<![CDATA[Friendly and efficient local service for all your electrical needs - additional sockets, lights, fuseboard changes, rewires, new installations, test & inspection certificates, PAT Testing or fault finding, we can help.  Yateley, Sandhurst, F - Blog]]>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:47:12 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Part P - Elecsa Assessment]]>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:22:32 -0800http://www.jf-electrical-testing.com/2/post/2012/02/part-p-elecsa-assessment.htmlI have applied to join one of the Part P scheme providers, Elecsa, and once I pass the criteria of the annual assessment planned in March it will enable me to sign off all domestic work which requires notification.

A lot of people get confused around Part P - Electrical Safety and what it really is all about. 
Yes, its about installing electrics safely and to a standard which complies to the building regulations but mainly its about reporting electrical work to the building controls office at the local authority.
It concerns itself with new circuits, alterations of circuits, areas know as special installations & locactions and does not have to include minor works to your electrics (eg changing of light switches) unless they are in a special location, (eg bathroom, kitchens or outside)
There are electricians out there who are not Part P schemed, that does not mean you should not use them however, but just be sure that building controls has been informed before your electrician has started your work.
If however, you electrician is a member of a scheme, such as Elecsa, like I plan to be very soon =) then building controls would not be required to be notified before your electrician begins work and all the peperwork is completed via the electrician and the scheme provider.

http://www.elecsa.co.uk/
]]><![CDATA[Built up my knowledge on Part P of the Building Regulations]]>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:07:28 -0800http://www.jf-electrical-testing.com/2/post/2012/02/built-up-my-knowledge-on-part-p-of-the-building-regulations.htmlI completed my City & Guilds qualification on the Building Regulations for England & Wales today with a great pass and further knowledge of the Building Regulations that as electricians we are required to comply with.

Part A - Structures
Part B - Fire Safety
Part C - Site preperation & resistance to contaminates and moisture
Part E - Resistance to the passage of sound
Part F - Ventilation
Part L - Conservation of fuel & power
Part M - Access to and use of buildings
And of course the very famous PART P - Electrical Safety
]]><![CDATA[Electrical work for the famous]]>Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:50:08 -0800http://www.jf-electrical-testing.com/2/post/2012/02/electrical-work-for-the-famous.htmlPicture
This weekend saw an interesting work call to have a light installed in the loft. Interesting in what way, it's not often I get to work for the rich and famous, but this time I just coundn't resist a photo.
Darth Vader rang me up, wanting an electrician to put a light in the loft cause, and in his words, 'It's a lttle on the dark side'
HAHA!
Thank you to my real customer for letting me me have this photo opportunity after finishing his electrical work.
]]><![CDATA[Testimonials, what a joy]]>Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:58:24 -0800http://www.jf-electrical-testing.com/2/post/2012/01/testimonials-what-a-joy.htmlI have added a customer testimonal page to the website following a great feedback report from one of my customers and it made me feel very proud.
I added the page so that I could share it with everyone and who know's it may even help people to make up their minds to use J F Electrical & Testing as the right choice for any electrical work they need, fingers crossed on that, haha!
I have spent some time this week talking with a business coaching expert through my potition held at SC Johnson and she had already explain what a great marketing tool testimonals can be, so it was very good to have one this week and to add it.  Thanks very much to Mr & Mrs Elgy from Frimley Green, Surrey. ]]><![CDATA[Electrical Installation Condition Reports go live]]>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:32:32 -0800http://www.jf-electrical-testing.com/2/post/2012/01/electrical-installation-condition-reports-go-live.htmlYou may remember that I posted about Periodic Inspection Reports (PIR), sometimes called 5 yearly reports were going to be changing.
As of the 1st January 2012 the PIR has changed.  The new Electrical Installation Condition Report has gone live. 
This has been changed as an amendmant to the IET Wiring Regulations 2008 : Amd 1 (BS7671) and will only affect the cerificates that are intended to test and inspect the continued safe condition of an electrical installations.
The new report is designed to make it clearer to read and understand the saftey issues raised following an inspection.  It still includes the main certificate, the schedule of test results and the schedule of inspections as before with a slightly more user friendly format.
These reports are required by businesses, landlords and of recent is becoming more popular with insurance or mortgage companies in domestic properties to satisify safe electrical installations for continued use. ]]><![CDATA[Green Deal is in the planning]]>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:08:25 -0800http://www.jf-electrical-testing.com/2/post/2011/12/green-deal-is-in-the-planning.htmlThe government has started plans to introduce a new energy saving program called the Green Deal.  The Green Deal is a way for home owners and businesses to make improvements to their properties without having the money upfront.  It would mean that you can carry out work on your property, increase energy performance, reduce your bills and pay back the money via your electricity bills.
I am keeping an eye on the unfolding plans for the Green Deal so that I can become an approved Green Deal installer.  It would be required that an accredited Green Deal advisor will give a full survey of your building with potential savings that could be made after the improvements work had been completed.

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/tackling/green_deal/green_deal.aspx

Follow the link above to the Decc website which gives more details of what the Green Deal is and how people can benefit.
It is still in consultation however and still in its planning stages.  I will post more as more information when it becomes available. ]]><![CDATA[Feed in Tariff clouding over??]]>Sat, 19 Nov 2011 08:30:24 -0800http://www.jf-electrical-testing.com/2/post/2011/11/feed-in-tariff-clouding-over.htmlThe feed in tariff for solar installation is under review.  It was due to change anyway, but not until April 2013......
The change may come into effect as soon as 12th December 2011.

So why the change and what does it mean?
Firstly the change is coming because the solar installation market has been larger than expected and the government who has been providing subsidies did not expect such a rapid sign up from consumers & businesses alike.  With this in mind it has eaten away at the money which was put aside to support the solar inovation.
With the current feed in tarrif (FIT's) providing 43.3p/kwh on a systems up to 4kw, it is proposed that after the 12th Decemeber review, it will be reduced to 21p/kwh with other prices for the larger solar panel installs.

More info here,
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/renewable_ener/feedin_tariff/fits_review/fits_review.aspx

As expected with any growth industry it has caused upset and confusion, however it does not see the end of solar for the small businesses like myself who will still remain true to the word that there is still the market in solar for two reasons.
1. The benefits to the environment remain
2. It will stabilise the solar market to the consumer and make the costs balance out and become more viable to everyone.
]]><![CDATA[Website relaunched for a brighter look]]>Fri, 28 Oct 2011 03:29:54 -0800http://www.jf-electrical-testing.com/2/post/2011/10/website-relaunched-for-a-brighter-look.htmlI have been looking at my website and thinking it was just too dark, maybe it's the bright October sunshine, but I have been inspired recently with sunshine, the reading of green websites and the thought of solar panel installation work.
The more I read into it the more I know it's the way to go, sorry to keep banging on about it, but it's so important to do our bit. ]]><![CDATA[Sunblock protection - Solar PV protection?]]>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:03:53 -0800http://www.jf-electrical-testing.com/2/post/2011/10/sunblock-protection-solar-pv-protection.htmlFollowing up some on the research for solar panel installations I have discovered two accredited companies which I will be required to have membership with or any contractor who installs PV panels should be with.

1. MCS - http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/
2. REA - http://www.r-e-a.net/

Consideration should be taken when selecting any contractor to work on your property and by choosing one that has the relevant associations attached can only be a good thing.  Sometimes an installation can be a worry and this will help to reduce some of that worry, giving piece of mind that the work will be completed to a high standard and will work safely for many years service.
The more I read in to Solar PV, the more I find myself getting in to the idea and this electrician will be looking to complete the training around next spring.

I watched an interesting program from BBC Watchdog on You Tube earlier which help explain a little more about MCS and REA.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzAojDHVeBA

The watchdog program also introduced me to 'Feed in tariffs' which is a government scheme which basically allows you to sell back the energy your panels produce back to the grid.  This looks like at the moment that it gives a fixed price for your investement for 25 years.  Once again, I'm am new to this and it also requires futher research.

]]><![CDATA[Periodic testing and inspection converts]]>Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:03:52 -0800http://www.jf-electrical-testing.com/2/post/2011/10/periodic-testing-and-inspection-converts.htmlPeriodic inspection reports have been the chosen way for businesses and landlords to have the condition of their buildings electrical systems to be inspected & tested for continued safe use.  The certificate should be accompanied with two additional documents - Schedule of test results and schedule of inspections.
From 1st of January 2012 the IEE Wiring Regulations have been amended and with this it brings new style paper work for periodic inspection reporting.

The new certificates are to be called 'Electrical Installation Condition Report' which for the most part has changed ever so only slightly, however, the main change will be with the schedule of inspections, now called 'Condition report inspection schedule for domestic and similar premises with up to 100 A supply'
They have almost the same format for the schedule of test results, with just a couple of changes to and calling it a 'Generic schedule of test results'

Wonderful to see they kept it simple!
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