Certification Review refer Newsflash for link
As outlined in the ECANZ November newsletter, a review of certification was initiated in September by the Associate Minister of Energy.
The review is divided into two parts:
Certification of installations (Certification Review). Is certification effectively and efficiently contributing to safety outcomes for gas and electrical work?
Fees under the Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010 (Gas Regulations) and the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 (Electricity Regulations).Are these appropriate and do they meet relevant Treasury Guidelines?
The objectives of the Certification Review are to:
Arrive at an agreed purpose and principles for certification and its operation in the current environment
Determine whether the present arrangements meet the purpose and provide cost-effective safety outcomes
Consider what, if any, changes should be made to the regulatory, administrative, governance, or funding arrangements to improve the overall effectiveness of these procedures
Remove any unnecessary process inconsistencies between the certification requirements for gas and electrical installations.
Issues:
The purpose for which "certification" exists is no longer clear - does certification exist to provide surety of the compliance of the installation, the competence of the practitioner or both?
It is unclear whether the current regulatory environment reflects the purposes to which certification is put. Does certification prove the installation is safe? If the practitioner is competent then why is a COC required?
It is unclear how the fees for electricity and gas certificates are allocated.
It is unclear whether the Electricity Workers Registration Board (EWRB) and the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) are operating certification as required.
The gas and electricity fee structures have not been reviewed since 1993 and 1997 respectively.
As an electrical contractor what does this review potentially mean for me?
In regards to the primary aspect of the review, aside from keeping the status quo there are several potential implications:
As a member we ask you to think about whether a COC system is appropriate and needs to be maintained by industry as well as the relevance and/or importance of such a compliance regime.
If COC’s were no longer required to be issued, then how could that affect the potential safety of installations? Do the general public rely on the COC for confirmation of a safe job or do they assume competency in the person that undertakes the work? Which is the best method?
Interestingly this review includes both electrical and gas, which suggests that there is an assumed commonality between the two industries. Consequently this review process may also serve as a tester by the Government to potentially cluster the electrical industry with others. Therefore it is very important that as a participant in the electrical industry you provide your feedback and become involved with this review process in order to prevent electrical issues potentially being diluted in the future.
The terms of reference document written by the Department of Building and Housing (DBH) and Ministry for the Economic Development (MED) can be found by clicking on this link.
ECANZ will put forward a submission based around members views and what is determined to be best for the industry. Please take ten minutes to read the document and provide your feedback, and if you wish to be further involved then let us know as well.
