Guide to extension of enrolment

Transcription

1 Guide to extension of enrolment (Electrical work in hazardous areas) The assessment of the technical capability of contractors undertaking electrical work in potentially explosive atmospheres (hazardous areas) is carried out by the NICEIC 118 Protecting consumers - regulating the electrical contracting industry

2 Contents Guide to enrolment 3 Benefits of extending the scope of enrolment 4 Extending the scope of enrolment requirements 5 Personnel 5 Principal Duty Holder Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) Training and supervision requirements Persons responsible for inspecting and testing Operatives Training and experience records Steps to extending the scope of enrolment 9 Completing the application form 10 Completing the Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) Application form 14 Assessment process 16 Preparation for Preliminary Application Assessment visit Preparation for on-site assessments Assessment reports Outcome of an application assessment Application process 21 Extension to enrolment 21 2

3 Guide to enrolment NICEIC is an independent consumer safety body set up to protect users of electricity against the hazards of unsafe and unsound electrical installations. It is the electrical installation industry s safety regulatory body The NICEIC is not a trade association NICEIC approves contractors engaged in a broad range of electrical installation work. All electrical work carried out by Approved Contractors and Conforming Bodies* is required to comply with the requirements of the national electrical installation safety standard BS 7671 (IEE Wiring Regulations), and relevant Codes of Practice and guidance documents Electrical work in potentially explosive atmospheres (hazardous areas) is not included within the standard scope of the accredited Approved Contractor certification scheme, but an extension of NICEIC enrolment to cover such work may be gained through a separate application and assessment process Purpose of this guide This Guide explains how NICEIC Approved Contractors having UKAS-accredited enrolment certificates for electrical work in non-hazardous areas + can extend the scope of their enrolment to include electrical work in potentially explosive atmospheres. Its aim is to assist Approved Contractors applying for such an extension to Enrolment with NICEIC, but the Guide does not take precedence over the NICEIC Rules Relating to Enrolment NICEIC Electrical contractors throughout the UK NICEIC head office is in Dunstable. Electrical contractors are allocated to one of the NICEIC s 75 local Area Engineers For Approved Contractors undertaking electrical work in hazardous areas, the extension to the scope of enrolment is expected to provide many benefits both in terms of business development and technical support *A Conforming Body is an organisation, such as a Local Government Authority, health trust or similar body, which undertakes electrical installation work solely in connection with its own operation and not for others.such organisations may apply for enrolment and will be assessed in a similar manner to a contractor + Exceptions may be made for Approved Contractors and applicants for enrolment that undertake electrical work in hazardous areas only 3

4 Benefits of extending the scope of enrolment with the NICEIC Business development In addition to the benefits already enjoyed by all Approved Contractors, the extension to enrolment will provide: Technical support Only Approved Contractors having the hazardous area extension have access to specialist technical support via a dedicated technical helpline An indication to clients, specifiers, licensing authorities and others that a business is reputable, reliable and works to the industry standards for electrical work in potentially explosive atmospheres Access to electrical installation work in hazardous areas from industrial, commercial and public sector organisations that will only employ contractors having recognised hazardous area capabilities An assurance to clients that electrical installation work in hazardous areas is covered by the NICEIC s Complaints Procedure and Guarantee of Standards Scheme Identification of recognised hazardous area capability in the NICEIC Roll of Approved Contractors, which is widely distributed and used by specifiers to select contractors to undertake electrical work 4

5 Extending the scope of enrolment requirements The extension to enrolment requirements cover the electrical contracting business and its key personnel Personnel A business applying for the extension to enrolment must have an appointed Principal Duty Holder, and propose one or more Qualified Supervisors (Hazardous Areas) to take responsibility for the electrical work undertaken in potentially explosive atmospheres. In the case of a sole trader, the individual will be the Principal Duty Holder, who should propose himself as the Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas). The business To be eligible for an extension to NICEIC enrolment for hazardous area work, a business must: be an NICEIC Approved Contractor having a UKAS accredited enrolment certificate for electrical work in non-hazardous areas. This avoids the need to re-assess general compliance with the NICEIC Rules Relating to Enrolment, including competence to undertake electrical work in accordance with BS 7671, as part of the assessment for hazardous area work. (Exceptions may be made for Approved Contractors and applicants for enrolment that undertake electrical work in hazardous areas only) be directly engaged in electrical work in potentially explosive atmospheres (other than in mines, medical locations and locations relating to the manufacture and processing of explosives, and off-shore) have undertaken electrical work in potentially explosive atmospheres for at least 6 months be able to arrange access to a range of that hazardous area work sufficient for technical evaluation and assessment purposes have equipment appropriate to the range and scale of electrical work undertaken in hazardous areas (including, if appropriate, gauges such as feeler gauges) have test instruments suitable for carrying out the range of tests required by BS 7671 have at least two million pounds public liability insurance cover for the full range of electrical work undertaken in potentially explosive atmospheres maintain a record of the accuracy and consistency of test instruments used for certification and reporting purposes hold British Standards and other technical reference documents relevant to the range and scale of electrical work undertaken in potentially explosive atmospheres make available for inspection sufficient completed electrical work across the range normally undertaken in hazardous areas. The work must have been carried out during the previous twelve months under the business current trading title. The work should comply both with BS 7671 and with the relevant British Standards, Codes of Practice and guidance documents for hazardous area work We ve got it covered NICEIC Training Tel: NICEIC Direct Certificate, publications, DVDs, test equipment and more! Tel: NICEIC Insurance Services Tel:

6 Extending the scope of enrolment requirements have a system in place to ensure that appropriate prescribed forms of certification and reporting are issued for all completed electrical work in accordance with the appropriate technical reference documents employ persons competent to undertake electrical work in hazardous areas, who are adequately and appropriately supervised establish and maintain training and experience records for each person who may be assigned to undertake electrical work in potentially explosive atmospheres (except for persons who will be subject to constant supervision) maintain a record of complaints made about the technical standard of electrical work carried out, together with the details of the remedial action taken, if any, to resolve the complaints have an appointed Principal Duty Holder nominate one or more suitable Qualified Supervisors (Hazardous Areas) who meet the particular requirements detailed in this Guide. A Principal Duty Holder may also be nominated as a Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas). The business must be able to demonstrate that all electrical work undertaken in hazardous areas will be under the effective supervision of one or more Qualified Supervisors (Hazardous Areas) Requirements for a Principal Duty Holder The Principal Duty Holder is the person appointed by the business who has responsibility for the maintenance of the overall standard and quality of the electrical installation work undertaken by the business from a particular location. Principal Duty Holders are not subject to assessment by the NICEIC As for electrical work in non-hazardous areas, the appointed Principal Duty Holder must: have responsibility for all matters relating to enrolment and be the focal point for communication with the NICEIC be a principal or senior manager of the business having an understanding of, and day to day responsibility for, the health and safety and other legal requirements relating to the range of electrical work undertaken by the business be responsible for the assignment of electrical work in hazardous areas to the Qualified Supervisor(s) (Hazardous Areas) be responsible for ensuring that there are systems in place so that all work is carried out by competent persons who are adequetly and appropriately supervised be responsible for the maintenance of adequate training and experience records for persons assigned to carry out electrical work in potentially explosive atmospheres ensure that there are systems in place whereby the appropriate certificates and reports are issued for all completed electrical work. 6

7 Extending the scope of enrolment requirements Requirements for a Qualified Supervisor A Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) is an electrically Competent person with specific responsibility, on a day today basis, for the safety, technical standard and quality of electrical work under his supervision in hazardous areas A Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) is responsible for: ensuring that the results of inspection and testing of electrical work in hazardous areas are recorded correctly on the appropriate certificates or reports ensuring that the business premises, equipment, documentation and records are available for inspection when required safeguarding all unused NICEIC certificates and report forms for work in hazardous areas against loss, theft and misuse. A proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) must: be a principal or employee of the applicant business and be available on a full-time basis comply with the normal requirements for Qualified Supervisors (see Rule 5(3)) of the NICEIC Rules Relating to Enrolment preferably be currently registered as a Qualified Supervisor for the business electrical work in nonhazardous areas. (Proposed Qualified Supervisors (Hazardous Areas) who are not registered as Qualified Supervisors for the business will need to be separately assessed by an NICEIC Area Engineer for compliance with Rule 5(3) of the Rules Relating to Enrolment before the on-site evaluation of electrical work in hazardous areas can proceed. Such assessment, normally taking a half-day, will be subject to an additional fee - see current fee schedule for details) have at least two consecutive years supervisory or managerial responsibility for the technical standard of electrical work in hazardous areas. In the case of a sole trader, evidence of carrying out hazardous area work over a two-year trading period will satisfy this requirement if the required managerial or supervisory experience has not been gained elsewhere satisfy the hazardous area training requirements set out in Table 1. (The Assessor will require to see the original assessment certificate for each training course completed by the proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas), as indicated on the application form, at the Preliminary Application Assessment visit). be conversant with the Electricity at Work Regulations, current edition of BS 7671, and the British Standards, Codes of Practice and guidance documents relevant to the range of electrical work undertaken in hazardous areas. Knowledge of hazardous area classification is also needed be fully versed in the inspection, testing, verification, certification and reporting procedures for the range of electrical work undertaken in hazardous areas 7

8 Extending the scope of enrolment requirements Table 1: Hazardous area training requirements Either or both of the units may be chosen With the introduction of the IECEx Certificate of Personal Competance the NICEIC will now accept this qualification as an alternative to the CompEx qualifications previously required. Comp Ex training units EX01 Preparation and installation of Ex d, e, n and p systems EX02 Inspection and maintenance of Ex d, e, n and p systems EX03 Preparation and installation of Ex i systems EX04 Inspection and maintenance of Ex i' systems EX05 Preparation and installation of apparatus protected by enclosure for use in the presence of combustible dusts EX06 Inspection and maintenance of apparatus protected by enclosure for use in the presence of combustible dusts EX07 Preparation, installation and de-commissioning of electrical installations at filling stations EX08 Inspection, testing and maintenance of electrical installations at filling stations EX09 Preparation and installation of electrical installations within the water industry (Ex d, Ex e, Ex n, Ex p, Ex i and dust) EX10 Preparation and installation of electrical installations within the water industry (Ex d, Ex e, Ex n, Ex p, Ex i ) NICEIC will accept satisfactory completion of EX01, EX02, EX03 and EX04 units as meeting the training requirements for electrical work on filling stations *NICEIC will accept satisfactory completion of the EX01, EX02, EX03 and EX04 units as meeting the training requirements for electrical work at in the water industry. Note that satisfactory completion of the EX07 and EX08 units alone is unlikely to meet NICEIC training requirements for electrical installations in other hazardous areas, due to the different explosion concepts likely to be involved. Note that satisfactory completion of the EX09 and EX10 units alone is unlikely to meet NICEIC training requirements for electrical installations in other hazardous areas, due to the different installation requirements. IECEx CoPC units IECEx Unit 008 Performed detailed inspection of electrical installations in or associated with explosive atmospheres. Unit 008 requires either Unit 003 (Install explosion-protected equipment and wiring systems) or Unit 004 (Maintain equipment in explosive atmospheres) as a pre-requisite. Note: The correct one of these units must be held for the type of work being carried out. e.g. holding Unit 004 would NOT cover the applicant for new installations. Scope Limitations Where Scope Limitations apply they must not exclude any area where work is being performed. The scope limitation might exclude working on Ex p equipment (Pressurised). That is acceptable provided they do not work on EX p equipment. 8

9 Steps to extending the scope of enrolment The procedure for extending the scope of enrolment is straightforward. But please read this section carefully Ongoing training commitment All persons that may be engaged in electrical work in hazardous areas, other than persons subject to constant supervision, will need to successfully complete the training units set out in Table 1, or the equivalent refresher training courses, as appropriate to the range of hazardous area work undertaken, at least at five yearly intervals. Training and experience requirements for persons responsible for inspecting and testing Persons other than Qualified Supervisors (Hazardous Areas) having responsibility for inspecting and testing electrical installations in hazardous areas are required to: have successfully completed, within the past five years, the training units set out in the Table as appropriate to the range of hazardous area work undertaken or have successfully completed, within the past five years, the equivalent refresher courses for the Comp Ex units set out in the Table, as appropriate to the range of hazardous area work undertaken or provide evidence of equivalent training, together with evidence of experience of electrical installations in hazardous areas gained over at least three years. Persons accepted under this option will be required to successfully complete the training units set out in the Table, as appropriate to the range of hazardous area work undertaken, within one year of acceptance. For the latter option, Approved Contractors would need to demonstrate that they have an effective system of training to ensure that those persons undertaking inspection and testing have: an understanding of electrical standards and codes of practice relating to the selection, installation, maintenance and use of explosion protected apparatus a knowledge of methods used to maintain electrical integrity and explosion protection concepts a knowledge of inspection procedures which may be employed a knowledge of any special electrical inspection techniques which may be required understanding of drawings and manufacturer s literature relevant to the equipment to be inspected Training and experience records Applicant businesses must be able to demonstrate, by means of documented training and experience records, that all persons that may be engaged in work in hazardous areas, other than persons subject to constant supervision, are competent to undertake the electrical work assigned to them. Such records will be subject to evaluation by the Area Engineer during both the application process and subsequent periodic assessment visits (to confirm ongoing training). Training and supervision requirements for operatives All operatives undertaking electrical installation work in hazardous areas are required to: have successfully completed, within the past five years, the training units set out in the Table as appropriate to the range of hazardous area work undertaken or have successfully completed, within the past five years, refresher courses relating to the training units set out in the Table as appropriate to the range of hazardous area work undertaken or be kept under constant supervision by a Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) or another person who satisfies the requirements set out below for persons responsible for inspection and testing of electrical work in hazardous areas. 'Constant supervision' means direct contact at the site of the work on at least a daily basis or be kept under frequent supervision by a Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) or another person who satisfies the training requirements set out above for those persons responsible for inspection and testing of electrical work in hazardous areas. 'Frequent supervision' means direct contact at the site of the work on at least a weekly basis. For the latter option, Approved Contractors would need to demonstrate that they have an effective system of training to ensure that those operatives undertaking electrical work in hazardous areas have an understanding of precautions (e.g method statement) to be taken to reduce the risk of explosions, and records confirming that the operatives have at least one year's experience of working in hazardous areas. 9

10 Completing the application form An application for an extension to enrolment will be processed as soon as it is received by the NICEIC. The following items need to be provided by the business to enable the application to proceed: a completed 'Application for an Extension to Enrolment' form a separate 'Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) Application' form for each proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) for electrical work in potentially explosive atmospheres copies (not the originals) of assessment certificates for the relevant training and or refresher courses undertaken by the proposed Qualified Supervisor(s) (Hazardous Areas) a cheque covering the initial application fee*, as appropriate A separate application is required for each contracting office seeking to extend the scope of enrolment to cover hazardous area work. On receipt of the completed application forms, copy training certificates and the appropriate fee, the NICEIC will undertake the Preliminary Application Assessment visit. *Application fees are not refundable. The initial application fee includes only for the Preliminary Application Assessment visit to the contracting office. A further visit or visits will be required for the assessment of the technical standard of selected work completed, or in progress, in hazardous areas. A further fee will be payable for these on-site assessment visits. The on-site assessment fee will be dependent on the range and location of the work to be assessed on site, as determined by the Area Engineer. The Area Engineer will provide an estimate of the onsite assessment fee during the Preliminary Application Assessment visit. The estimate will form the basis of a written quotation from the NICEIC. The application process for the extension to enrolment will proceed on acceptance of the quotation by the applicant business. 10

11 Completing the application form Section 1: Applicant business Completion of this section should be straightforward. The trading title given should be exactly the same as that registered with the NICEIC. If the applicant business is registered with the NICEIC as a Branch, the enrolment number should include the Branch number A separate application is required for each contracting address seeking an extension to enrolment Section 2: Appointment for the Preliminary Application Assessment Area Engineers usually have full diaries for at least four weeks ahead. Therefore, allowing time to process the paperwork and to arrange an appointment, it may take up to five weeks to make the initial visit to an applicant. However, Area Engineers will try to arrange an earlier visit if their diaries permit Please indicate whether or not you are willing to accept an appointment with less than five weeks' notice by ticking the 'Yes' or 'No' box as appropriate Section 3: Public liability insurance Applicants are required to have public liability insurance of at least 2m which specifically covers the business in respect of its electrical work in potentially explosive atmospheres. The Area Engineer will need to see evidence of this insurance cover during the Preliminary Application Assessment visit to the contracting office Note that it is evidence of public liability insurance, NOT employer's liability insurance, that the Area Engineers will need to see The 'Yes' box should be ticked to confirm that the appropriate insurance cover is held, or will be held by the time the Preliminary Application Assessment Visit 11

12 Completing the application form Section 4: Proposed Qualified Supervisor(s) (Hazardous Areas) The names of the person(s) being proposed as Qualified Supervisor(s) (Hazardous Areas) should be given here A separate Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) application form for each person being proposed must be submitted with the application for the extension to enrolment. Additional application forms are available from the NICEIC Operations Administration Department. If a nominated person is not already registered with the NICEIC as a Qualified Supervisor for electrical work in nonhazardous areas, the person will need to be assessed against the requirements of Rule 5(3) of the NICEIC Rules Relating to Enrolment in non-hazardous areas before the on-site evaluation of electrical work in hazardous areas can proceed Such assessment will be subject to an additional fee, normally for a half-day visit. Application forms for proposed Qualified Supervisors are available on request from the NICEIC Operations Administration Department Section 5: Full range of electrical work undertaken It is important to fully identify the range of hazardous area work undertaken by the applicant business in this section, as this will form the basis both of the assessment process and of the scope of the extension to enrolment. Should an Approved Contractor wish to increase the scope of the extension to enrolment after the extension has been granted, this will be subject to a further application and assessment process The table in this section of the application form, (reproduced below,) enables the particular concepts of protection the business has applied in hazardous areas to be indicated, together with the zones in which those protective measures have been used. It also enables the business to indicate whether the work entailed installation, inspection and testing, and/or maintenance. The application form should be completed by placing a tick in each of the boxes in the table as appropriate to the range of work actually undertaken over the previous 6 months, and/or in progress The range of work should not be exaggerated, as the Area Engineer will expect to be able to select examples of work across the range indicated for on-site evaluation Table 2: Range of electrical work undertaken 12

13 Completing the application form Section 6: Typical locations in which hazardous area work is undertaken This section enables an indication to be given of the range of locations in which the business has undertaken hazardous area work. Read in conjunction with the information in Section 5, it helps to ensure that an Area Engineer having appropriate knowledge and experience is assigned to your application Examples of locations include filling stations, paint spraying equipment, fuel storage depots, gas pumping stations, oil refineries, flour mills, water and sewage treatment plants Section 7: Electrical personnel involved in hazardous area work In this section, please indicate the number of supervisors (including proposed Qualified Supervisors (Hazardous Areas), other operatives and trainees who are managed from the contracting office and are involved in hazardous area work The Area Engineer will wish to evaluate the system the business has in place to ensure that all personnel assigned to hazardous area work are competent to undertake that work. For example, the Area Engineer will wish to examine the training and experience records for any person who has worked in a hazardous area without constant supervision Tick the box on the form to indicate that such a system is in place, or will be in place before the Preliminary Application Assessment visit is undertaken Section 8: Technical reference documents Depending on the range and scale of the hazardous area work undertaken, the business will need to hold at least one copy of the latest edition of a number of technical reference documents at its contracting office. Additional copies may be required, depending on the scale of the hazardous area work undertaken. The relevant reference documents to be held are as follows For electrical work in hazardous areas where the risk is due to the presence of flammable gas, vapour, mist or dust: BS EN Electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres Part 10 - Classification of hazardous areas Part 14 - Electrical installations in hazardous areas Part 17 - Inspection & maintenance of electrical installations EEMUA Practitioners Handbook (Publication No 186) For electrical work in the hazardous areas of filling stations: IP/APEA Guidance for the design, construction, modification, maintenance and de-commissioning of filling stations Possession of each of the relevant reference documents will be checked by the Area Engineer during the Preliminary Application Assessment visit Tick the boxes on the form as appropriate to confirm that the relevant reference documents are held, or will be obtained before the Preliminary Application Assessment visit Section 9: Declaration Before signing the declaration, the Principal Duty Holder should read the text carefully as the application will effectively form an extension to the contract that already exists between the Approved Contractor and the NICEIC 13

14 Completing the Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) application form A separate application form is required for each proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas). The requirements,including those relating to training and experience, are given earlier in this Guide Section 1: Business Completion of this section should be straightforward. The trading title given should be exactly the same as that registered with the NICEIC Section 2: Details of proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) The completion of this section should also be straightforward. Provision of the National Insurance Number enables the person's details to be recorded in the NICEIC register of Qualified Supervisors Section 3: Supervisory or managerial responsibility for hazardous area work Persons proposed as Qualified Supervisors (Hazardous Areas) are required to have had at least two years' supervisory or managerial responsibility for the standard of electrical work in hazardous areas. Confirmation of this can be given by ticking the 'Yes' box. Assessors may require to see evidence of such previous responsibility If a nominated person is not already registered with the NICEIC as a Qualified Supervisor for electrical work in non-hazardous areas, the person will need to be assessed against the requirements of Rule 5(3) of the NICEIC Rules Relating to Enrolment before the on-site evaluation of electrical work in hazardous areas can proceed Such assessment will be subject to an additional fee, normally for a half-day visit. (See the fee schedule). Separate application forms for proposed Qualified Supervisors are available on request from the NICEIC Operations Administration Department Section 4: Hazardous area experience The proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) should indicate the range of hazardous area work carried out personally on a regular basis The proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) should also indicate whether or not he/she has had at least two years' practical experience of the application of each of the zonal and protection concepts applicable to hazardous area work Persons proposed as Qualified Supervisors (Hazardous Areas) are also required to be a principal or employee of the applicant business available on a full time basis. Confirmation of this can be given by ticking the 'Yes' box Preferably, persons nominated as Qualified Supervisors (Hazardous Areas) should currently be registered with the NICEIC as Qualified Supervisors for electrical work in non-hazardous areas 14

15 Completing the application form Section 5: Training undertaken The proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) should indicate which Comp'Ex' Units have been satisfactorily completed, giving the year in which the assessment certificate was awarded. A copy (NOT the original) of the assessment certificate for each training unit completed should be attached to the application form Details of any Comp'Ex' refresher courses attended should also be given, and copy assessment certificates attached Details of any other relevant technical training courses attended should be given in the space provided During the Preliminary Application Assessment visit, the Area Engineer will require to see the original certificate for each training course undertaken Section 6: Declarations The proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) should sign the declaration in the space provided to confirm that the details provided on the form are correct and that he fully understands the requirements for Qualified Supervisors (Hazardous Areas) The Principal Duty Holder should then also sign the form to confirm on behalf of the business that the proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) is considered to be competent within the meaning of the Electricity at Work Regulations

16 Assessment process Enquiry to NICEIC Information dispatched or downloaded from Web site Contractor returns completed application with fee NICEIC records application details and forwards the information to the Area Engineer Areas Engineer contacts contractor and arranges preliminary application visit. During the visit the contractor is informed of any actions to be taken prior to on-site assessment. Contractor is provided with an estimate of on-site assessment Quote prepared and sent to contractor Contractor accepts the quotation for assessment on-site Contractor prepared for on-site assessment On-site assessment visit(s) carried out by Area Engineer Areas Engineer completes Assessment Report indicating any observed non-compliances and the recommendation concerning enrolment Further assessment visit undertaken Area Engineer gives report to contractor and sends copy to NICEIC Head Office for enrolment decision Enrolment decision by NICEIC Head Office Contractors provided with confirmation of non-compliances observed during assessment visit(s) Documentary evidence provided by all contractors to confirm all major noncompliances satisfactorily addressed* Application held pending completion of actions to achieve compliance Contractor advises NICEIC Head Office that actions have been completed Annual Enrolment Contractor informed that the requirements for the extension to enrolment have been met Periodic assessments carried out to confirm continued compliance with NICEIC Rules *Note. Any major non-compliance relating to the technical standard of work or the responsibilities of the Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) would necessitate a further assessment visit. 16

17 Assessment process Visits by Area Engineers are programmed into their schedule of work, and appointments will normally be made up to five weeks in advance of a visit. However, it may be possible to arrange for an earlier visit if the Area Engineer's diary permits A Preliminary Application Assessment visit, which usually lasts a half-day, provides ample opportunity to confirm the range of electrical work being undertaken in hazardous areas, to discuss the assessment process and criteria in detail, and to answer any questions arising. The Area Engineer, subject to the time available, will also assess the extent to which the business and proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) satisfy the particular requirements relating to the proposed extension to enrolment Experience has shown that generally, Preliminary Application Assessment visits tend to minimise the cost and timescale of the application process, as applicants are generally better prepared for assessment The assessment process for the extension to enrolment will focus on the special requirements relating to electrical work in potentially explosive atmospheres. It will generally not cover matters relating to the basic electrical safety requirements of BS 7671, as the business' compliance with the NICEIC Rules for electrical work in non-hazardous areas will have already been assessed under the normal NICEIC assessment process The assessment process is carried out in two phases. In the first phase, the Preliminary Application Assessment Visit will be used to assess compliance with all the requirements relating to hazardous area work which do not require a site visit. In the second phase, a representative sample of the range of hazardous area work undertaken by the business will be evaluated on site by means of on-site assessments If the information provided with the application is complete and indicates general compliance with the requirements for the extension to enrolment, the application forms will be forwarded to the local NICEIC Area Engineer who will arrange to carry out a Preliminary Application Assessment visit as soon as possible Preliminary Application Assessment Visit A Preliminary Application Assessment visit normally lasts half day. It will be conducted at the business' contracting office To get maximum value from a Preliminary Application Assessment visit, both the Principal Duty Holder and the proposed Qualified Supervisor(s) (Hazardous Areas) must be present to discuss the application with the Area Engineer During a Preliminary Application Assessment visit, the Area Engineer will review the extent to which the business and key personnel satisfy the requirements for the extension to enrolment and will: explain the assessment criteria and process explain the role of the Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) review and confirm the range of hazardous area work undertaken by the business over the past 12 months, which will form the scope of the extension to enrolment identify the range of work which will need to be evaluated on site, review the nature and locations of the possible sites to be visited, and discuss the accessibility of the work on those sites discuss the programme and likely costs of the assessment process review the training and experience of the proposed Qualified Supervisor(s) (Hazardous Areas) review the system the business has in place to ensure the competence of all other persons that may be assigned to undertake electrical work in hazardous areas without constant supervision discuss the requirement to provide appropriate standard certificates and reports to clients, and to give guidance where necessary on their completion identify any significant likely non-compliances with the requirements for the extension to enrolment which the business will need to address prior to the assessment visit provide any other general information and advice on the requirements for the extension to enrolment 17

18 Assessment process The Area Engineer, subject to the time available, will then: explain the assessment process and confirm the roles of the Principal Duty Holder and the Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) discuss and confirm the range of hazardous area work undertaken by the business review the details of all the business' hazardous area work completed within the previous year and in progress draw up a plan for the on-site evaluation of the technical standard of a representative sample of the business' hazardous area work, taking into account the location of the sites to be visited and any known access restrictions. (The proposed Qualified Supervisor(s) (Hazardous Areas) responsible for the work to be evaluated will be required to be present throughout the on-site assessments) check possession of the relevant technical reference documents for the range and scale of hazardous area work undertaken check that appropriate certificates and reports have been issued to clients check the hazardous area training and experience of the proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) identify any significant non-compliances with the general requirements of the NICEIC Rules and the particular requirements for hazardous areas which the business will need to address, in some cases prior to the on-site assessment visits check possession of adequate number of test instruments and test leads appropriate to the range and scale of electrical work undertaken check records demonstrating that a system is in place to ensure the accuracy and consistency of test instruments used for certification and reporting purposes provide an estimate of fees for undertaking the onsite assessments, based on the standard fee schedule. (This estimate will form the basis of a formal quotation from the NICEIC for the completion of the application process) At the end of the Preliminary Application Assessment visit, the Area Engineer will issue a checklist of the visit and a report identifying any non-compliances observed which require further action to be taken onsite assessment visit takes place Note: when the on-site assessment visit(s) are carried out at a protracted period after the Preliminary Application Assessment visit, some items may need to be shown to the Area Engineer again check the training and experience records of personnel assigned to hazardous area work check the business' record of any complaints made by customers about the technical standard of the business'work in hazardous areas, together with the details of the remedial action taken to resolve them. (The record may be part of the complaints register maintained for the business' electrical work in non-hazardous areas) check that risk assessments appropriate to undertaking electrical installation work in hazardous areas are available 18

19 Preparation for assessment visit Preparation for assessment visit To enable the business to gain most benefit from the visit, and to enable the assessment process to be successfully completed as quickly as reasonably possible, it is important that each of the items shown are made ready for examination and assessment, prior to the Area Engineer's arrival Plant and equipment The Area Engineer will need to establish that the business has plant, tools and materials appropriate to the range and scale of the electrical work undertaken in hazardous areas. Technical reference documents The Area Engineer will need to check that, as a minimum, the business holds the latest edition of each of the following technical reference documents at its place of business: For electrical work in hazardous areas where the risk is due to the presence of flammable gas or vapour: BS EN Electrical equipment for explosive gas, vapour, mist or dust Part 10 - Classification of hazardous areas Part 14 - Electrical installations in hazardous areas Part 17 - Inspection and maintenance of electrical installations EEMUA Practitioners Handbook (Publication No 186) For electrical work in the hazardous areas of filling stations: IP/APEA Guidance for the design, construction, modification and maintenance and decommissioning of filling stations Installation certificates and reports issued to clients BS 7671: requires that an Electrical Installation Certificate, together with a schedule of inspections and a schedule of test results, is issued to the person ordering the work following the initial verification of an electrical installation. Alternatively, where appropriate, a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate may be issued BS 7671: also requires that a Periodic Inspection Report, together with a schedule of inspections and a schedule of test results, is issued to the person ordering the work following the periodic inspection of an electrical installation These electrical certificates and reports should be accompanied by the appropriate hazardous area forms, as detailed in BS EN or the IP/APEA Guide. The Area Engineer will review a sample of certificates, reports and schedules issued during the previous year, including records of the results of initial and periodic inspections of installations Training certificates - proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) The Area Engineer will need to check the originals of the hazardous training certificates of the proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) Competence of operatives The Area Engineer will need to check the system (such as training and experience records) that the business uses to ensure that all operatives employed on electrical work in potentially explosive areas are either competent to undertake the work, or are placed under the supervision of a competent person whilst undertaking such work. 'Constant supervision' means direct contact at the site of the work on at least a daily basis Public liability insurance Evidence of a minimum of two million pounds' cover must be provided to the Area Engineer for the range of work undertaken by the business in hazardous areas. Note that it is public liability insurance, not employers' liability insurance, that needs to be checked List of electrical work A detailed list of all hazardous area work completed by the business during the previous year, and of all work in progress, must be made available to enable the Area Engineer to select the samples of work to be assessed on site at a later date 19

20 Preparation for assessment visit The Area Engineer will select a suitable number of samples across the range of electrical work carried out to evaluate during the on-site assessments List of complaints about the technical standard of the business' work A record of all complaints made by customers about the technical standard of the contractor's work in hazardous areas, together with the details of the remedial action taken to resolve them, must be available for the Area Engineer to examine Preparation for the on-site assessment visit(s) The number and duration of on-site assessment visits allowed for in the plan produced by the assessor during the Preliminary Application Assessment, as far as possible, take account of the range of hazardous area work to be evaluated, the location of the sites to be visited, and any known restrictions on access to those sites The proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) responsible for the work to be evaluated must be present throughout each on-site assessment Access arrangements The proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) will be expected to make adequate arrangements for access to the electrical work at each of the sites or premises selected, and to meet the Area Engineer at each of those places. Suitable plant (hand tools etc) for this purpose are required to be provided by the applicant business. The Principal Duty Holder need not be present during on-site assessment visits Where access restrictions prevent the completion of the assessment plan within the period of time allocated, a further visit or visits may be necessary to complete the assessment of the contractor's compliance with the Rules. A fee is payable for any such additional visits made Competence of the proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) During the on-site assessments, the Area Engineer will expect the proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) to demonstrate an in-depth appreciation of the requirements of the British Standards and Codes of Practice relevant to the range of hazardous area work undertaken by the business Specific demonstration of compliance with the requirements of BS 7671 will not normally be required The proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) must take to site the records of the initial inspection and/or periodic inspection of the installations selected for evaluation These electrical certificates and reports should be accompanied by the appropriate hazardous area forms, as detailed in BS EN or the IP/APEA Guide The proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) will normally be expected to carry out a close inspection* of parts of electrical installations selected by the Area Engineer, to demonstrate compliance with the relevant standards. Where circumstances permit, a detailed inspection* may be required If the proposed Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) is not fully conversant with the requirements of the relevant standards for the range of hazardous area work undertaken, he/she may need to undertake further training, and be re-assessed, before an extension to enrolment can be granted Assessment reports The Assessor will issue an Assessment Report at the end of each assessment visit. The report will indicate the level of the business' compliance with the Rules. Any observed non compliances with the NICEIC Rules will be recorded for action by the business *'Close inspection' and 'detailed inspection' are defined in BS EN

21 Extension to enrolment Outcome of an application assessment A completed application assessment will result in the Area Engineer making one of the following recommendations to NICEIC Head Office: Extension to be granted An extension of enrolment will be recommended by the Area Engineer if the business is compliant with the Rules. The scope of the extension will be detailed in a schedule forming part of the 'Extension to Enrolment' certificate A periodic assessment plan will need to be established by the Area Engineer, based on the range, scale and geographical spread of the hazardous area work undertaken. Periodic assessments are carried out in a similar manner to the application assessment visits, usually involving a visit to the contracting office and an appropriate number of on-site assessment visits Application to be deferred If the business does not currently satisfy the NICEIC Rules, but is likely to do so after it has addressed the noncompliances identified in the Assessment Reports, the Area Engineer will recommend that further consideration of the application is deferred Should the business wish to continue with its application after addressing the non-compliances, one or more further assessment visits will normally be necessary, for which an additional charge is made. (Exceptionally, a further assessment visit would not be required if the business can provide appropriate documentary evidence to confirm that all non-compliances have been satisfactorily addressed). However, any non-compliance relating to the technical standard of electrical work or the responsibilities of the Qualified Supervisor (Hazardous Areas) would necessitate a further assessment visit) If a further assessment visit or visits are considered necessary, the Area Engineer will give an indication of the extent of re-assessment required Application to be rejected This is recommended if the Area Engineer considers that the business will be unable to comply with the NICEIC Rules in respect to hazardous area work. If the business is eligible to re-apply for an extension to enrolment, a fresh application may be considered, usually after a period of six months has elapsed The final stage The decision on the outcome of an application assessment rests with NICEIC Head Office. The business will be informed of the decision in writing as soon as possible. The business may appeal against the decision if it is considered to be unfair Extension to enrolment Once the enrolment process has been satisfactorily completed, an NICEIC Extension to Enrolment Certificate will be issued and the business can be promoted as having been assessed by the NICEIC for electrical work in the hazardous areas covered by the scope of the certificate. The extension to enrolment will be published in all forms of the NICEIC Roll of Approved Contractors and Conforming Bodies, which is used by specifiers and the public to select competent electrical contractors Subject to certain conditions, the business will be eligible to display the distinctive NICEIC Registration and Certification Marks, and purchase the NICEIC certificate and report forms appropriate to the range of hazardous area work within the scope of its extension to enrolment 21