On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 08:39:22 +0000 (UTC), Frank Erskine
wrote:


Being a "competent person" doesn't mean being competent. It means
being a member of a trade body whose subscription would preclude the
average d-i-yer.

I know all these new rules and regulations I supposed to help in the
long run (pushing out cowboys / incompetents etc) but it is
frustrating for those of us who have demonstrated our 'competence'
over the years?

When I bought this 1897 house over 30 years ago I couldn't afford to
have things done so had to do them all myself. I removed gas lights
and bits of old rubber sheathed wiring, chimney breasts, concrete
kitchen floor etc etc.

I then fitted a new CU, wired (it wasn't 're-wiring' because there
hardly was any), ran new gas feeds etc etc. Everything I did I sought
advice on before I started .. and followed that advice .. just 'common
sense' in my mind?

30+ years later it's all still working .. but if I wanted to replace
any of it now I wouldn't be 'competent' ?

When the gas cooker, multipoint water heater, electric shower, washing
machine (etc etc) go wrong I fix them (where I can and assuming I can
get the parts etc), adain, in most cases just 'common sense'.

Shame there isn't a special 'D-I-Y'ers competents test' we could take
just to say 'we are 'ok' to do our own work ... the work most of us
have been doing anyway for many years at least?

Again, common sense would tell us if there was some special
(expensive) kit that was needed to finally test / measure / sign off
something we would get someone in to do so (or hire the kit etc)?

Ho hum ..

All the best ..

T i m