity as

quickly as possibly. The best way of doing

this would be to turn off the supply, for

example by unplugging the appliance or by

turning off the main switch in the consumer

unit (fuse board).

If this is not possible, then you should try to

remove the source of electricity from the

person using a piece of insulating material,

such as a length of wood.

NEVER touch the person receiving the

electric shock, or you are likely to suffer the

same fate.

If the person is unconscious, after removing

the person from the source of electricity, you

should call for an ambulance immediately.

Any first aid should be carried out only by

those having the necessary knowledge and

skill.

Where the person is

conscious and seems

well, it would still be advisable to monitor

the person’s condition, as the effects of an

electric shock may not be immediately

obvious. In worst case conditions, an electric

shock may lead to a condition known as

electroporation, where cells within the body

rupture, leading to tissue necrosis.

Additional problems might include deep-

seated burns, muscle damage and broken

bones.

Use an RCD

The use of a residual current device (RCD)

having a rated residual operating current of

30 mA or less, although not a guarantee of

absolute safety, does provide a significant

benefit in most cases by limiting the time

that current that can flow through the body

should a person come into contact with a

live source of electricity.

In particular, the Electrical Safety Council

strongly recommends that any person using

electrical appliances in the garden ensures

that they are protected by an RCD,

preferable one fitted in the consumer unit.

Alternatively, a dedicated RCD-protected

socket-outlet or a plug-in type of RCD

should be used.

Copies of our leaflet ‘Using electricalequipment outdoors’ can be downloadedfrom our website. Alternatively, up to 500printed copies can be obtained byemailing [email protected]

ELECTRIC SHOCK – WHAT SHOULD I DO?

18 SwitchedOn

ROLL OF APPROVED CONTRACTORS RISES TO 15,000

ELECTRIC BLANKET TESTING CAMPAIGN TO HELPOLDER PEOPLE STAY SAFE THIS WINTER

Following the success of last year’s

initiative, we are funding another series of

events this autumn at which free electric

blanket testing is offered to older people.

The objective is to promote a number of key

safety messages around the use of electric

blankets. The aim is to improve safety and

decrease potential fire risks in the homes of

older people, whilst at the same time offering

them practical assistance.

Working in association with a number of

community-based agencies such as the Fire

& Rescue Services and Age Concern

branches, we are holding electric blanket

testing events in 15 towns across England,

Wales and Scotland.

Last year, about 70% of the 1700 blankets

tested were found to be faulty. The aim of

this year’s campaign is to test at least another

1500.

Where a blanket fails the tests and cannot be

satisfactorily repaired, the owner is offered an

equivalent new one in exchange, on the

spot. Condemned blankets are disposed of

in accordance with the WEEE Directive.

In support of the campaign, we have

produced a safety leaflet for users of electric

blankets which includes guidance on

purchasing, checking, storage and disposal. If

you would like a copy, please email us at:

[email protected].

Key electric blanket safety measures

The safety guidance given in the leaflet

includes:

• When acquiring another blanket, always

buy new – second hand blankets may not

be safe

• To ensure your blanket is safe for

continued use, have it checked by a

specialist at least every three years, or as

recommended by the manufacturer

• Always read the manufacturer’s

instructions carefully and follow them

• Never use a blanket having scorch marks

or exposed elements

• Check the plug cord for any signs of wear

or damage

• Never use the blanket if it is wet and do

not switch it on to dry it out

• Never use a hot water bottle and an

electric blanket together in the same bed

• When using the blanket always spread it

out - never use the blanket folded or

creased

• Make sure the power is turned off at the

socket or the blanket is unplugged when

not in use

• Some electric blankets are designed not

to be washed - always check the

manufacturer’s instructions

• Keep the blanket stored carefully over the

summer months - refer to the

manufacturer’s instructions on how best

to do this.

When the Approved Contractor scheme

was established by the National

Inspection Council for Electrical Installation

Contracting (NICEIC) in 1956, there were

only about 3,500 contractors on the Roll,

and only 14 Inspecting Engineers (one for

each of the then Area Electricity Boards).

Then, as now, the Approved Contractor

scheme covered the whole of the UK

(England, Scotland, Wales and Northern

Ireland), the Channel Islands and the Isle of

Man.

Many of the original contractors on the Roll

had been inherited from the National

Register of Electrical Installation Contractors.

This body had been set up in 1923, but was

evidently faltering in the period leading up

to the formation of the NICEIC. At its peak in

1938, the National Register had about 1,700

electrical contractors on its books.

With informed specifiers being the main

driving force, encouraged by the Inspecting

Engineers of the day, the number of

Approved Contractors on the Roll grew

steadily from 1956, reaching a total of some

10,500 by the end of 2004.

At that time, with the

government clearly

signalling the introduction of

electrical safety requirements

in Part P of the Building

Regulations for England and Wales in

January 2005, the number of enrolled

contractors began to rise quite sharply,

reaching a total of almost 14,000 by the end

of July last year. A year later, that figure had

increased to more than 15,000.

Over the years, the number of Engineers

responsible for assessing contractors against

the Rules Relating to Enrolment

has increased proportionately, now

standing at 73.

Since the Electrical Safety

Council was formed from the

National Inspection Council for

Electrical Installation

Contracting in 2005, the

Approved Contractor scheme

has continued to be operated under licence

by NICEIC Group Ltd, the Council’s wholly

owned subsidiary.

SwitchedOn 19

ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES

From 1 October this year, landlords are

required to provide tenants in England

and Wales with an Energy Performance

Certificate (EPC) at the point of new rental.

We became aware of this new requirement

as a result of questions from landlords who

thought the requirement was for a periodic

inspection report or electrical safety

inspection.

The certificate is the same as that needed

for the Home Information Pack which now

has to be produced when selling residential

properties in England and Wales.

Although the Energy Performance

Certificate contains some information

relating to electrical installations, such as

data collection in relation to low energy

lighting, and heating systems and controls,

it is unrelated to the periodic electrical

safety inspection and tests carried out by

electrical inspectors.

Energy Performance Certificates provide

details about the current and potential CO2

emissions of a property, running cost

indicators, recommendations for

improvements, and improvement cost

indicators. Certificates are valid for ten

years. Energy performance surveys can be

carried out only by licensed and accredited

Domestic Energy Assessors.

For further information about Energy

Performance Certificates, visit

www.communities.gov.uk/epbd

BEST PRACTICE GUIDES

Fire precautions

Completion of Best Practice Guide No 5,

Electrical installations and their impact on the

fire performance of buildings: Part 1 –

Domestic premises, took considerably longer

than had been expected when the previous

issue of Switched On was being produced.

Circulation of what was intended to be the

final draft of the guide resulted in further

constructive comments from interested

parties, which took time to incorporate.

It is now planned to publish only the shorter

version of the guidance, which should be

sufficient for most electrical installers and

other practitioners. Hopefully the guide will

be available from our website by the time

this issue of Switched On is distributed.

To increase awareness of the important

information and advice it contains, it is still

planned to formally launch the guide at one

or more events for electrical installers and

other building professionals. News about

these events is likely to be given on our

website before the next issue of Switched

On is published.

Periodic inspection

As advised in the summer issue of Switched

On, an amended (July 2008) version of Best

Practice Guide No 4 – Periodic inspection

reporting – recommendation codes for

domestic and similar electrical installations –

is now available, and can be downloaded

from the ‘Business and Community’ section

of our website. It can be distinguished from

the original (January 2008)

version by the marking ‘Issue 2’

on the front cover. It supersedes the original

version, which should no longer be used.

Other Guides

Work has commenced on two more Best

Practice Guides, one dealing with plug-in

devices for testing 13 A socket-outlets, and

the other dealing with electrically unsafe

situations. News about the development

and availability of these and other

guides will be given in future issues of

Switched On.

www.communities.gov.uk/epbd

All the previous issues of

Switched On are available

to read or download from the

‘Business & Community’

section of our website.

www.esc.org.uk

ELECTRICAL SAFETY COUNCIL ROADSHOW

20 SwitchedOn

Our interactive trailer has now completed

its first tour, visiting a variety of country

shows and town centres throughout the UK.

Facilities on the trailer include a mock-up of a

kitchen and a bedroom that visitors can go

inside to see the electrical hazards that might

exist in their own homes.

There is the opportunity to have a go on our

challenging electrical safety quiz with a

chance of winning a prize. In addition to a

wide range of consumer safety leaflets and a

variety of promotional items to entice people

on board, visitors can also take away our new

home safety DVD.

The trailer has proved to be a great success.

During its travels, we’ve had the pleasure of

welcoming over 10,000 visitors to the trailer,

and have given away more than 15,000

leaflets and educational fun packs.

The trailer will be touring again in 2009.

We will be keeping you updated about its

schedule and progress in future issues of

Switched On.

ELECTRICAL QUIZ – WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE?

This is the second of a series of electrical

quizzes we’re running in Switched On.

The quizzes are pitched at three levels:

‘trickle charged’, ‘medium powered’ and ‘high

potential’.

The aim of this ‘medium-powered’ quiz is to

answer all the electrically-related questions

using the cryptic sports clues provided. If

you think you have ten right answers, you

can enter the prize draw by emailing them

to us at [email protected] by Friday

31 October 2008

The person providing the first set of correct

answers to be selected at random from the

entries will receive:

A Socket & See DL420 earth fault loop

impedance test instrument (RRP £160)*

A safety kit comprising a Testmate ET200

voltage detector, a proving unit and a

domestic lock-off kit (RRP £150)*

A full set of NICEIC technical publications

(RRP £175)*

A year’s free subscription to the Electrical

Safety Council’s Technical Manual on CD

(worth £50.00)

The next four persons providing the correct

answers to be selected at random from the

entries will each receive:

A safety kit comprising a Testmate ET200

voltage detector, a proving unit and a

domestic lock-off kit (RRP £150)*

A year’s free subscription to the Electrical

Safety Council’s Technical Manual on CD

(worth £50.00)

* Prizes kindly donated by NICEIC Group Ltd

1 Former Fulham and German international who applied

pressure (6, 4)

2 Surname of former Arsenal striker whose induction to football

was in a small sovereign city-state (5)

3 The nickname of this former Welsh Manchester United striker

suggests he could have been an electrician (6)

4 A type of electrical circuit a boxer competes in (4)

5 Glasgow born boxer who powered his way through the world

lightweight division in the late seventies (3, 4)

6 A type of combat Michael Faraday may have taken part in, as

he had the same potential as anyone else (4, 8)

7 This record by a synthpop group from the Wirral could have a

magnetic attraction (5, 5)

8 It is equivalent to 746 watts (3, 10)

9 This Kent-based ice hockey team could produce a lot of

energy (7, 7)

10 Michael is part of the home of AFC Newbury (7, 4)

high potentialmedium poweredtrickle charged

Ra

tin

g:

The terms and conditions for the prize draw may be found on our website.

The solution to this quiz will be posted on our website shortly after the closing date together with, as soon as possible, the names of the lucky winners.

Details of the winners of the quiz in the summer issue, together with the solution to the quiz, can be viewed on our website (www.esc.org.uk).

This cryptic ‘medium-powered’ electrical quiz has a sporting flavour:

www.esc.org.uk

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