NAPIT welcomes publication of revised Electrotechnical Assessment Specification

NAPIT has welcomed the latest version of the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS), which has introduced minimum technical competence criteria required for carrying out Periodic Electrical Inspection and Testing.

According to the association, the publication of the revised EAS could not have come at a better time to support The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 which are before parliament and aim to ensure all privately rented properties meet minimum electrical safety standards. Private landlords will be required to ensure their properties are subject to electrical inspection and testing by a qualified person at intervals not exceeding five years. Subject to due parliamentary process, these regulations will come into force for new tenancies from 1 July 2020, and for any existing tenancies from 1 April 2021.

After years of campaigning for 'Competence on the Doorstep' in the electrical sector, NAPIT has welcomed the specification requirements for the demonstration of competence of employed operatives doing electrical work, which recognises that this issue is not limited to Qualified Supervisors alone.

David Cowburn, chief operating officer of NAPIT commented:, "As the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers, it is particularly satisfying to have an industry agreed standard for the competence of those carrying out electrical inspection and testing for the first time. This is a huge step forward for the industry. We contributed considerably to the revised EAS and are delighted with the steps it has taken to enhance industry standards and improve electrical safety within the sector, especially relating to demonstrating the competence of employed persons."