Surprisingly a large number of people who hire the services of an electrician often overlook one of the most important questions and jump straight to questions regarding costs and the time frame to complete the electrical job.
The first thing one should establish before hiring an electrician is whether he/ she are licensed to carry out any electrical tasks. This is often assumed by consumers and businesses alike and is rarely explicitly established.
There are 3 main reasons to ensure you are using a licensed electrician.
Safety – Licensed electricians, follow a well-defined set of safety standards, procedures and regulations that are requirements set by Fair Trading NSW. Many of these are accompanied by legislation, which imposes penalties for non-compliance. This ensures that the electrician you hire is qualified and deemed an expert in the field of electrical work as to gain a license the electrician needs to prove their qualifications, experience and their identity. These prerequisites for a license ensure that all electrical work should be safe for the home occupants and the trades and carried out within set standards.
Knowledge – The mandatory requirements in place by Fair Trading NSW ensures that the electrician you hire has the relevant electrical qualifications and subsequently the knowledge and expertise to give you the advice on the best course of action for the electrical job and carry it out in accordance. Some of the pre-requisites for a license are:
- Completion ofCertificate III in Electro technology Electrician
- Hold a certificate of Proficiency as an Electrician or an Electrical Mechanic from the Department of Education and Communities (DEC) or the Vocational Training Tribunal (VTT).
- At least 12 months relevant electrical wiring work experience utilising knowledge and understanding of the AS/NZS 3000:2007 in the residential, commercial and/or industrial areas
Insurance – As part of their licensing, your electrical contractor is required to be insured. This is to protect you, your property and anyone who uses the electrical systems or equipment on your property, in the event something goes wrong.
Further to this, for any home insurance claims it is required that all electrical works are carried out by a licensed and insured electrician. In the event of a fire or accident, the cause of which was linked to electrical not carried out by a licensed electrician, your policy could potentially become void.
