UK body to offer training for FM professionals

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23 Sep 2018

NICEIC, the UK’s electrical contracting industry’s independent voluntary regulatory body for electrical installation safety throughout the UK, is exhibiting at FM Expo (23-25 September), to make FM professionals aware of the latest (18th) edition of the Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET) wiring regulations and how to apply the requirements of this updated standard, to mitigate the high instance of electrical fires in GCC buildings.

Eddie Arrowsmith, NICEIC Regional Engineering Manager

Eddie Arrowsmith, NICEIC Regional Engineering Manager responsible for Middle East operations, said: “We are meeting with FM companies that carry out planned preventative maintenance (PPM) to electrical installations and those who either carry out or are responsible for maintenance, inspection and testing of electrical wiring and equipment in a building.

“FM companies need to have competent technicians on every site, who are adequately supervised and understand their responsibilities with respect to regional standards such as DEWA and ADEWA standards as well as the IET Wiring Regulations.

“However, FM companies are not regulated in the region and therefore building owners have no way of ensuring an FM company employs technicians and engineers who are competent in inspection and testing electrical installations and equipment. Certification such as a Diploma or a Degree in Electrical Engineering, is not necessarily an indication of competence.

“Therefore, we are offering the courses to assess and address competence levels with respect to testing and inspection of electrical installations, at ground and supervisory level, so poor electrical installation practices can be identified and remedied, thus identifying and reducing the risk of faults and potential fires,” said Arrowsmith.

“An organisation which has NICEIC Accreditation means that key personnel have been subject to a competence assessment and have shown their understanding of the relevant standards and have correctly demonstrated the relevant fixed wiring tests and interpreted the results correctly. The significance of this is that correct testing and inspection will highlight potential electrical failings and thus mitigate potential fire risks,” added Arrowsmith.

Electrical faults are the most common cause of fire across the GCC. A study by Dubai Statistics Centre revealed 22% of fires between 2011 and 2013 were caused by electrical faults such as the one which started the fire at The Address Downtown Dubai on New Year’s Eve 2015.

In Oman, one third of all fires, in 2015 could be traced back to electrical malfunctions, with 1,225 incidents over the course of the year and Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence estimates 70% of all fires in the Kingdom are due to electrical faults.

A large number of the fires in the region can be traced back to electrical faults which puts thousands of lives at risk every day. Along with development corporations, major international design and construction firms have created highly sophisticated buildings which have transformed cities throughout the GCC.

“It is of paramount importance that these buildings are maintained professionally, to ensure that they continue to provide safe and efficient offices and homes, that are fit for purpose and do not pose a risk to residents or occupants,” said Arrowsmith.

NICEIC is the most widely recognised brand in the UK’s electrical industry and currently maintains a roll of over 36,000 registered contractors. Over its 60-year history NICEIC has built a reputation for promoting safety, integrity and technical excellence in the electrical industry and are now exporting the same standards to the GCC.

FM Expo runs from Sunday 23rd September to Tuesday 25th September, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Hall 5, 5C102.

For further information about NICEIC’s training courses email [email protected]