The Essential Guide to Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR) in West End Glasgow

In the picturesque and bustling West End of Glasgow, property maintenance goes beyond mere aesthetics. One critical aspect that must not be overlooked is the electrical safety of buildings, emphasized through an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). This document is not just a formal requirement but a cornerstone of electrical safety. Here’s what West End Glasgow property owners and tenants need to know about EICR, from its definition to its execution.

What is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)?

An Electrical Installation Condition Report is a thorough inspection of the electrical systems and installations in a property. This report assesses the safety of these systems, identifying any deficiencies or hazards that might compromise the safety of the occupants or the structure itself. It's an essential document for landlords, homeowners, and businesses to ensure their properties comply with current electrical safety standards.

Why is an EICR Crucial in West End Glasgow?

1. Safety: First and foremost, an EICR is about ensuring safety. Faulty electrical installations can lead to serious hazards such as electric shocks or fires. Regular inspections help detect potential issues before they lead to accidents.

2. Legal Compliance: For landlords in Scotland, including those in West End Glasgow, it’s legally required to have an EICR conducted on rental properties every five years. This legal framework ensures that rental properties are electrically safe at the start of a tenancy and maintained throughout.

3. Insurance Requirements: Many insurance companies require an EICR to provide cover. Failure to have a valid EICR can result in insurance being voided in the event of an electrical incident.

4. Peace of Mind: For homeowners, while not legally required, having an EICR offers peace of mind knowing that their home is safe from potential electrical hazards.

The EICR Process: What to Expect

Getting an EICR done in West End Glasgow involves a systematic process carried out by a qualified electrician or an approved contractor. Here’s what the process generally involves:

1. Hiring a Qualified Electrician: It’s crucial to choose a professional who is registered with a recognized body such as the NICEIC, ELECSA, or SELECT. This ensures that they are up to date with the latest safety standards and practices.

2. Inspection: The electrician will inspect several key areas, including:

   • Consumer units or fuse boxes
   • Light fixtures and fittings
   • Socket outlets
   • Electrical wiring
   • Earth bonding

   These inspections check for wear and tear, corrosion, changes in use of the premises, damage or other conditions that might lead to defects.

3. Testing: Along with visual inspections, various tests are performed on circuits to check for hidden faults. This includes insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, and RCD (Residual Current Device) tests.

4. Report Generation: After completing the inspection and testing, the electrician will produce the EICR document. This report will detail any observed damages, deterioration, defects, or conditions that might present a risk. Each fault found is generally coded with recommendations on the urgency of addressing the issue.

Understanding EICR Coding

The EICR Certificate will include codes that classify the urgency of the electrical issues found:

• Code C1: 'Danger present'. Immediate remedial action required.
• Code C2: 'Potentially dangerous'. Urgent remedial action needed.
• Code C3: 'Improvement recommended'. Not immediately dangerous but improvements are advised.

Remedial Work

If any defects are coded C1 or C2, these need to be addressed immediately to comply with electrical safety standards. It’s the responsibility of the property owner or landlord to arrange these repairs. Once remedial works are completed, a certificate should be issued to confirm that the installation now meets the required safety standards.

Cost and Time Involved

The cost of an EICR in West End Glasgow can vary based on the size and complexity of the property's electrical installation. Generally, homeowners and landlords might expect to pay between £150 to £300 for an average-sized property. The inspection typically takes a few hours, depending on the property's size and the number of circuits to be tested.

Finding a Reliable Electrician in West End Glasgow

Choosing the right electrician is critical. Property owners should look for electricians or electrical contractors who:

• Are registered with a government-approved scheme
• Have good reviews or come recommended by trusted sources
• Offer transparent pricing
• Provide clear information about what the inspection will involve

Local electricians in West End Glasgow electrician often advertise their services online or in local community

 EICR Cert Glasgow

Call WES Electrical 01418405236

Gas Safe Contractor Glasgow

Boiler replacement Glasgow

Heating accounts for about 60 per cent of what you spend in a year on energy bills, so an efficient boiler makes a big difference.

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Modern boilers are more efficient for several reasons, but their main advantage is that they are all condensing boilers. All well-maintained boilers burn their fuel very efficiently, but they inevitably lose some heat in the hot gases that escape up the flue. A condensing boiler has a larger heat exchanger, so it recovers more heat, sends cooler gases up the flue and is more efficient.

Sometimes the flue gases get so cool that the water vapour in the gas condenses out (hence the name), and even more energy is recovered from the condensing vapour.

What should I consider when replacing my boiler?

If it is time to change your boiler, you need to decide what type of boiler is right for you. Here are some things to consider:

Fuel type

If you have mains gas, a gas boiler is likely to be the cheapest heating option. Our fuel prices as of March 2016 suggest that oil heating is currently a cheaper option, however historically oil heating has been more expensive.

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If you don’t have a gas supply to your home, it might be worth considering a form of low carbon heating such as a heat pump or biomass. With the renewable heat incentive these may be a cheaper overall.

Alternatively you may want to get a gas connection to your home. The company that owns and operates the gas network in your area may be able to help with the cost of getting a new connection, and it may even be fully funded. Contact Energy Networks Association for further information.

Boiler type

Most old gas and oil boilers are regular boilers that have a separate hot water cylinder to store hot water, rather than providing it directly from the boiler. When you replace your boiler you can buy a new regular boiler, and keep your hot water cylinder, or buy a combi boiler that doesn't need a cylinder.

A regular boiler is more efficient than a combi at producing hot water in the first place, but then some heat is lost from the hot water cylinder, so a combi may be more efficient overall.

Your hot water usage

Large families using lots of hot water are likely to be better off with a regular boiler, whereas smaller households using less may be better off with a combi boiler.

Space in your home

Combi boilers don’t need hot water cylinders, and so require less space in your home.

Compatibility with solar water heating

If you’re thinking of installing solar water heating, it’s worth noting that many combi boilers are not compatible with this heating system or cannot use it so effectively. 

Finding an installer

It’s worth getting three quotes from different installers, and you may also want to check that installers:

• have a local office
• have been in business locally for several years
• have customer references that you can review.

Your registered installer will ensure that your system complies with current building regulations, and will make sure you get all the documentation to prove this. Keep these documents safe; you will need them when you sell the property.

How much could I save each year?

This will depend on how old and inefficient your existing boiler is and the fuel your boiler uses. Below are some examples of potential savings for a home heated by gas central heating.

Upgrading an old gas boiler with a programmer and room thermostat, with a new A-rated condensing boiler with a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator controls (TRVs) could save you:

England, Scotland and Wales

Old boiler rating	Semi-detached house	Detached house	Detached bungalow	Mid terrace house	Mid floor flat
G ( < 70%)	£215	£350	£180	£175	£95
F (70–74%)	£145	£240	£125	£120	£65
E (74–78%)	£115	£190	£95	£95	£50
D (78–82%)	£85	£140	£70	£70	£35

These are estimated figures based on installing a new A-rated condensing boiler with a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator controls (TRVs) in a gas-heated home from an older boiler with a programmer and room thermostat. Savings will vary depending on the size and thermal performance of your home. Figures are based on fuel prices as of March 2016.

The costs for replacing a boiler will vary, but a straightforward gas boiler replacement plus thermostatic radiator valves will typically cost about £2,300 excluding radiators.

Northern Ireland

Old boiler rating	Semi-detached house	Detached house	Detached bungalow	Mid terrace house	Mid floor flat
G ( < 70%)	£185	£285	£160	£155	£86
F (70–74%)	£125	£200	£105	£105	£60
E (74–78%)	£100	£155	£80	£80	£45
D (78–82%)	£75	£120	£60	£60	£30

These are estimated figures based on installing a new A-rated condensing boiler and full set of heating controls in an oil-heated home. Savings will vary depending on the size and thermal performance of your home. Figures are based on fuel prices as of March 2016.

The costs for replacing a boiler will vary, but a straightforward oil boiler replacement plus thermostatic radiator values will typically cost about £3,000.

What else can I do to improve my central heating system?

Heat recovery devices and systems

Some of the heat generated by your boiler escapes through the flue. Passive flue gas heat recovery systems capture some of this lost energy and use it to heat your water, making your heating system more efficient and saving you money. gas safe glasgow

Hot water cylinders

New hot water cylinders are factory insulated to help keep your hot water at the right temperature for longer. They play an important role in supplying you with readily available hot water, so it’s important that they are fully insulated to prevent heat escaping.

If you have an old cylinder you could save £25-£35 a year by topping up the insulation. Alternatively if you are replacing your cylinder, you can save energy by making sure that the cylinder is no bigger than you need it.

Chemical inhibitors

Corrosion deposits in an older central heating system can cause a substantial reduction in the effectiveness of the radiators, and the system as a whole. The build-up of scale in heating circuits and on boiler components can cause a reduction in efficiency too.

Using an effective chemical inhibitor can decrease the corrosion rate and prevent the build-up of sludge and scale, thus preventing deterioration and helping to maintain efficiency.

EICR CERTIFICATES GLASGOW

Benefits of electrical heating

The Benefits of Electric Heating

Electric heating is making something of a comeback. With natural gas prices soaring and uncertainty in its future availability, electric heating systems are the preferred choice of those who wish an efficient heating system and peace of mind with a more environmentally friendly alternative to gas central heating. So what are the benefits of an electric heating system?

What is Electric Heating?

Essentially, an electric heating system converts electricity into heat. Like an electric kettle, the electric boiler heats water via an element then pumps the water throughout the building’s radiator network. Domestic systems require a boiler but, because of their smaller size compared to gas boilers, they can be situated more discreetly and in smaller spaces.

Efficiency of Electric Heating

Compared to gas central heating, electrical is far more efficient and reliable:

• EASY TO INSTALL AS THERE IS NO FLUE REQUIRED.
• ELECTRIC BOILERS CAN RUN AT 100% EFFICIENCY.
• QUICK RESPONSE TIMES – HOT WATER FROM TAPS WITHIN 5-10 SECONDS, RADIATORS HEAT TO MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE WITHIN 3 MINUTES
• SIMPLE, USER FRIENDLY CONTROLS ENABLE QUICK AND EASY TEMPERATURE CONTROL, ROOM BY ROOM.
• FEW MOVING PARTS MEANS NO ANNUAL SERVICE, QUICK AND EASY REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE.
• LONGER LIFE SPAN THAN A GAS BOILER – 10 YEARS FOR GAS, 15 YEARS FOR ELECTRICITY.
• DURABLE COMPONENTS.
• GOOD SAFETY RECORD – NO NEED FOR A FLUE OR VENTILATION.
• QUIETER OPERATION THAN GAS.
• MAINS PRESSURE HOT WATER – POWER SHOWERS DON’T REQUIRE A BOOSTER PUMP.
• NO STORAGE OR HEADER TANKS REQUIRED.
• PROVIDES CONSTANT ROOM TEMPERATURES.

Helping Your Pocket

Because of the simplicity of electric boilers, electric heating users rest safe in the knowledge that there is little or no energy waste. In addition, electricity usage for heating can be monitored accurately, which helps future domestic budgets.

Users of electric central heating systems can have lower running costs than gas users as they have the option of peak avoidance tariffs to help keep running costs down, something gas users cannot use for their central heating. In the UK, two popular tariffs are Economy 7 and Economy 10. Economy 7 splits electricity use for heating into day and night (7 hours on an off-peak rate during the night). Economy 10 offers 10 hours of off-peak electricity. The beauty of these tariffs means that you have the choice of running heating and other appliances during off-peak times.

Helping the Environment

Both gas and electricity prices have suffered in recent years. Most electricity is created from gas-fired power stations so if gas prices rise so do electricity prices. However, the move towards sustainable electricity generation is well underway. Wind farms account for increasing amounts of generated electricity year on year, and governments around the world continue to collaborate to make electricity more abundant and affordable. This type of electricity generation is not only good for the environment; it is good for end users reliant on electricity for heating. Another environmental benefit of electric heating is that there are no emissions. This not only has a positive effect on the wider environment, but also within buildings as it maintains cleaner, healthier living and working spaces.

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Smoke and Carbon monoxide Alarm

A Landlords Guide to: The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (SCOTLAND) Regulations 2015

Introduction

The legislation introduced in October 2015 has helped to standardise and clarify the responsibilities of landlords when it comes to installing smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms by a qualified electrician to protect their residents. Existing rules meant that owners of property built prior to June 1992 were not legally obliged to have smoke alarms installed. The updated legislation ensures that ALL rental properties and their residents are adequately protected against fire and carbon monoxide, and our guide is intended to help you interpret these rules.

Why has this change been made?

The legislation is part of a wider effort to increase fire and carbon monoxide safety across the UK. The statistics below, drawn from a variety of sources, highlight why the government has been so keen to redress the imbalance between protection levels for private tenants versus the rest of the housing sector.

Smoke alarm coverage in privately rented accommodation stands at 83%. This is the lowest of any housing type.Source Official Impact Assessment conducted by government prior to announcement of legislation.

Between April 2013 and March 2014, 97 people died and 1900 were injured in domestic fires affecting properties where no smoke alarm was present.Source: Fire Statistic Great Britain 2013-14

The risk of a CO related incident occurring in the private rental sector is three times greater than the risk for other housing types.Source: Gas Safety Trust Carbon Monoxide Incident Report 2012

A study of 1758 emergency department patients displaying symptoms that could be associated with CO poisoning found that only 16% had a CO alarm installed in their home.Source: BMJ (formerly British Medical Journal) Article 2012

Who does the legislation apply to?

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 apply to all Landlords within England bar a few exceptions. Those exempt from the legislation include:

• Landlords sharing accommodation with their tenants
• Landlords granting a right of occupation for a term of 7 years or more
• Landlords who are registered providers of social housing

Responsibility for the enforcement of the legislation lies with the relevant local housing authority, and breaches of the guidance can be punished by a fine of up to £5000.

How will this affect me?

Many landlords already provide excellent protection by installing smoke alarms throughout their properties. However, carbon monoxide detectors have not necessarily been considered part of a landlord’s duty of care in the past. The statistic that residents of rental properties are three times more likely to suffer a CO related incident than a homeowner highlights how important the provision of CO alarms is, and the new legislation is intended to redress this imbalance.

Different types of properties are affected to different degrees. Under the previous regulations, some types of properties were assessed to different standards in terms of smoke alarms. Whilst this may still hold true, especially for HMOs which come under greater scrutiny, there is now a universal baseline in terms of smoke and CO alarm protection. The table below breaks down the consequences of the legislation and identifies best practice for a range of common property types:

Property Type	Effect of Legislation	Best Practice
Assured Tenancy / Assured Shorthold Tenancy(Pre 1992 construction)	Legal responsibility to ensure CO alarms are installed. Must provide smoke alarms on every floor.	An interconnected system of longlife or mains smoke alarmsthroughout property. CO alarms present in all high risk rooms.
Assured Tenancy / Assured Shorthold Tenancy(Post 1992 construction)	Legal responsibility to ensure CO alarms are installed.
HMO1 or 2 Story. Individual floor area of no more than 200sqm	Legal responsibility to ensure CO alarms are installed.	A fire risk assessment to identify an appropriate mains poweredinterconnected smoke alarm system. CO alarms present in all high risk rooms.
HMO3 Stories or higher	Legal responsibility to ensure CO alarms are installed.	A fire risk assessment to identify an appropriate fire alarm systemwith a central panel. CO alarms present in all high risk rooms.

Where exactly should I install the alarms?

The new rules make the provision of both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors compulsory, but don't explicitly state exactly where landlords should site them. At present the legislation dictates that a landlord must ensure:

"a smoke alarm is equipped on each storey of the premises on which there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation"

"a carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room of the premises which is used wholly or partly as living accommodation and contains a solid fuel burning combustion appliance"

These two directives allow you to accurately calculate the amount of detectors required relative to the types of rooms on each floor, but fail to give guidance as to the exact placement or the type of smoke detector.

There are, however, a few general pieces of advice we can offer to help you establish the best locations for your alarms and the most suitable type of detector. It is impossible to offer advice that covers all eventualities, but these rules of thumb should give you a solid foundation from which to decide where to install your alarms.

Smoke alarm placement tips-

• If you only have one alarm per floor, cover any downstairs hallways with optical smoke alarms and any landings on subsequent floors with ionisation smoke alarms. This setup plays to the strengths of each sensor type to ensure a quick response to any fires without causing unnecessary false alarms.
• Make sure the alarms are audible from any bedrooms.
• Site your smoke alarms at least 30cm from any walls. This avoids the ‘dead air’ zone where smoke can take longer to reach sensors.
• Avoid placing alarms within 30cm of any light fittings or obstructions on the ceiling.
• Consider installing an additional heat alarm in the kitchen, but never rely on this to protect an entire floor as heat alarms are only effective over a short distance.

Carbon monoxide alarm placement tips-

• Site your alarms more than 2 metres, and ideally less than 4 metres away from any appliances.
• If wall mounting your detector, ensure the device is roughly 1.5m from ground level.
• Site your alarms at least 30cm from any walls, and avoid placing them near to doors and windows.
• Make sure the alarms are audible from any bedrooms.

Whilst it is ultimately up to you as an individual to consider the best placement for any alarms within your properties, we hope the guidance above will help you make those decisions.

Who is responsible for maintaining the alarms?

In basic terms, landlords must ensure that alarms are provided and working, but routine maintenance and testing then falls to the occupants of the property. Should the alarms develop a fault or expire during a tenancy it remains the responsibility of a landlord to replace them.

The legislation states that a landlord must make certain that:

"checks are made by or on behalf of the landlord to ensure that each prescribed alarm is in proper working order on the day the tenancy begins if it is a new tenancy"

Once the alarms have been established as working, whether a new tenancy or a tenancy overlapping the introduction of the legislation, many landlords ask tenants to sign a document confirming that alarms have been tested in their presence. This can also be used to clarify for the benefit of the tenants that the duty of maintenance falls to them from that point forwards.

What happens if I don’t comply?

Local housing authorities across England now have the power to serve remedial notices to any landlord they have “reasonable grounds to believe” is not in compliance with the regulations. Failure to take appropriate remedial action within the specified timeframe (usually 28 days) will leave you open to a fine of up to £5000 per property.

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Smoke Detector Installations Westend Glasgow

                   SMOKE DETECTOR INSTALLATION

 

Friday afternoon is usually a quiet one maby for a trip to braehead or maby a game of gold with some business friends but not this friday. Today we had some smoke detectors to install for one of my clients. One the one hand i only had 5 smoke detectors hard wired and 1 co2 detector to install, but on the other hand i was doing this job on my own. At first look the job look as if it would be straight forward in and out as it was a top floor flat and that means i have access above the ceiling. If i only took 5 extra mins to have a look in the attic as it was not even double floored it was tripple floored for some strange reason meaning i cant just drill a whole from inside the flat and catch the cable in the attic, i would need to drill through the other 2 floors to catch the cable, so what has been a couple hour job, had turned into a 5 hour monster as i had no one to call at 1pm on a friday.

 

As a mark of quality we use kidde products as i feel they are the best and are standard for landlord installations. 5 of them on a loop with the co2 detector.

 

WES Electrical are the leading electrical contractor in the Westend Glasgow For landlords, HMO Flats and specialist installations

 

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westend glasgow electricians

 

 



Electricians Byers Road - Westend Glasgow

Above is one of our latest wall mounted tv installations in the westend of glasgow.
The start of this year has been fantastic the work has been pouring, and as we are in our 7th year at www.weselectrical.co.uk, we are delighted with the progress of work, but mainly with the progress of contacts that we have made.

The westend of glasgow is an up and coming area for investors and private investors alike for student accommodation , bars and restaurants, we work in conjunction with landlords for their electical inspection certificate, in order so they have a hasstle free letting.

we offer electrical rewiring, sockets , lighting solutions, wall mounted tv installations, and much more feel free to visit our website and check our some of the electrical services we can offer.

Wes electrical are the leading electricians and electrical contractor in the westend of glasgow, so you can rest assured your in safe hands

Westend Glasgow maryhill road

tuesday is a big day for wes electrical, starting our first rewire of 2013. working from our new office based in the westend glasgow. the job is on maryhill road so its not far from our offfice

we also have a new electricians starting today. exciting times.

www.electricianwestendglasgow.co.uk

ipod repair disaster

today was another busy day although i couldt do much as roads were blocked off in the westend which made travell a bit of a nightmare, i managed to get a lighting circuit installed and a shower fitted before calling it a day. im working over the weekend anyway so i thought i may aswell go back to the office in the westend glasgow and try and fix my apple ipod. now i ordered parts to come to my office in the westend and they arrived this morning, so got my ipod out and tarted taking it apart as i followed instructions on you tube all was going very easily until i had to attach the digitisers then it all went wrong i have spent nearly the whole afternoon on trying to reapait this and it still dosnt work. looks like santa will need to bring me a neww one for chrismas gutted www.wesuk.co.uk westend glasgow electricians