ABOUT UK ELECTRICIANS

In general a UK electrician installs, maintains and tests electrical systems, appliances and equipment, from security alarms to plug sockets and light fittings. However the work of an electrician is split into three categories in the UK to give us installation electricians, maintenance electricians and production electricians.

Each of these will have slightly different qualifications than the others, but all have an understanding of electrical equipment and the strict safety regulations associated with electrical work. Here we give you the low down on electricians working in the UK.

Installation electricians – are responsible for installing, inspecting and testing new wiring systems in buildings. This could involve stripping out old systems and replacing them with new wiring or may involve installing a brand new system in a new building. If this is the case, the electrician will follow the architects' drawings showing where the electrical equipment has to be installed, and they may also have to lift floorboards, bend and cut conduit and fix equipment to walls. These electricians are also known as construction electricians.

Maintenance electricians – are involved in testing, fixing troubleshooting existing electrical systems in the home, offices or larger factories and manufacturing companies. Generally, maintenance electricians inspect and test systems and equipment to make sure they are functioning properly. They can then locate and correct any problems with the system repairing and replacing fuses, circuit breakers, wires, electrical components where necessary.

Production electricians on the other hand are specially trained to put together complex electrical and electronic appliances such as control panels or electric motors. They work from wiring diagrams, which show how to build the products.

As you would expect, there are many different levels of electricians, from odd job men, who can fix fuses and fit a new light in your lounge, to contract electricians, who can rewire an entire house or factory. The electrician you choose will depend on the job that needs doing, but you can get more advice on choosing an electrician in our ‘Tips for finding an electrician’ section.