NAPIT - membership

02 September 2010

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Borough IT

Membership FAQs

Is NAPIT just for domestic work?

No, the majority of our members are approved in the industrial, commercial and domestic sectors. The individuals/operatives employed within the organisation must all satisfy the requirements of our rigorous onsite technical assessment before membership is granted. Membership encompasses, membership of the trade association and where applicable, registration onto NAPIT's Competent Persons Scheme which covers work in domestic properties.

What registers do you hold?

We hold registers for Electrical, Plumbing, Heating & Ventilation.

I carry out various work that cover a multitude of the above schemes can I join more than one scheme?

You can join as many of the schemes as you wish to and will be offered membership and receive registration for all those you are deemed competent in which is subject to an on site assessment and review of the relevant qualifications been held. As long as you join them before we do your assessment there will be no additional cost for the other schemes.

As a tradesperson do I have to join a Competent Person's Scheme to carry out work in domestic properties?

No, you can register your notifiable works directly with the local building control office but you will find that there are significant cost (from £150 per notice)and time implications where as with self certification scheme you can save time and money whilst also improving your service to your customers.

Do I have to know which parts of the building regulations are applicable to what I notify as some of these parts could cover more than one regulation?

We make notification simply by supplying you with a list of notifiable jobs and you notify that job and we do the rest working out the parts that are applied to each scheme, sending the relevant building control the notice and sending a certificate to your customer. All the different jobs you register in one household on the same day are all done under one notification fee no matter how many schemes they cover.

Do all schemes need various qualifications?

Across all the registers we have a full scope and defined scope schemes which require various forms of qualifications depending on the type of work you are carrying out, you may have all these or can join and take 12 months to gain them. To check your qualifications needs one of registration Advisors will be pleased to advise you on the requirements and can be cont5acted on 0870 444 1392 or see the individual sections on qualification requirements under the relevant schemes

What happens at the assessment?

At the assessment one of our locally based Field Officers will make arrangements that are mutually convenient for you to have your on site assessment. We look at one job either at a customer's house or even work carried out by yourself in your own home. The Field Officer is looking to confirm your competence not to trip you up. The field officer will be able to talk you through the type of job they require to see but as a rule of thumb it will be installation work associated with the type of work you are carrying out.

Can I carry out third party electrical testing & inspecting?

NAPIT membership includes third party inspection and testing as long as the member is fully qualified and has the relevant experience to carry out this service and is present at first & second fix. When completing the Electrical Installation Certificate, in the case of a 3-part certificate only the 'inspection and testing' portion should be completed, if using the NAPIT Electrical Certificate you should indicate in the 'limitations' section that the certificate does not cover design or construction. In each case the details of the installer should be included on the certificate.

Please note that this approach should not be used to notify work under Part P as this is not allowed. See the question & answer below. Members carrying out third party inspecting and testing must also have £250,000 of Professional Indemnity Insurance which is a separate policy from Public Liability. For details of our discounted insurance please contact our Customer Services team on 0870 444 1392.

Can I notify a job if I carry out the electrical inspection & testing?

Approved Document P is quite clear that a scheme member can only self-certificate (in other words notify the work through NAPIT) if they have carried out the installation work (clause 1.19). All other routes involve the work being notified to a building control body (the local authority or an approved inspector) before work starts. From that point there are still two ways in which a NAPIT member could be involved.

Clause 1.22 allows an unregistered installer to submit the BS7671 installation certificate and says that the building control body will take this into account. If an appropriately qualified NAPIT members has carried out third party electrical inspection and testing for such an unregistered installer then they can complete the BS7671 installation certificate providing they follow the advice given in the question & answer above and only sign off the inspect and test element. The member cannot notify the job in this case.

Clause 1.26 allows the building control body to contract out inspection and testing. It is clear that the building control body must pay for this work and cannot require the householder to pay. In this case building control bodies would normally appoint a member of a Competent Persons Scheme. Again, the member cannot notify the job in this case.

Can I carry out electrical Periodic reports?

We are the only organisation that allow our full scope members to carry out Periodic reports at no extra cost for this to be included as part of their membership as long as you have the correct experience, qualifications and insurance in place. Again the member must also have £250,000 of Professional Indemnity Insurance which is a separate policy from Public Liability. For details of our discounted insurance please contact our Customer Services team on 0870 444 1392.

Under the electrical scheme do you have a Domestic Installers Scheme?

We do not have a Domestic Installers Scheme because there are far too may people doing short courses and calling themselves 'Domestic Electricians'. Due to the danger not only to the consumer but also from shock risk to the installer we have two scopes for Electrical one for Electricians and one for non electricians that carry out a small type of minor electrical work as part of their main trade. There are also a number of properties in the UK that have a 3 Phase supply and therefore it is hard to justify a Domestic Installer Scheme.

Why do I need a formal electrical qualification?

NAPIT market themselves to the public as having the best qualified members and that our members are fully qualified and kept up to date with legal & regulatory requirements.

I have lost or never actually taken my formal electrical exams but I am competent, do I need to go back to college before I can join the electrical scheme?

No due to a large number of people been in this situation we have reacted to the market place and devised a solution acceptable to the government which we ask you to take a trade test which is written & practical and once you have passed you are awarded a UKAS Accredited Certificate of competence which is a nationally recognised qualification. There is no extra cost for this test and saves most people a genuine £1000.

What works can I carry out under your Electrical Schemes?

For Full Scope you can carry out all work in Domestic, Commercial & an Industrial environment as well as Periodic reports at no extra cost.

For Defined Scope you can carry out work you have been assessed for that you carry out as part of your main trade. E.g. a Gas fitter, fitting a boiler and carrying out the electrical supply to the boiler.

What is Trustmark?

TrustMark is a government incentive to help consumers find reputable firms to carry out repair, maintenance and improvement work in homes or gardens. The government consumer line receives more calls for regarding trades people than second-hand cars and they now advise the general public to use a TrustMark registered company. TrustMark members are deemed to be not only technically competent but also carry out business ethically and deliver a fair job at a fair price with no hidden costs and can insure their work, in the case of NAPIT members it is 6 years. Tradespeople and firms can only get the TrustMark logo by signing up with one of TrustMark’s approved scheme operators If a firm displays the TrustMark logo the firm has been checked and found that it meets certain standards the Government has set.

In a summary the consumer benefits from:

NAPIT has checked the firm's technical skills, trading record and financial position The firm has signed up to a code of practice that includes insurance, good health and safety practices and customer care.
NAPIT continually monitors quality of work, trading practices and customer satisfaction The firm will inform you of any building regulations that must be met and may be able to provide the necessary certificates.
A clear and user-friendly complaints procedure is in place to resolve problems which may arise with the firm.

You are assisted and given everything you need to achieve the above.

What are the benefits of TrustMark for me?

Recognised as professional trading company

You can insure work for up to £50,000 and for six years and also gives your customer's peace of mind if you ever take deposits as these are covered too. More work is gained through the TrustMark referral system. You will also gain all the above benefits a householder gets as detailed in the previous question.

For further benefits please read through the Trustmark pages

Why do I need references and pictures for membership?

As part of our assessment process we ask for reference from recent customers or indeed character references. With photographs we require them for your identification badge you receive as part of membership which also shows your competencies.