New guidance has been published by a collaborative group representing electricians, which outlines the skills and competences required for individuals to carry out electrical installation work within dwellings in England and Wales.

The Skills Alliance for Electricians (SA4E) comprises representatives of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry, the Electrical Contractors' Association, Unite the union, SummitSkills, the Engineering Council and, more recently, the Highways Electrical Association. Working together with the Building Control Alliance, the group has produced the new peer-reviewed Guidance for Building Control Bodies.

Michelle Richmond, IET director of membership and professional development, said: 'The main purpose of this new Guidance is to enhance standards and the competence recognition of electricians so that home owners can be confident that the work being carried out in their homes meets all the safety requirements.'.

Since 2005, all electrical work in dwellings in England and Wales, whether carried out professionally or as DIY, must meet the requirements of Part P of the Building Regulations. In April 2013 the requirements for England were amended. Compliance with Part P is a serious matter and intended to keep the public as safe as possible from electrical hazards. In addition, local authorities have the power to make homeowners or landlords remove or alter any work that does not meet the requirements of the Building Regulations.

The Guidance incorporates a qualification and competence risk indicator which can be used by Building Control Bodies to assess the level of confidence they can place in the individual to undertake the work competently and safely and as a result the degree of supervision and inspection they should exercise.

SA4E was formed from a previous Technical Advisory Panel and Steering Group (TAPS) which published findings from a large research study that focused on electrician technician registration (May 2013). The Highway Electrical Association joined the SA4E in May 2014.

Qualified and experienced electricians are eligible to apply for the Engineering Technician (EngTech) professional registration.

Building Control Bodies interested in booking an information seminar at their site can contact the IET at electechs@theiet.org

The IET-BCA Guidance Document can be downloaded at www.theiet.org/sa4e