TECHNICAL TRAINING NEWS
» Electricians Guide Books Updated to the 17th Edition» 17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations
» Cancer Research Shops learn about PAT testing
» Tech Training register their trademark
» New Courses - Developed in 2006 and 2007
» Did you meet us at Maintec 2007?
» North Highland College Partnership
» Information about Part P of the Building Regulations
» City & Guilds 2391 Success
» Electricians guide books updated and improved
» Electrical maintenance skills course goes from strength to strength
» Where's the competence in skills training?
Electricians Guide Books Updated to the 17th Edition
The latest Electricians Guide to Good Practice (Red cover) was released in January 2008 and the Guide to Inspection and Testing (Yellow cover) in March 2008. Both books have been updated to reflect the latest requirements of the 17th Edition of the IEE Regulations, coming into force on July 1st 2008.
Technical changes to the Guide to Good Practice include expanded definition and symbols, replacement of the 'direct' and 'indirect contact' shock protection methods with 'basic' and 'fault' protection methods, introduction of 'additional' protection (RCDs) into various new situations (socket outlets, concealed cables, etc), new reference methods for installation of cables, new correction factor for buried cables and introduction of several new special locations (exhibitions, solar PV systems, mobile units, fairgrounds and floor heating systems etc).
Other improvements to the Guide to Good Practice book include easier to read tables using shading and larger sized text and an improved and expanded index. The internet page for the book has also been expanded to show example pages from the guide and a new 'latest update' feature, allowing the very latest information about intended changes or improvements to the guide to Good Practice to be posted on the page.
Technical changes to the Guide to Inspection and Testing include changes to the visual inspection, - since the requirements are slightly different (concealed cables, changes to the inspection schedule, etc), slightly altered testing sequence (insulation resistance values changed, phase sequence and voltage drop tests added, RCD tests in separate test from the functional tests, etc).
Other improvements to the Guide to Inspection and Testing include easier to read tables using shading and larger sized text. The various forms (the Electrical Installation Certificate, the Periodic Inspection Report, the Minor Works Certificate, Inspection and Test Results Schedules) have all been re-drawn with example entries to allow for better use of the page and are now easier to read. A 'latest updates' feature has also been added to the internet page descriptions.
For further information about the Electricians Guide Books, please click here.
17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations
January 2008 sees the release of the long-awaited 17th Edition of the IEE's Wiring Regulations. To coincide with this, City & Guilds have updated the related qualifications and also introduced some new qualifications based on the 17th Edition.
Candidates who currently possess the 16th Edition qualification will be pleased to hear that they do not need to attend a complete 17th Edition Wiring Regulations course, as a City & Guilds approved 1-day update course has been created. This is accessible by anyone with an existing 2381 qualification. The new update course will be known as 2382-20 and the full 17th Edition course as 2382-10. Some candidates may benefit from attending the full course, regardless of this allowance.
The Inspection and Testing and Design courses (previously known as 2391 and 2400) will be known as 2391-10 and 2391-20. They will also be based on the 17th Edition of the IEE Regulations later in 2008. There is, however, no need for holders of the existing 2391 qualifications to re-take the new 2391 qualifications.
We have introduced a new qualification known as 'Fundamentals of Inspection & Testing' intended for candidates with little experience of inspection and testing. Technical Training Solutions will be using this qualification to allow candidates easier access to the 2391 qualifications.
Please call us if you would like to discuss the new qualifications, but please also look at the descriptions of the courses, listed under 'Electrical Courses' on the main menu at the top of this page.
The following routemap shows the route through the new 17th Edition qualifications. Click on the drawing to download the jpeg image.
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Cancer Research Shops learn about Portable Appliance Testing
Technical Training have employed their extensive knowledge and experience of Portable Appliance Testing and their competence-based approach to learning about the subject to enable Cancer Research South to perform safety checks on electrical appliances.
This has allowed Cancer Research South to access a totally new revenue stream to aid in their charitable works by allowing shop staff to ensure the safety of electrical appliances and thereby to sell donated appliances which, before training, they were unable to accept.
Candidates are not expected to have any prior knowledge or experience of PAT testing or electrical work. All candidates are provided with course notes, help and advice about which model of PAT tester would be most appropriate for them and given on-going telephone support from Tech Training's technical staff.
The training courses have been provided at cost price to Cancer Research South as part of Tech Training's charitable works.
Libby Dey of Cancer Research South said, "These new training courses will allow us to provide a valuable new service to our customers, as donators and buyers at the shops will see an improved service and ultimately the needy causes that we represent will benefit."
The courses are being provided on an on-going basis throughout 2006 and 2007 across the south of England.
For a description of the PAT course, go to:
Course 160 - PAT: Inspection and Testing of portable electrical appliances
For more information about Cancer Research South's charitable activities, go to Cancer Research
Tech Training have been treating these courses as the ultimate accolade for their 'learning by doing' approach: being clear about what should be taught, who the target audience is and ensuring that the candidates are able to use these skills for real when they return to work.
Technical Training register their trademark
Technical Training Solutions is proud to announce the granting of a trade mark
by the British Patent Office.
The 'Learning by Doing' approach to training espoused by Technical Training has been the basis to all the engineering skills training provided over the last 25 years. This approach leads to better understanding, retention and enjoyability of the courses on offer.
The ancient Chinese proverb captured this idea:
'Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I'll remember, involve me and I'll understand'.
The new logo reinforces this approach.
New Courses developed in 2006 and 2007
Tech Training are constantly updating their range of courses, driven either by customer demand or by technological change in the fast-moving engineering world. New courses created in 2006 and 2007 include:
Course 470 - Fire Alarms: For candidates involved in any part of the the installation, commissioning, inspection, testing or maintenance of fire alarm systems.
Course 350 - 2391 Part 2: Design of electrical installations - Previously known as the 2400 qualification, the design of electrical installations is the pinnacle of the electrical installation series provided by City and Guilds. Sole traders seeking proof of their abilities and professional electricians employed by major companies who want to show that their skills have a relevance in the wider world will benefit from gaining this qualification.
Course 360 - Building Regulations for Electricians: This course has been developed for electricians who have completed their Wiring Regulations training but need to know more about how Part P (and other parts) of the Building Regulations affect electrical installations. For example, the structure of buildings, fire safety, conservation of fuel and power, access and facilities for disabled people are addressed in the Building Regulations, but are not specifically covered in the Wiring Regulations.
Course 830 - WAH Regulations: Working at Height Regulations are increasingly important to engineers working in the real world, where the day-to-day work often involves working from steps or ladders, and a sound understanding of the legal requirements and ramifications of non-compliance is needed.
Course 730 - Engineering Skills for Operators: These skills are increasingly important in companies where lean manufacturing techniques are being applied or maintenance cover by engineers for small day-to-day problems is limiting the productivity of the company.
Course 530 - PLC Programming: This is a skill that few engineers get the chance to develop since the manufacturers of these devices do not conform to commonly-agreed standards and most engineeers consequently believe that manufacturer-specific training is needed for each PLC that they are likely to encounter. Tech Training take a more enlightened view on this, since the specific skills needed to program a PLC are, in reality, platform independent. This course teaches engineers to program a range of common PLC platforms, leading to a more holistic understanding of general PLC programming techniques.
Course 460 - Installation of Renewable Energy Systems: Solar and wind power generators are the latest environmentally sound alternative to the world's energy problems and the social and governmental drive for their usage is increasing in pace. This course provides candidates with the ability to determine the best source of alternative energy, specify when and how they should be installed and understand how the electrical work should be performed.
Please click on the links for details of these courses.
Did you meet us at Maintec 2007?
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Technical Training Solutions exhibited at the Maintec 2007 show at the NEC in Birmingham. Many of the visitors to the show were impressed with the large range of equipment that we brought along to demonstrate the hardware used on the training courses for the delegates to practice with. Real industrial PLCs with moving conveyor systems, motor shaft alignment rigs, a range of electrical control panels and variable speed drive units connected to real motors were on display.
North Highland College Partnership
Tech Training and the North Highland College at Thurso, Caithness have set up a partnership to provide electricians in the Highlands and Islands of the North of Scotland with training in IEE Wiring Regulations and City & Guilds Inspection and Testing courses.
The on-going series of courses enables electricians in the area to gain these essential qualifications without having to leave the county.
Helen Mackay of NHC said "We've linked with Tech Training, who have one of the best records of success in the UK for these tough exams, so that we can ensure the delivery is absolutely spot-on".
Current success rates for gaining the qualifications are that out of 20 candidates who attempted the wiring regs exam 20 passed, and out of 9 candidates who attempted the 2391 exam 9 passed. Please watch this space for future updates to the examination success rates.
It is a testament to the quality of training provided and the care and attention to detail that makes for successful training events that Tech Training gets requests to deliver training all over the UK.
For a description of the IEE Wiring Regulations course, go to
Course 310 - IEE Wiring Regulations
For a description of the C&G Inspection and Testing course, go to
Course 150 - Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical Installations (C&G 2391 part 1)
For more information about North Highland College, go to www.nhcscotland.com
Tech Training moves to Rochester
Due to the increasing demand for scheduled training courses, we have moved into larger premises in Rochester, Kent. Our new premises (known as Norwich House) has several training rooms, each ideally suited for a particular range of courses, spread over three floors of the building.
Candidates attending mechanical courses will enjoy the use of a fully-equipped, bright and spacious workshop area, fitted out with heavy-duty workbenches, pillar drills, grinding machines, hydraulic presses, etc. Candidates attending electrical courses use the large seminar room which is fitted out with a practical experiments area, so that they can explore the technical issues that they are learning about on our custom-built low-voltage rigs. Other training rooms can be used for specialist courses like Instrumentation, PLCs and AC Drives.
Norwich House has a large car park where delegates can leave their cars in safety and within 5 or 10 minutes’ drive there is a good selection of three-star hotels, B&Bs, etc. Good transport links allow delegates travelling from anywhere in the UK to reach us easily. Delegates travelling to Norwich House are provided with straight-forward maps and instructions on how to get there by road, rail and public transport.
We look forward to seeing you at Norwich House soon.
The Building Regulations 2000 - Approved Document P
'Design & installation of electrical installations'
has now been updated with a 2006 Edition from 6th April 2006.
Anybody carrying out electrical installation work in dwellings and associated gardens or outbuildings in England and Wales is required to make 'reasonable provision in the design, installation, inspection and testing' of this work to protect persons from fire or injury. Part P requires that the work is carried out by a competent person and enforces the Wiring Regulations as statutory in the domestic environment.
Electrical work in dwellings must be notified to the local authority or carried out by a competent person. The definition of a competent person for the purposes of part P means the firms that are responsible for carrying out the work. A firm can be a single person entity, but they are not, for example, employees. Firms will need to be registered with a competent person scheme to avoid having to notify the scope of the work to the local authority and will have to appoint a 'qualified supervisor' to sign off the work.
Training may be required for competent persons or qualified supervisors. Technical Training Solutions are approved to provide City & Guilds courses on the Wiring Regulations (C&G 2381) and Inspection and Testing (C&G 2391).
For more information visit: www.amicustheunion.org
To download a copy of the revised regulations: www.communities.gov.uk
Part P Schemes (Electrical Safety in Dwellings)
(a) Full competence schemes
BRE Certification Limited www.partp.co.uk
British Standards Institute www.bsi-global.com
ELECSA Limited www.elecsa.org.uk
NICEIC Certification Services Limited www.niceic.org.uk
Part P Schemes (Electrical Safety in Dwellings)
(b) Defined competence schemes
CORGI Services Limited - www.corgi-gas-safety.com
OFTEC - www.oftec.org.uk
Scotland
On 1st May 2005 a new buildings standards system came into operation in Scotland.
Electrical Work currently covered by Part N www.sbsa.gov.uk
Northern Ireland
Electrical Work is not currently part of the Building regulations
www.northernireland-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/sr/sr1997/Nisr_19970481_en_1.htm
www.northernireland-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/sr/sr2000/20000389.htm
City and Guilds 2391 success
Technical Training Solutions recently upgraded the City and Guild 2391 Inspection & Testing course so that it now covers 4 days. Many other training providers are offering this in a 2-day format and due to the success rate at the written and practical examinations (currently around 50% nationally) we have dramatically improved the success rate of our candidates (currently 85%). Technical Training Solutions aim to have the highest success rate in the country for this examination.
Electricians guide books updated and improved
The 1st and 2nd amendments to the 16th edition of the IEE wiring regulations have been incorporated into the latest release of the electricians guide books. All the technical contents have been updated to reflect these changes. New drawings explaining the IP codes, simplified drawings of the required electrical testing procedures and easy-to-follow tables of the required testing frequencies have been included. Straight-forward lists explaining which certificates should be used (and when) have been added. Both books now come with an extensive index to make it easier to find the relevant information.
We have found that many engineers carry the books in their toolboxes / vans / pockets, as their small size makes this possible. The books therefore now have improved bindings and construction, making them more rugged and suitable for long-term use.
Electrical maintenance skills course
goes from strength to strength
Now regarded as the industry standard for many companies, the electrical maintenance skills course (course 110) has been provided to over 5 thousand engineers in the UK and has provided many companies with increased flexibility and productivity and also enhanced the value of their maintenance teams.
Importantly, the course covers the legal aspects of working with electricity so that candidates really do understand what the dangers are, and when consolidation schemes are put into practice, they get the chance to practice their skills in a safe and controlled manner. The scheme can also be used to help employees decide when supervision is no longer necessary i.e. when competent.
The course is now offered in a three week, 4 day format totalling 12 days. Our latest course brochure provides more details.
Where's the competence in skills training?
Many modern skills training courses offer a certificate at the end of the course, but too often this is an attendance-based certificate which simply says that the delegate was actually there for the duration of the course.
Other training courses have a short multiple-choice examination, and delegates have to answer questions about the subject. This is useful for checking that the delegate has the appropriate understanding of the subject, but too often this is the only form of assessment that is made.
Skills training must lead to the delegates acquiring that skill, and for this reason training courses should have practical assessments, and this is what employers actually want.
When delegates return to work after having attended a course, many managers will automatically assume that they are now able to perform these new skills in the workplace, but from a legal point of view this assumption would have no basis, since their is no direct evidence upon which the delegate's competency can be determined.
If, however, the delegates had been given a practical assessment, then this could be used as part of the evidence for competency. The delegates would also need to be shown how the new skills they have learned would actually be used in the workplace, and therefore some degree of supervision and mentoring in the workplace would be needed to ensure that they are shown how to do this.
Courses which have practical outcomes are also more enjoyable for the delegates attending them, since they would be much more practical by their very nature - avoiding the long lectures and powerpoint presentations so often used on training courses today.
Technical Training Solutions provide courses that are skills-based and practical assessments are carried out by all the candidates. This means that at the end of any course provided by us, a candidate will have demonstrated an ability to perform a new skills that he/she was not able to perform before attending the course.
Every course we offer has a consolidation scheme so that the candidates can practice these new skills in their workplace under controlled conditions, ensuring their competence in a legal context and also providing the candidate and their supervisors and managers with all the evidence needed to support this assertion.
Technical Training Solutions is the only training provider in the UK that incorporates practical assessments and consolidation schemes for every course provided.