FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions and Electrical Jargon Buster

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NAPIT Full Scope Member

TRUSTMARK Registered

Yes, we have:

£2,000,000 Public Liability Insurance 

£10,000,000 Employers Liability Insurance

£500,000 Professional Indemnity 

Most definitely yes, we can offer the NICEIC platinum promise. NAPIT have a labour guarantee for up to 6 years from the date of completion for all new installations. For commercial installations we can offer the ECA Bond for up to £50,000 of cover.

Yes, we are Part P registered through the NICEIC and NAPIT. All notifiable works will be submitted through the local authority building control upon completion. We work in a range of environments from householders, landlords, housing associations, shops, letting/estate agents, high street retail outlets, including industrial and commercial locations throughout England.

You can find a link on the invoice email whare payment can be made simply by entering your card details, or within the invoice, my bank details are listed. Please use the invoice number as the reference.  

We cover, Leicester, Leicestershire and surrounding areas. We have in the past and will continue to go further for our clients for larger projects.

Yes, we able to take on insurance works and liaise with other project managers, contractors and the loss adjusters. 

A qualified electrician will arrive promptly to undertake the Electricals works. We will ensure that they possess the relevant skills and training to carry out the works. We do not use subcontractors. 

We try our best to give specific time slots in which we aim to arrive. We are on-time 95% of the time and always keep you well informed.

In the majority of cases, there is no charge for estimates. The estimate would be given verbally and in writing. If the location is beyond Leicestershire there may be a charge in any case you would be notified of this beforehand at the booking stage.  

Unfortunately, we do not provide estimates for fault finding, due to the investigative nature of the task and the uncertainty around the cause of the fault(s). In this scenario our hourly rates would apply, please see our charges page for further information.

We carry out electrical installations, maintenance, inspection and Testing. The scope of works can range from and replacing a light fitting or socket to complete new installations. This can be with a home, a rental property, industrial facility or a commercial site.

Based on previous experience, 80% of faults can be found within an hour. The repair must take place vital safety systems need to be checked, such as earth bonding to gas and water services, the integrity of the consumer unit and the continuity of circuit protective conductors. All of this has to take place and is documented. Your safety is our principal concern.

Yes, a Minor Works Certificate would need issuing, this involves a degree of inspecting and testing to ensure that the circuit is in a safe state. Most electrical works would require issuing of certifications. 

Many property maintenance workers often replace electrical switches and sockets with no regards to safety; in many cases, they lack the correct electrical training and contravene the Electricity at Work Act at the very least.

Yes, we do, especially if it saves our clients from taking days off works.

In the first instance, do not use the socket as it may give rise to danger and inform everyone in the house about the issue. Depending on the severity of the damage, it may be wise to switch off the circuit at the consumer's fuse box. Go the fuse box and read off the labels and switch of the circuit, if in any doubt contact a competent electrician.

We don’t recommend that you change the socket yourself as in most cases, homeowners are not electrically competent or qualified and are unable to test the installation to BS7671:2019 (18th edition).

The socket is no longer fit for use and contravenes the manufacturer's guidelines which invalidates any guarantees for electrical safety. I recommend that you contact an electrician to replace the socket as soon as possible. 786 Electricals are only a call away.

Firstly let everyone know not to use the switch, we recommend that you do not try and replace the switch yourself as in most situations the homeowner is not electrically skilled and you may put yourself at risk.

The most common causes for this are loose connections and faulty switch or switches. Only after a visual inspection of the switch and a test of the circuit the cause would be apparent definitively.

786 Electricals Ltd recommends that you go to the consumer unit and switch off the relevant circuit and call an electrician immediate. 

A consumer unit is a type of power distribution enclosure which has an internal assembly, a main switch, RCD’s, RCBO’S and is type-tested under relevant standards. 

Unfortunately, the person ordering the work would be responsible for the payment. I recommend that you contact the landlord and ask permission for reimbursement before instructing us.

There is a high probability that the consumer unit and wiring contained within is starting overheat. What you are smelling could be the phenol-formaldehyde used in the manufacture of a bakelite type plastic in electrical installations, the smell could be from a Main Switch, RCD, Neutral Bar Mounts and MCB’s or could be a mixture (1)the consumer unit and (2)personal belongings coming in contact with the consumer unit.

This could pose a potential fire risk. We recommend that the main switch is switched in the off position, a qualified electrician should be booked without delay.

If the electrical inspection and test was completed professionally, there should be a sticker either on the consumer unit or in that area stating the date of inspection and the next recommended date for an inspection. There may even be the electrical report and in that vicinity left by the previous electrician.

Based on previous experience if the sticker is not present, it tends to be an indication the installation has not been tested at all or not had a test for over a decade. If that is so, we recommend that the property should be inspected, tested, and an Electrical Installation Condition Report is compiled

A yellow to brown discolouration of sockets could be signs of overloading of the sockets, loose connections or socket faceplate failure. We recommend that an electrical contractor is appointed to address the issue. It only takes a phone call to arrange we are more than happy to be of service.

It may be possible that there is a level of discolouration on the back of the socket, which is not visible. We always recommend that properties should have an electrical inspection and test periodically in line with the recommendations of BS7671.

The Green goo is a situation that is prevalent in electrical installation dating back to 1965.

Between 1965 and 1971 The manufacturing process of PVC cables contained diisooctyl phthalate a plasticiser used to increase the temperature rating of the cable. The plasticiser of the insulation and the copper conductors have had a chemical reaction which leads to the production of the hated green goo. Higher ambient temperature above 20 degrees can accelerate the creation of the green goo.

The green goo is low in,  flammability and toxicity. However, health and safety precautions should be taken, the green goo is not to be touched without relevant precautions. Children should be kept well away from any green residue. 

Electrical accessories such as switches, sockets, pendants, cooker isolators and fused connection units may have a reduction in respect of there functional usability and a change in the visual aesthetics which could compromise the finished décor.

Based on my experience and industry guidance, regrettably, in instances where the green goo has seriously compromised the electrical installation. The wiring system and the accessories should be replaced. 

Yes, an outdoor socket can be added providing the circuit has RCD protection is installed, the gas and water earth bonds are sufficiently sized and are well connected. We can make a site survey visit to assess the scope of works. 

The question has two answers:

Yes if they are Part P Registered and can self-certify and notify the local building authority. Some gas engineers have a limited scope registration with bodies Like NAPIT.

No, if they are not Part P registered.

Yes if they are Part P Registered. Some tradesmen have a limited scope registration with bodies Like NAPIT and the NICEIC and issue Minor Works Certificates.

No, if they are not Part P registered. Even if they state they are competent in doing so, they would lack the formal training and rigorous assessment standards needed to be a registered electrician. You would most probably not receive an electrical certificate. They would not be able to test to confirm the installation is left safely. 

Simply, pick up the phone and call me.

Yes, please email requesting the documents, we would ask for your details and maintain them online with GDPR.

786 Electricals Ltd will always maintain your data in a legal and GDRP compliment way. If you would like to know more about how we manage your data, Please email us.

Yes, we work alongside other tradesmen who take pride in the workmanship and the service they provide on a daily basis.

Firstly try better quality lamps from reputable distributors if this has not made any difference you would need to seek professional advise. 

Please see our blog.

When was the last time the property was inspected and tested and an EICR was compiled it may be an indication of age and wear on the fittings or the wiring system.

No, unless the builder is Part P Registered, qualified and trained. It is not prudent to have untrained and unregistered individuals working on the electrical installation.

This is more than likely and earth fault on the oven this can develop due to the age, wear, tear and possible user errors such as water penetration from rigorous cleaning. 

I recommend that the circuit is tested and the oven is isolated readily for an appliance engineer to attended to investigate.

Check the consumer unit make sure that Notting has tripped out.

Switch off the power and replace the lamps.

If no joy contact an electrician. 

The isolator has failed electrically.

The cable might have been damaged during some renovation works.

The shower could have become faulty.

The cable could have failed due to overloading from an incorrectly selected electric shower.

The circuit breaker maybe under rated for the shower and cable.

High resistance connections may create a trip especially if the shower is under load.

Water penetration in the shower is also very common especially if the bathroom has recently been renovated. 

The RCD might have developed oversensitivity.

In any case the concerns should be checked by a qualified and competent electrician and the shower circuit should be switched off and the consumer unit and isolator. 

No, it is highly unlikely the light fitting do meet the recognised standards here in the United Kingdom. 

Fixed Appliance Testing or FAT testing refers to fixed electrical appliances that are permanently hardwired into the electrical system such as heaters and cookers that weigh more that 18kg in weight.

No, under no circumstances, we would not be prepared to do this as it is work that we have not installed and raises concerning ethical issues.

TrustMark is the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme covering any kind of work a consumer chooses to have carried out in or around their home.

A TrustMark Registered Business is a thoroughly vetted organisation. Such businesses meet the required standards and have a considerable commitment to good customer service, technical competence and trading practices.

https://www.trustmark.org.uk/

NAPIT is one of the leading Government approved and United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited membership scheme operators in the building services and fabric sector. There are currently more than 10,000 NAPIT registered installers in the electrical, heating, plumbing and other sectors across the UK domestic, commercial and industrial markets.

For more details about NAPIT, https://www.napit.org.uk/

Competent Person Schemes (CPS) were introduced by the UK Government to allow individuals and enterprises to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations as an alternative to submitting a building notice or using an approved inspector.

For more about the competent persons register,  https://competentperson.co.uk/

Three Best Rated is an organisation that finds the best 3 local businesses in any trade. They have a 50-Point Inspection to check business's reputation, history, complaints, ratings, proximity, satisfaction, trust, cost, general excellence, reviews, and more.  

It is an honour to mention that we stand among the 3 best rates electricians in Leicester.

https://threebestrated.co.uk/electricians-in-leicester

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the sole national accreditation body recognised by the British government to assess the competence of organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services. For more information about UKAS, follow, https://www.ukas.com/Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.

Part P of the building regulations is introduced by the UK government in 2005. Part P states that anyone carrying out electrical installation work in a home must make sure that the work is designed and installed to protect people from fire and electric shocks. Read more about Part P and the legislation, https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/find-an-electrician/part-p/

The UK national safety standard for electrical installation work. Also known as the IET Wiring Regulations (Institution of Engineering and Technology). This details the requirements for electrical installations and is the standard against which NICEIC and ELECSA electricians are assessed.

The standards for the design and construction of buildings are governed by the Building Regulations. Their aim is to ensure the health and safety of people in or around those buildings as well as having requirements for energy conservation. In England and Wales, the Building Regulations 2010 apply. In Scotland, The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 is the primary legislation under which the Building Standards system operates. This is supported by secondary legislation including Building Regulations. In Northern Ireland, the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 apply.

A safety certificate issued by an electrician when they complete any new electrical installation work, or make changes to existing electrics, such as altering, extending or adapting an existing circuit. The certificate confirms that the work has been designed, built, inspected and tested to the UK national standard BS 7671.

An assembly of electrical equipment (socket outlets, lighting points and switches) supplied from the same origin and protected against over current by the same protective device(s).

An automatically operated device designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by overload or short circuit. It detects faults and interrupts current flow. Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then must be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset to resume normal operation.

A person who possesses enough technical knowledge, relevant practical skills and experience for the nature of the electrical work undertaken and is always able to prevent danger and, where appropriate, injury to him/herself and others.

Commonly referred to as a fuse box. It is used to control and distribute electricity around the home. It usually contains a main switch, fuses or circuit breakers and one or more residual current devices (RCD).

An assembly containing switching or protective devices (e.g. fuses, circuit-breakers, residual current operated devices) associated with one or more outgoing circuits fed from one or more incoming circuits, together with terminals for the neutral and protective circuit conductors. It may also include signalling and other control devices. Means of isolation may be included in the board or may be provided separately.

Stands for ‘Electrical Installation Condition Report’. This is a report to establish the overall condition and safety of all the electrics in a building, stating whether it is satisfactory for continued use and detailing any work that might need to be done. This was formerly known as a Periodic Inspection Report (PIR).

A burn that results from electricity passing through the body and causing rapid injury. In minor cases, they cause damage to the surface area of the body, but can also damage tissues deeper underneath the skin. In serious cases, electricity can cause damage to internal organs, such as the brain and heart. 

Electrical fires 

Electrical fires are fires involving potentially energised electrical equipment. This type of fire may be caused by short-circuiting machinery or overloaded electrical cables.

Comprises all the fixed electrical equipment that is supplied through the electricity supply. It includes the cables that are usually hidden in the walls and ceilings, accessories (such as sockets, switches and light fittings), and the consumer unit (fuse box) that contains all the fuses, circuit-breakers and residual current devices (RCDs).

When contact is made between a body part (skin, muscles or hair) with a source of electricity of enough current it can cause injury. Very small currents can be imperceptible. Larger current passing through the body may make it impossible for a shock victim to let go of an energised object and can create damage to tissues and even cause the heart to stop. Electrocution Death caused by an electric shock is called electrocution.

Introduced by the government on 1st April 2010, the FiT scheme pays householders for all the electricity that they generate from a renewable source. They receive a tariff for every unit of energy they generate, regardless of whether they use the energy or sell it back to the National Grid. Electricity generating renewable technologies include solar PV, micro wind and micro hydro.

Lighting controls allow a lighting system to be operated through a touch screen console. They allow any light or group of lights to be operated or programmed from a single user Interface.

Low energy lighting is an energy efficient alternative to traditional incandescent, tungsten, or filament light bulbs. There are a number of different kinds of low energy light bulbs available including compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and LEDs.

Electrical current (in amps) that exceeds the maximum limit of a circuit. May result in a risk of fire or shock from insulation damaged from heat generated by an over current condition.

A situation where it is not possible or necessary to fully re-wire all of the electrics in a home. This option may be desirable when existing cabling is still suitable for continued use (as it will minimise the degree of damage and disruption). Or can arise where only a part of the electrics has suffered damage from a burst water pipe or similar. If an electrician offers this as an option, it is important that the householder agrees and understands exactly what is, and is not, being done before the work starts.

The specific section of the Building Regulations for England and Wales that relates to electrical installations in domestic properties. Part P provides safety regulations to protect householders, and requires most domestic electrical work to be carried out by government-registered electricians, or to be inspected by Building Control officers.

Inspection and testing of electrical equipment, including portable appliances, moveable equipment, hand held appliances, fixed equipment/appliances, IT equipment and extension leads.

Report Now called an Electrical Installation Condition Report. See ‘EICR’.

Householders should check that their electrician has public liability insurance, which covers them if someone is accidentally injured by or if they damage your property whilst working. The cover should include any legal fees and expenses which result from any claim by the householder. Householders looking to employ electricians to undertake electrical work on their homes should ensure that the electrician has suitable cover - minimum recommendation is £2 million.

Electrical equipment which is less than 18 kg in mass and is intended to be moved while in operation or which can easily be moved from one place to another, such as a toaster, food mixer, vacuum cleaner or fan heater.

An RCD is a life-saving device which is designed to prevent householders from getting a fatal electric shock if they touch something live, such as a bare wire. It is a sensitive switching device that trips a circuit when an earth fault is detected. RCD protection is particularly important for socket circuits that may be used to supply portable equipment for use outdoors and provides a level of protection that ordinary fuses or circuit breakers cannot.

An electrician who is registered with a government-approved electrical scheme or who is working directly under the supervision of an organisation registered with a government approved electrical scheme (such as NICEIC or ELECSA).

A situation where all parts of the electrics - cables, circuits and accessories - are installed as new. However, some items such as switches, and light fittings may be re-used and the electrician may wish to re-use a part of the wiring that is electrically sound, to avoid damage or disruption to the property. It is important that the householder agrees and understands exactly what is, and is not, being done before the work starts.

A unit for electric potential (voltage), electric potential difference and electromotive force. The volt is named after the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta, who invented the first chemical battery.

A unit of power (one joule per second), named after the Scottish engineer James Watt, which measures the rate of energy trans transfer? A typical household incandescent light bulb has a power rating of 25 to 100 watts.