Part `P`

How many on here have done it?...How difficult did you find it?...a colleague of mine has just completed it, but has to go back & sit final test...?? He`s already got his 16th Edition (he claims) & said he couldn`t cope with the amount that had to be covered in such a short amount of time (Gulp)!...not much hope for me then, I`m not exactly mathematically minded at the best of times..any opinions valued...

A class course has just started around the corner from me. I have spoke to the chap who runs it and he says most plumbers who do electrics complete it ok. My sparky has announced he is to busy to take on any small jobs from me, so I guess I will be doing it real soon. Also, I am getting the van sign written in a few weeks ( vinyl wrap - anyone else had it done? ) so I would like to add Part P certified on there too.

As far as electrics go the only things that I take on are wiring in stats,wiring into fused spurs & like for like regarding pumps,three ports etc, normally have a sparky to do anything I don`t know, I suppose I will have to get the old finger out & prepare to swot up....mind you it`ll probably save a fortune....think I`ll sack the labourer as soon as I find out how to lift a tongue & grooved floorboard (Labourer...that will be me then)..

I did mine way back in dec 2004 and although it was fairly tough I got through it ok

One of the other lads (30years plumbing and heating experiance and qualified up to the eyeballs) done it earlier in themonth and enjoyed it, he said, again, tough but not scary

Does your mate go by the name of billy bullshit because for a 16th sparks the part P domestic installer should be a walk in the park?? reacon he is pulling your leg.

The sums aint so bad, about has hard as gas rates sizing etc, and if you get some decent training you should be fine mate (like the acs it aint in anyones best interest for you to fail)

Since i took mine i have done a grand total of 1 notifiable install

wooopdedoo

Training..that`s the key word isn`t it. How can you receive full training when the course lasts 3 days (I think)..I may pass, but will I be competent..Methinks not...another money making scam.

corgiman said:

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Since i took mine i have done a grand total of 1 notifiable install

wooopdedoo

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Um........ is it worth doing then? There's the cost of the course, the annual assessments, the calibration of equipment, the annual registration fee, and the insurance. These are the excuses I have been using for not doing part P. I don't see much in the way of problems technically as I spent a LOT of years with electronics design, and it's just a bit higher power available (though not in all cases).

oilman said:

corgiman said:

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Since i took mine i have done a grand total of 1 notifiable install

wooopdedoo

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Um........ is it worth doing then? There's the cost of the course, the annual assessments, the calibration of equipment, the annual registration fee, and the insurance. These are the excuses I have been using for not doing part P. I don't see much in the way of problems technically as I spent a LOT of years with electronics design, and it's just a bit higher power available (though not in all cases).

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thats the question aint it.

mind you with the ammendments to it on april this year the domestic installer course is the only recognised proof of competance for ALL electrical work under part P whether or not its in a special location, notifiable, new install etc, remember how we all go crazy when someone says "I have an engineering background and feel that i am capable of taking a gas valve apart" when you say that you have alot of years on elelctronic design, do you think that Tony and Gordon care what experiance you have when it comes to them making money hand of fist from training centre taxes, fines etc?

so on the whole i would say yes, that and the fact that no one seems to know what part P actually covers (three port valve, pump changes etc) best to cover your backside, and the last time I looked my backside needed a heck of a lot of covering

bamber the course i and the other lad went was four days intensive training and one day testing, and listerning to my mate it sounds like they have cut alot of the sh1t from the course since it was first run.

Bamber gaspipe said:

Training..that`s the key word isn`t it. How can you receive full training when the course lasts 3 days (I think)..I may pass, but will I be competent..Methinks not...another money making scam.

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yep like all the rest, ACS corgi registration, you tell me how any of these things improve either the service to or the safety of the customer?

What is there to force the client to use a lad laiden down with all these registrations, qualifications, warrantess etc

NOTHING

they couldnt give a toss in the main and will go for the bloke with the lowest price, who probably has not got anything.

I don`t know how long it took you to get your Gas qualifications but I had to qualify for my NVQ 1. NVQ2 ,NVQ3. in plumbing ..then work my ass off for my Gas qualifications...overall...about 7 years...do you know that you can become a Gas Service Engineer within 6 months??????

My course was 5 very intense days of excellent teaching from 4 different 30 minimum years experienced electricians at an electrical raining centre not an acs centre where the trainer is one page ahead of you in the onsite guide. There is no substitute for the correct experience.

Mine is an EAL level 2 qualification, recognised by Niceic and Corgi and nappit.

I was the only one that flew through every test in a few minuts and spent all my time waiting for the others in the coffe area. They were all kitchen fiotters and there was one posh bloke who did up houses but was absolutely hopeless as he had no trade experience of any kind. He dropped out the kitchen fitters all had to etake, and I wouldn't want any of them wiring up my kitchen.

For us who have acs it's relatively easy but you have to conscentrate, not a walk int the park.

It heped that I am a radio amateur , corgi registered and my main hobby is designing and building high voltage valve radio equipment. I only say thius because the asimilation of new knowledge comes easy to me as I've kept my mind active in technical stuff over a long period.

At the end of the day you have to do it. I would definately go for the mature electrical test and training centres though, the perals of wisdom that come from those guys you couldn't get from a heating engineer who'se so crap at his job he has to teach others isntead.

Only downside you have to be the butt of the jokes and complaints and stories these old hand electricians have about plumbers. But don't retaliate whateve you do, they have absolutely no sense of humour about digs directed back at them! Trust me if I was top knotch they would have loved to have failed me for bighting back. Just sit there like a good boy and keep your gob shut when they insult your trade!

I did a NAPIT limited scope P last year and as far as I can tell it is worth nothing.

When we last investigated the training requirements it seemed that everyone was advising us differently and the whole thing was a shambles.

Can anyone advise me whether this has all been sorted now? Is there a course we can send our staff on that will allow them to fit a boiler in a kitchen and electrically test and notify it? - That will still be relevant in a year's time?

So far, every training provider we've spoken to seems to be rather vague about the scope and length of the qualifications they are offering to get us.

I want to be Part P registered for our scope of work but it seems to be a very grey area, is there any light in the tunnel?

Bamber gaspipe said:

I don`t know how long it took you to get your Gas qualifications but I had to qualify for my NVQ 1. NVQ2 ,NVQ3. in plumbing ..then work my ass off for my Gas qualifications...overall...about 7 years...do you know that you can become a Gas Service Engineer within 6 months??????

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I can only assume that you are talking to me?

I cannot be bothered to post my CV but I have been a plumber for 20 odd years served a 6 year apprenticeship. And seem to spend 50% of my time sitting in a bloody classroom these days so I would say that my training is on going wouldn't you mind you i think all of us have the same problem.

So I done my time and yes I am aware that you can become a gas bloke in under 6 months (British Gas being the market leader in this "fast Track" training) and I dont see a problem with it at all. If the training is condensed and specialised why not, just how long does it take to train someone to be reasonably competent in domestic heating and gas installation?

And Paul Barker has the ELA course down to a tee specially the last bit

I was not disputing your credentials Corgiman..the point I was making very badly was that you can become a qualified Gas Fitter/Engineer within 6 months..my mate has just left the Army after 22 years..he`s over the moon because he thinks he will be `Mr.Gas`within a year...I don`t have the heart to tell him how absolutely useless his bit of paper will be..the next time my acs comes around I am seriously considering to bin it & go & work in Tesco`s... NEWSFLASH tesco are no longer taking on Gas Engineers to push trolleys/stack shelves due to the overwhelming demand from school leavers this year..

Ok, I might have to capitulate and spend the money. Looking for places to do the courses seems like a minefield with costs everywhere from £100 to £1000.

PB, was your course just an associated works course, or was it a domestic installer course?

It seems you can spend about the same to do either course, but the domestic installer course will allow you to do more, and do non-associated electrical work. I ask about the two levels of course because one training centre offers a 2 day primer for non-electric muppets who, it appears, expect to be a certified installer after a further 5 day course.

When I last looked, you could do a course covering scope "A" as well as "B" and "C" for very little extra. That means you can for example change a consumer unit, which seems to be where the £££ is.