News
PAS 91 consultation n
The ECA has responded to consultation
on the first revision of PAS 91: Construction- related procurement – Prequalification questionnaires. The basic aim of PAS 91, which was first launched in 2010, is to combat the spread of construction prequalification questionnaires (PQQs). It does this by providing buyers and assessors with sets of basic questions about the supplier, plus other enquiries about health and safety, equality, environmental and quality management. The new-look PAS 91 is also likely to include a voluntary question set on ‘Level 2’ Building Information Modelling (BIM). Paul Reeve, ECA head of Business Policy and Practice, said: ‘Experience has allowed BSI to significantly improve the new draft of PAS 91. When it is published, which we expect around New Year, it will be easier for buyers and suppliers to use. ‘But while good content is essential for PAS 91, what matters to ECA members is how widely it is used by public and private
sector buyers.’ The ECA welcomes
government support for PAS 91, but also points out that the PAS has not yet achieved a breakthrough with key clients such as local authorities. To boost take-up, ECA has told BSI that PAS 91 should become a British Standard as soon as possible, there should be an easy-access electronic version, and development should begin on recognising suppliers who have been successfully assessed against the PAS 91 questions. Controversially, the revised PAS 91 will allow buyers and assessment schemes the flexibility of adding further key questions to supplier PQQs, as long as the extra questions are highlighted as being beyond the scope of PAS 91. Some are concerned that buyers will revert back to excessive questions, but arguments that inflexibility has hampered take-up so far, and that buyers ultimately find ways of asking what they want, have held sway. The new arrangements will allow extra questions, but in a something akin to a ‘PAS 91 controlled environment’.
UK electrical installation industry moves to safer, better practices
The Electrotechnical Assessment Specification Management Committee (EAS) has agreed the implementation of the new Qualified Supervisors technical competence requirements to take effect from 6 April 2013, with the industry bodies represented on the EAS Management Committee announcing that a new level 3 qualification has been developed. There are five different routes satisfying
the requirements for registration as a Qualified Supervisor, including on-site assessment, off-site assessment, a mixture of both, and the gaining of appropriate qualifications. Existing Qualified Supervisors The new requirement will not apply retrospectively to existing Qualified Supervisors. Persons who already have a competency-based qualification as outlined in the EAS document will not need to have the new qualification if they apply to become a new Qualified Supervisor after 5 April 2013. What about practising Qualified Supervisors applying before 6 April 2013? The new requirement applies only to proposed Qualified Supervisors applying after 5 April 2013. What about persons previously registered as Qualified Supervisors? Persons who have been working as registered Qualified Supervisors within the two years preceding 6 April 2013 will be eligible to be proposed as a Qualified Supervisor for a new employer without
needing to demonstrate the new level of technical competence. Qualification For those choosing the qualification route, the new Level 3 qualification, a certificate in Installing, Testing and Ensuring Compliance of Electrical Installations in Dwellings will be available from December 2012. This will be the minimum qualification level for Qualified Supervisors responsible for electrical work in domestic properties subject to Part P of the Building Regulations (England and Wales). For compliance with Building
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Regulations in Scotland, Approved Certifiers of Construction for electrical installations must be eligible to be graded as Approved Electricians and be suitably qualified – for example, SVQ Level 3 in electrical engineering or equivalent. For work in commercial or industrial
premises, the minimum qualification requirement for Qualified Supervisors will be the new Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment (Building and Structures). Appropriate Electrotechnical NVQ qualifications are currently certificated through two awarding organisations: City & Guilds (
www.cityandguilds.com) and EAL (
www.eal.org.uk). n For more information on Electrotechnical Level 3 NVQs, see the SummitSkills, City and Guilds and EAL websites.
Multi-occupancy building supplies and new service connections above 100Amps
In response to changes to the Gas and Electricity (Internal Markets) 2011 Regulations, UK Power Networks is introducing a single standard for multi-occupancy buildings. The new standard will be effective across all three of their Distribution Network Operator (DNO) regions; the Eastern Power Network, the London Power Network and the South Eastern Power Network. In addition, UK Power Networks is also introducing another single standard for the connection of new services above 100Amps. The new standards will
be published on the UK Power Networks website from November 2012, and both standards will become effective for all new connection quotations from 1 January 2013. Existing quotes prior to this date will be honoured. The new multi-occupancy buildings standard will mean that UK Power Networks will no longer install or maintain any new rising and lateral sub-main cabling networks within a building. The PME earthing will only extend as far as the service intake cut out, and with provision for metering of the individual properties within
the building. This will impact many new builds or renovation of flats, office buildings, shopping centres and any multi-use buildings sharing a common intake service. In the future, the responsibility
for the design, installation and maintenance of new rising and lateral sub-main cabling networks within buildings will rest with the building landlord or building owners’ nominated building network operator (BNO). For new service connections above 100A, there will be the introduction of Air Circuit Breakers (ACBs) across the three regions, including
the introduction of metering CTs within the service cut out equipment, rather than a separate chamber. UK Power Networks will provide clear information on the requirements of the intake location or switch room size. Both of these standards will
introduce significant changes in the existing electrical power service connections practice for all UK Power Networks regions, affecting designers, builders and electrical contractors. n For more details call Giuliano Digilio on 020 7313 4825 or email
giuliano.digilio@eca.co.uk.
16 ECA Today November 2012
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