· Rob McGowan
When you book an electrician, you're trusting them with the safety of your home. You can't see inside a consumer unit or check a test result yourself, so you need to know the person doing the job is working to the current rules, not the ones they learned ten years ago.
At NE1 Electrical we take that seriously. It's the reason I built iZapp, the training and certificate platform for UK electricians, and it's how our electricians across Newcastle upon Tyne keep their knowledge sharp between jobs.
The wiring regulations keep changing
Electrical work in the UK is carried out to BS 7671, the IET Wiring Regulations. It isn't a one-off rulebook. It's amended every few years as new risks are understood and new technology arrives in our homes.
Recent changes have brought in things many homeowners have never heard of:
- RCD protection on almost all socket outlets and lighting circuits, so a fault trips the power before it can hurt someone
- Surge protection devices (SPDs) to protect your electronics and wiring from voltage spikes
- Arc fault detection devices (AFDDs), recommended in certain properties, which spot dangerous arcing in damaged cables before it starts a fire
- New requirements for EV chargers, solar panels and battery storage
If an electrician isn't keeping up, they can install something that was fine five years ago but doesn't meet today's standard. That matters when you sell your house, rent it out or make an insurance claim.
When we carry out a consumer unit replacement in Newcastle, the new board is designed and tested to the current edition, and we explain on the day what each device does.
How we use iZapp day to day
I've been in the electrical trade for years, and I built iZapp because I wanted one place where electricians and apprentices could keep learning and do their paperwork properly. Here's how we use it at NE1 Electrical.
Keeping up with the latest amendment
Short quizzes, flashcards and a BS 7671 question tool mean our team can revise the regulations in ten minutes on a phone, not just once every few years on a course. When an amendment lands, the questions and references are updated to match.
Safe isolation every time
Safe isolation is the most important procedure in our trade. It's how an electrician proves a circuit is dead before touching it. We practise and refresh it regularly, because getting it right every single time is what keeps our electricians and your family safe.
Clear, accurate certificates
When we carry out an EICR in Newcastle or install new circuits, the certificate is produced properly, with every test result recorded and every observation coded clearly. Landlords get a report they can hand straight to a letting agent or the council, and homeowners get something they can actually understand.
What this means for you
All of this sits behind the scenes, but you feel the benefit:
- Work done to the current regulations, not outdated ones
- Faults found and explained properly, with no scaremongering and nothing missed
- Certificates you can rely on for selling, letting or insurance
- A 5-year labour guarantee on our work, because we're confident in it
We're NAPIT registered, City & Guilds qualified and Part P certified, and our Google reviews are there for you to read.
Training the next generation of Newcastle electricians
The trade needs more good electricians, and the North East is no exception. As well as running NE1 Electrical, I mentor apprentices locally, and iZapp started as a way to help them pass their exams and become confident, safe electricians.
Every apprentice who learns to do the job properly is one more electrician you can trust in your home in the future.
Need an electrician in Newcastle?
Whether it's an emergency call-out, an EICR for a rental property or a new fuse board, you'll get an electrician who knows the current regulations inside out.
Book online in two minutes, or call 07849 600035. We're open 24/7 for emergencies across Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead and Tyne and Wear.