NICEIC Hazardous Areas Guide

Assessment processVisits by Area Engineers are programmed into theirschedule of work, and appointments will normally bemade up to five weeks in advance of a visit. However,it may be possible to arrange for an earlier visit if theArea Engineer's diary permitsA Preliminary Application Assessment visit, whichusually lasts a half-day, provides ample opportunity toconfirm the range of electrical work being undertakenin hazardous areas, to discuss the assessmentprocess and criteria in detail, and to answer anyquestions arising. The Area Engineer, subject tothe time available, will also assess the extent to whichthe business and proposed Qualified Supervisor(Hazardous Areas) satisfy the particular requirementsrelating to the proposed extension to enrolmentExperience has shown that generally, PreliminaryApplication Assessment visits tend to minimise thecost and timescale of the application process, asapplicants are generally better prepared forassessmentThe assessment process for the extension toenrolment will focus on the special requirementsrelating to electrical work in potentially explosiveatmospheres. It will generally not cover mattersrelating to the basic electrical safety requirements ofBS 7671, as the business' compliance with theNICEIC Rules for electrical work in non-hazardousareas will have already been assessed under thenormal NICEIC assessment processThe assessment process is carried out in twophases. In the first phase, the Preliminary ApplicationAssessment Visit will be used to assess compliancewith all the requirements relating to hazardous areawork which do not require a site visit. In the secondphase, a representative sample of the range ofhazardous area work undertaken by the business willbe evaluated on site by means of on-siteassessmentsIf the information provided with the application iscomplete and indicates general compliance with therequirements for the extension to enrolment, theapplication forms will be forwarded to the localNICEIC Area Engineer who will arrange to carry out aPreliminary Application Assessment visit as soonas possiblePreliminary Application Assessment VisitA Preliminary Application Assessment visit normallylasts half day. It will be conducted at the business'contracting officeTo get maximum value from a PreliminaryApplication Assessment visit, both the PrincipalDuty Holder and the proposed QualifiedSupervisor(s) (Hazardous Areas) must be presentto discuss the application with the Area EngineerDuring a Preliminary Application Assessment visit, theArea Engineer will review the extent to which thebusiness and key personnel satisfy the requirementsfor the extension to enrolment and will:• explain the assessment criteria and process• explain the role of the Qualified Supervisor(Hazardous Areas)• review and confirm the range of hazardous areawork undertaken by the business over the past 12months, which will form the scope of the extensionto enrolment• identify the range of work which will need to beevaluated on site, review the nature and locationsof the possible sites to be visited, and discuss theaccessibility of the work on those sites• discuss the programme and likely costs of theassessment process• review the training and experience of the proposedQualified Supervisor(s) (Hazardous Areas)• review the system the business has in place toensure the competence of all other persons thatmay be assigned to undertake electrical work inhazardous areas without constant supervision• discuss the requirement to provide appropriatestandard certificates and reports to clients, and togive guidance where necessary on theircompletion• identify any significant likely non-compliances withthe requirements for the extension to enrolmentwhich the business will need to address prior to theassessment visit• provide any other general information and adviceon the requirements for the extension to enrolmentGuide to extension of enrolment17