Row over competent person schemes

A row has broken out over the way that Part P competent persons scheme providers are interpreting the rules at the heart of the Government’s introduction of electrical safety into the Building Regulations.

Contractors wishing to self-certify that their work meets the requirements of the new regulations must first register with one of the five competent person schemes. Firms will be subject to an assessment of electrical operatives’ qualifications as well as two on-site inspections.

The row centres on exactly when those on-site assessments should occur. Two of the scheme providers are said to be fast-tracking contractors onto their register and leaving the site assessments for up to six months after registration.

“We believe the rules are not being complied with,” explained Jim Speirs, director general of the NICEIC. “You must have completed the site assessment before approving a contractor. What happens if that is not done for six months? How do you go back?” The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has written to all scheme providers – BRE Certification, the NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA and BSI Product Services – explaining what exactly is required of scheme operators.

An ODPM statement said: “We are aware of allegations that some competent persons schemes are not complying fully with the rules. ODPM monitors all Part P schemes to ensure that they are complying with the conditions of authorisation, including the requirement for an on-site assessment of competence before applicants can be granted rights of self-certification.”

NAPIT has advertised its fast track approach in the press. It is understood that a complaint about the advertisement was informally resolved without the need for an adjudication from the Advertising Standards Authority. ELECSA is the other body allowing contractors to self-certify before they have carried out an on-site assessment.

“Our concern is that a contractor is fast-tracked without City& Guilds 2381 and no site assessment and causes a death. That would be a death knell to the whole scheme,” said Jim Speirs.

Many feel that the ODPM is being too lax on policing Part P. While the ODPM’s long-term aim is for these schemes to be UKAS-approved and for UKAS to police the operators, scheme providers have been given three years to achieve UKAS approval. “Any Part P scheme which systematically breached the conditions of authorisation could have its authorisation to run a competent person scheme removed,” said the ODPM.