THE beginning of a new year is a good time to get your career on track.
If one of your New Year's resolutions is to get your Wireman's Licence - obtain registration from the Department of Labour as an installation electrician - then you will need to know the process you will have follow to make that resolution a reality.
In this article, I will focus on one element within the criteria as required for registration as an Installation Electrician and that is the criteria of the exams for Installation Rules
Should you wish to apply to the Department of Labour for registration as an Installation Electrician, you would have to have passed Paper 1 and Paper 2 for Installation Rules, as administered by a Further Education and Training College (FET).
The first step
The first step is to contact a FET and register for the exams. This is important as exam entries are only open for a short time and you do not want to miss this opportunity and then have to wait another year to register. One thing you should bear in mind is that not all FETs register students for Installation Rules so you could find yourself having to register and write the exam outside your area.
When you have found an FET where you can write the exams, you need to decide whether you will write Paper 1 this block and Paper 2 next block as, unlike many years ago, you had to write both papers in order to pass.
The current rules are:
Both examination papers may be written during the same trimester period. However, candidates need not to pass both examinations during the same trimester, but the second examination must be passed within 12 months of the first, otherwise both examinations must be re-written. However, if a candidate obtains 75% of 100 marks in any one of the examinations, he or she will be permanently exempted from rewriting that examination. A minimum pass of 50% for each examination paper must be obtained in the instructional offering Installation Rules. An appropriate statement of results will be issued by the Department of Education.
Now that we have an understanding for what is expected, the specific aims of the exam are that any person attempting the examination must be able to apply the Regulations set out; to design, construct, inspect, verify and to test electrical installations accordingly, and thereby ensure a safe and healthy environment.
There are no admission requirements and the pass mark for Paper 1 and Paper 2 is 50%. And finally, no condonation will be considered.
PAPER 1
The syllabus for Paper 1 consists of the following:
- Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993 Section 1, 8, 9, 10 and 22.
- Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993 - Electrical Installation Regulations: Regulations 1 to 14.
- Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993 - Electrical Machinery Regulations: Regulations1, 3, 5, 6 and 11.
- Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993 - Construction Regulations: Regulation 22.
- SANS 10142-1:2008
The wiring of premises Part 1: Low voltage installations.
Section 1 - Scope.
Section 2 - Normative references.
Section 3 - Definitions.
Section 4 - Compliance.
Section 5 - Fundamental requirements.
Section 7 - Special installations or locations.
Annexure D - Example of assessing estimated and connected load.
Annexure F - Recommended bending of cables.
Annexure G - Examples of determining the conduit size required for single-core cables of different sizes.
Annexure J - Explanation of IP ratings.
Annexure M - Electricity supply systems.
Annexure P - Authority for issuing a Certificate of Compliance.
Annexure Q - IEC symbols associated with switchgear.
The selection, handling and installation of electric power cables of rating not exceeding 33kV.
Part 1: Definitions and statutory requirements.
The selection, handling and installation of electric power cables of rating not exceeding 33 kV Part 2: Selection of cable type and methods of installation NOTE: No calculations will be asked on this standard.
Earthing of low-voltage (LV) distribution systems.
Total Marks: 100
PAPER 2
The syllabus for Paper 2 consists of the following:
The wiring of premises Part 1: Low voltage installations.
Section 6 - Installation requirements.
Section 8 - Verification and certification.
Annexure B - Limits of ‘arm's reach'.
Annexure C - Installation components.
Annexure E - Calculation of voltage drop.
Annexure K - Notification of a potential danger.
Annexure L - Installations of surge protection devices (SPDs) into low-voltage systems.
Annexure N - Earthing arrangements and equipotential bonding of information technology installations for functional purposes.
Annexure 0 - Classification of safety services necessary for medical locations.
Low-voltage switchgear and control-gear assemblies Part 3: Safety of assemblies with a rated prospective short-circuit current of up to and including 10 kA.
Total Marks: 100
Now that you have an understanding of the exam requirements why not go and register?
The full syllabi document can be downloaded from my website www.pandttechnology.co.za under ‘Courses and Supporting
Documents'.
Good luck!
