TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT AE Competencies
a commitment of time and focus, the competencies upheld by, and direct impact of, an AE(D) on patient safety offer a fulfilling experience, and a standard and culture which should most certainly extend to CPs and APs alike.”
Jason Fisher TD, CEng, MSc, FIHEEM, FIET, FCIBSE, FioL, TechIOSH. Chair of the AE(E) Board of Registration.
“So, why should you consider becoming an Electrical Authorising Engineer? There continue to be far too few IHEEM-registered Electrical Authorising Engineers across the UK and in the Republic of Ireland to provide adequate support to the NHS and the HSE (in ROI); in fact there are only 7 of us. We recognise the vital importance of developing an
interest amongst engineers to embark on the formal training pathway required to become a registered AE. We are keen to explore how we can mentor and develop future generations of Authorising Engineers, to ensure that AE is a clearly defined career path; this must be a priority. Early work and initial thoughts on this have already commenced, and we intend to develop this further throughout 2025.
‘Not for the faint-hearted’
“The process to become an AE(E) is not for the faint-hearted, and is without doubt arduous, demands focus, drive, determination, enthusiasm, attention to detail, and all justifiably so. “The foundation training consists of passing all the HTM High Voltage and HTM Low Voltage Authorised Person courses, an emergency first aid course, and the Authorising Engineer course. This is in
addition to being professionally registered as an IEng or CEng, and having extensive High Voltage and Low Voltage experience in a variety of healthcare settings and applications, as well as being familiar with different types of equipment in current use.
“Many AEs have also completed the NEBOSH general certificate in occupational Health and Safety, given the health and safety issues surrounding HV and LV equipment, although it should be noted that the requirement to complete this course in no longer mandatory. “Once you have attained this and have met the threshold, you will then be called forward to deliver a presentation to two IHEEM-registered AEs and an independent observer prior to undergoing a demanding technical interview. This is split into two distinct and separate sections, one for High Voltage and one for Low Voltage, each one lasting around an hour and a half. “Is it challenging? – Yes – is it impossible?
SPOTLIGHT ON
ANDREW POPLETT Independent Authorising Engineer for Specialist Healthcare Ventilation and Water Systems
A
Andrew Poplett IEng, MIHEEM, ACIBSE, AffIFE, is an Authorising Engineer (AE), and currently works as a self-employed independent healthcare consultant, where his role is to provide input and expertise to healthcare facilities in relation to ventilation and water systems. He started his career as an apprentice engineer in 1985, working for an installation building services company. During his six years with the company he undertook various aspects of design, contract supervision, and installation work across a range of industrial and healthcare building services projects. In 1992 he began his NHS career as an Operational Estates Officer working at an acute district general hospital, where he began to specialise in ventilation and water within some of the critical units within the hospital, as well as in general estate management. He later moved to other NHS Trusts, including those specialising in learning disability and mental healthcare. In 2010 he left the NHS, and set up as an independent healthcare consultant. During the past 15 years as an independent healthcare consultant and Authorising Engineer (AE), he has undertaken various support consultancy roles for a number of both private and NHS healthcare providers. He became an IHEEM-accredited AE1
for water
in December 2015, and a SVH Society-approved AE for ventilation in April 2019. He was accredited as an IHEEM AE for Ventilation in August 2021, having set up the formal IHEEM register of AE(V)s as part of his role as Chair of the IHEEM Ventilation Technical Platform; he was appointed as Chair in October 2019. He has also successfully completed CPD qualifications as a BREAM Assessor (in January 2012), and a FDIS Diploma in Fire Doors (in June 2014), both of which he has found valuable in his work as an AE. Andrew is an Incorporated Engineer, registered with the Engineering Council since 2013, and a full member of IHEEM. He is an
associate member of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), and an affiliate member of the Institute of Fire Engineering. He is currently a committee member of the North East Regional IHEEM Committee, and Chair of the IHEEM Ventilation Technical Platform. Also a founder member of the Specialist Ventilation in Healthcare Society (SVH), he is a member of the Healthcare Infection Society (HIS), and represents IHEEM on a number of guidance working groups. Andrew has been lead author, and published various briefing notes and supplementary guidance documents, on aspects of
ventilation within a healthcare setting, and written numerous articles on ventilation-related issues and the management of ventilation for HEJ (see right).
12 Health Estate Journal June 2025
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