Electricians job in uk is complex due to varieties, technical and regulatory and safety considerations.
Some of this varieties are due to the high level of expertise and knowledge required in order to be a good electrician and it involves understanding complex electrical circuits, wiring systems and the integration of high number of electrical components and materials enlisted below:
Electrical Materials For House Rewire Installation:
First Fix
- Cable 2.5 Sockets
- Cable 1.5 Lights
- 4 mm Cable for High Rated Boiler
- 6 mm Cable for cooker or car charger or any other dispositive that draw a lot of current
- Metal Boxes
- Plasterboard drylining boxes
- Plugs
- Screws
- Containment (caping, oval, coppex)
- Earth cable for bonding
- Gromets
- Bin bags
- All Round Bound
- Electrical Tape
- Coppex
- Conduit
- SWA Cable
- Flex Cable
- Cable ties
- Earthing rods
- Earthing clamps
- Heat Shrink Tubing
- Cable Sleeving
- Cables Glands
Second fix
- Sockets
- Lights
- Extract fan
- Smoke Alarm
- Switches
- Multigang Grid switches
- Grid box
- Grid frame
- Wago’s 2 pole
- Wago 3 pole
- Wago 4 pole
- Wago 5 pole
- Wago 8 pole
- Block connectors
- Spurs
- Cooker connection plate
- Control Isolator, Spur for cooker
- Fusebox
- Breakers
- Busbar
- Gland For main tails (fusebox)
- Glands or Wiska Fire Rated Gromets for cable entry
- Any particular boxes for outside lighting
- Glands for armoured cable
- Banjo
- 6 mm Screw for banjo
- Main tails
- Lights for outside
- Kitchen fire rated light
- Bathroom ip 65 minimum rated lights
- Labels 230 v
- Labels circuits
- Flex Cable for boiler
- Cable clips for 2.5
- Cable clips for 1.5
- Cable ties
- Heat Shrink sleeving
- PVC cable sleeving
- Shaver Socket
- Dimmers
- 5 mm Screws different sizes to suit
- Trunking around the fusebox if necessary
- Earth busbar
- Earth Clamps
- Edge trim for fusebox
- Junction boxes
- Choc Boxes
- Lighting connectors
- Cable for ring door bell
- Main Isolator
- Kitchen led tape
- Kitchen led tape profile
- Flood light for outside
- Extractor fan
- Underfloor Heating
- Underfloor heating spur
- Underfloor heating thermostat control
- Heat Alarm
- Flex Cable
- Sockets
- Switches
- Spurs Outlet
- 45 Amp Isolators
- Light fixtures
- Bulbs
- Spotlights
Materials Used in Commercial Installations:
Electricians in United Kingdom must understand theories as Ohm’s law, power calculations, the principles of voltage, current, and resistance.
They must know how to work in different systems as domestic, commercial and Industrial. To know problem-solving identifying faults, and rectifying.
Strict Regulatory Standards
United Kingdom has serious regulations and standards governing electrical works in order to meet safety and regulation as:
Building Regulation (Part P): Which is part of building regulations, to ensure that electrical installation are done to meet the regulated criteria’s. Electrician must ensure compliance, certification and notifying the local authority for the jobs undertaken.
British Standard (BS 7671): The “Wiring Regulations” (BS 7671) set out the requirements for electrical installations in the UK. Electricians must be familiar with the latest edition of the Wiring Regulations, which is periodically updated to reflect new safety and technological developments.
Health and Safety Legislation: UK electricians must comply with health and safety laws, such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which holds them responsible for ensuring safe working conditions. Electricians often work in hazardous environments (e.g., around live wires), making compliance with safety protocols critical.
Qualifications and Continuous Training
To be an electrician in Uk requires certain qualifications and undergoing continuous training some of these qualifications are:
Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation: Aspiring electricians typically need to complete an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) Level 3, which involves both theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
Apprenticeship Requirements: Electricians typically need to complete a 3-4 year apprenticeship that involves rigorous on-the-job training in a variety of electrical systems and environments.
18th Edition Update: UK electricians must stay current with updates to the BS 7671 standards (the most recent being the 18th edition), which involve changes in electrical practices and safety guidelines.
Competent Person Scheme (CPS): To carry out certain electrical work, such as in domestic settings, electricians must be registered with a CPS, ensuring they are competent to self-certify that their work meets building regulations.
Safety and risk Management
Electrical Work’s are by themselves dangerous including risks as electric shock, fires, and injury from working at heights or in confined spaces, Electricians are responsible for minimizing these risks by taking in all precautions, which make job complex.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Electricians must use appropriate safety gear, such as insulated gloves and tools, to mitigate the risk of electric shocks or burns.
Risk Assessments: Prior to beginning work, electricians often need to conduct risk assessments to identify and address potential hazards.
Working with live circuits: In some situations, electricians must work with live systems, requiring extreme caution, technical expertise, and specialized equipment.
Variable Working Conditions
Electricians often work in diverse and challenging environments, such as:
Construction sites: They may need to coordinate with other trades (e.g., plumbers, builders), which can complicate job execution due to scheduling conflicts and space limitations.
Domestic homes: In domestic settings, electricians must ensure minimal disruption to residents, while also dealing with older wiring systems, which may not conform to modern standards.
Industrial settings: Industrial electrical systems are much more complex and operate at higher voltages, requiring specialized knowledge and training.
Conclusion
The job of an electrician in the UK is complex due to a combination of technical, regulatory, and safety factors. The need for deep technical knowledge, strict compliance with evolving regulations, and the ability to work in a variety of settings with potentially hazardous systems makes the role both challenging and critical to public safety.
Bibliography:
Electrical Safety First. (2021). Wiring Regulations. Available at: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/professional-resources/wiring-regulations
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). (n.d.). Electrical Safety. Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). (2018). 18th Edition Wiring Regulations. Available at: https://electrical.theiet.org/bs-7671