While competence in wiring into A spur is a big advantage to installers, this skill is not built into the NVQ.
Now there are moves to develop this competence as a stand-alone NVQ unit which would be certificated jointly by SITO and the ECA.
Noel Sargent, Manager of SITO’s National Training Programmes, told the January meeting of the South East Security Co-operative that it would be an enormous advantage to have fuse spur wiring built into the NVQ program.
It would be nationally approved and would provide certification for competence tested in the workplace. It would also provide employers with the necessary cover in the event of a serious accident. Once developed the unit would be available permanently to the whole industry and could also be undertaken by experienced engineers, he said.
There were a number of courses available but the important thing was to get the assessment of competence in the workplace.
SITO had met with NET (National Electrotechnical Training) which is part funded by the ECA and it was reported that NET were prepared to consider producing a stand alone NVQ unit subject to development costs being met.
Want to install CCTV?
Philips CSI is holding a series of courses on Observation Systems at locations around the country, which are said to be an ideal entry point for installers who want to add CCTV capability to their skills.
Courses, part of the company’s Installer Programme, have already taken place in Sunbury, Wigan and Glasgow and further events are planned around the country.
Malcolm Chadwick, Business Development Manager, said the courses are “designed to provide all the basic expertise they need to get up and running. As they progress, they can easily move up to installing more complex systems such as Multiplexing Colour Quad and Network Observation Systems”.
Attendees get the opportunity for in-depth hands-on training with plenty of guidance from Philips experts. Once new installers are accepted into the Philips Installer plan they get regular training and assistance to make sure they improve their level of competence as CCTV installers plus “incentives and marketing support”.
Further courses are being planed around the country.
Streamlining 1851
Changes are being made to the 1851 SITO/City & Guilds syllabus to streamline it and improve the question bank. City and Guilds recognises the need to review and update the syllabus and they are working with a group from the Security Systems Education and Training Forum.
Although the structure of the syllabus will remain unaltered, the content needed updating to meet current industry standards, says Chairman of the ETF, George Mullaly. The ETF were obtaining feedback from the industry on this subject.
l Following talks with the ETF, The Institute of Chartered Building Service Engineers has decided to award Licentiateship to installers who complete both Parts 1 and 2 of the 1851 syllabus, giving them “Eng Tech” (Engineering Technician) accreditation.
PAC in a training session
PAC International, manufacturer of integrated access control systems, offers several courses designed for engineers and covering the installation and programming techniques on the company’s full product range.
Attendees will get the opportunity of completing a test. When a pass is achieved, the engineer will receive a graded certificate of training and become a PAC Certified Engineer for that product.
Test and certificate courses include:
All the above courses are one day apart from PAC 2200 & PAC for Windows which is two-days. Courses require various levels of entry requirements from no experience necessary onwards. The company says cost of the courses at the Stockport training centre is kept “low”and only a small administration charge is made.
Opening the door
Videx Security offers a comprehensive range of training packages to its distributors and wholesalers to help them when specifying access control and door entry systems.
Held at the company’s London or Newcastle offices, training is tailored to the individual company and is free of charge. Sessions range from several hours to a whole day, with each specifically designed to provide a clear and comprehensive insight into the required security system.
Install PC based access control
Access control manufacturers, Kantech Systems are now running free training sessions for engineers and sales reps at their European headquarters in Brighton.Attendees get the opportunity to fully install, network and commission a PC based access control system in the company’s specially designed training suite.
Kantech says it is committed to providing support to its network of dealers and they have, to date, trained hundreds of installers and sales reps.
Guide to conduit
A useful step by step guide for engineers has been published by Adaptaflex showing how to cut and assemble its range of flexible conduit which protects electrical wiring.
If the fitting of conduit is not carried out correctly the protection of the electrical wiring could be compromised. By following the guide the system is assured. The A6 guide fits into a toolbox and has a handy colour reference.
Six of the best
The manufacturing know-how of employees at PAC International has been recognised, with six staff achieving an NVQ. Lorraine Dodds, Angie Wade, Tak Cheung, Ian Blackshaw, Graham Lyons and Kerry Maher received their certificates for an NVQ in Performing Manufacturing Operations Level 2 from chair Vanda Murray and managing director Mike Price.
The intensive course covered varied aspects of manufacturing, such as organising and controlling workload and manufacturing operations, developing working relationships and Health & Safety practice.
“Everyone enjoyed and benefited greatly from the course, and we are repeating it this year for a further eight employees,” said course instigator and mentor Geoff Henstock, PAC’s manufacturing development manager.
