A new brand and voluntary register, ElectricSafe, has been launched today and is set to break new ground in the field of domestic electrical safety.
Designed to make it easy for homeowners, landlords and tenants to identify competent, registered electricians, ElectricSafe will establish a single, easily recognisable brand the British public can trust.
Originally formed in 2011 by NAPIT – a Government approved register holder of trade installers – the ElectricSafe Register has been launched following the success of the Electrical Safety Roundtable (ESR), a lobbying group which first met at Westminster in June 2012 to consider the problem of unregistered electricians.
When it comes to fitting a new boiler or gas fire, most homeowners wouldn’t dream of doing the work themselves or hiring someone they weren’t sure was fully qualified and experienced.
The public are also generally aware of the need to employ a registered gas engineer and many recognise the national register for the Gas industry, GasSafe (formerly CORGI). But the same cannot be said of the electrical industry.
Electricity can be just as dangerous as gas. Since 2005, certain electrical installations have been under strict regulation of Part P – the section of the UK Building Regulations that covers domestic electrical work. But most members of the public are unaware of these regulations and fail to realise the dangers involved and the difficulties they could have in selling their property if their household electrics should fail to measure up to this standard.
Electrocution and electrical fires that result from poorly installed or improperly checked systems are still causing injury and fatalities, even in this day and age. A lack of proper understanding and awareness in this area means rogue traders and misguided DIYers could be putting lives at risk.
The ElectricSafe Register seeks to tackle this problem head-on, improving consumer safety by ensuring householders hire professional, competent electricians to work in their homes.
ElectricSafe could mark a new chapter in the ongoing pursuit of higher standards in the electrical industry, eradicating confusion for the householder and stamping out cowboy electricians.
For more information of the ElectricSafe Register, please visit the website at www.electricsaferegister.co.uk telephone: 0845 543 0353 or email: info@electricsaferegister.co.uk