Communities and Local Government CommitteeWritten submission from NAPIT (CFRA 01)

1. Introduction

1.1. This evidence is submitted by NAPIT Registration Limited (NAPIT), a DCLG approved Competent Person Scheme Operator with almost 10,000 registered members.

2. The Need for Improvement

2.1. Electricity is a necessary part of everyday life. There seems to be an alarming and widespread belief that electricity is generally less dangerous than gas, however sub-standard electrical work can and does cause fire which results in death, injury and loss of property.

2.2. There is also wide spread concern that the current legal framework provides the opportunity for unsafe electricians to practice freely, endangering themselves and consumers. These concerns have been raised by a number of independent sources, including the Communities and Local Government Select Committee in early 2012..1

2.3. Building regulations, stipulate that liability for the state of electrical installations and repairs rests with the homeowner, rather than the installer. However, many homeowners and the general public are unaware of this liability, and more needs to be done to raise public awareness of the dangers of using substandard electricians and of the need to have regular checks of electrical installations. Government and industry have taken positive steps on electrical safety during the past few years; however we believe much more can be done.

3. Industry Initiatives

3.1. In response to widespread concern over poor promotion and enforcement of the exiting Competent Persons Scheme and the recognition that an opportunity existed to make a step change in the safety and quality of electrical work NAPIT initiated the Electrical Safety Roundtable (ESR) in 2012. The ESR includes electrical certification bodies and many other interested and relevant organisations involved with the electrical industry and fire prevention. It meets regularly and focuses on improving the quality of electrical work undertaken by tradespersons in the home in order to reduce the risk of fires and the resulting deaths, injuries and property damage.

3.2. Members of the Electrical Safety Roundtable are passionate about electrical safety and are campaigning to deliver the following improvements to safety.

Licence to Practice:

Members are collaborating via the Roundtable to develop a vision for electrical safety and a roadmap which sets out a vision and timescale for implementation of a mandatory licence to operate by 2020. The roadmap will be communicated via a published report and engagement program.

Effective Supervision and Enforcement:

The Roundtable wants to see better enforcement for those who carry out non-compliant work and greater promotion and enforcement of existing rules. Opportunities to increase enforcement powers and improve supervision arrangements are being considered.

Promotion and Branding:

Consumer awareness of their liability for electrical work carried out in the home is low, and many would not know what to look for when searching for a competent registered electrician. The ElectricSafe brand launched in November 2012 has been designed to be instantly recognisable to householders. It is a voluntary register that will enable consumers to quickly identify competent electrical installers. Currently administrated by NAPIT, it is a not for profit organisation, open to all registered competent full scope electricians from all DCLG authorised Competent Person providers operating within the electrical industry.

4. Questions

4.1 Questions for the Fire Minister, Brandon Lewis MP

Q Given wide-spread concern that the current legal framework provides the opportunity for unsafe electricians to practice freely, endangering themselves and consumers, will the Minister raise the importance of improving standards for electrical workmanship with ministerial colleagues at CLG and explore opportunities to increase enforcement powers, increase penalties for contravention and to improve supervision arrangements?

Q Will the Minister support an important fire prevention opportunity by working with industry to build customer awareness of their liability for electrical work carried out in the home and to educate customers via a recognisable brand how to easily identify a professional electrician approved by a Government authorised registration body to carry out work?

4.2 Questions for Mr Holland, Chief Fire and Rescue Officer

Q NAPIT and others in the electrical industry believe that electrical safety in the home can be greatly improved by increasing customer awareness of the dangers of employing sub-standard electricians. The Fire and Rescue Service has access to householders and offers advice about fire prevention. Does the Minister feel that the Fire Service would benefit from the ability to advise consumers about electrical safety via a single recognisable brand, akin to GasSafe which exists for work undertaken in homes by gas engineers?

April 2013