The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) has released its latest annual review, reporting its findings from throughout 2022 across three main focus points: cross-industry engagement to raise competency standards, the ongoing success of ECS Check and the launch of the CSCS Smart Check app. 

What is the ECS?

The ECS works alongside more than 100 organisations spanning electrical, fire and security, digital, network infrastructure, building controls, audio-visual and the wider electrotechnical sector to ensure high standards are consistently met across these industries. 

A successful launch of the Smart Check app

The new CSCS Smart Check app launched back in April 2022, meaning for the first time all 2.1 million cards displaying the CSCS logo could be verified efficiently by using one single app. This marks a significant step forward for the construction industry in ensuring everyone working on a construction site holds the required qualifications to do so safely. 

Speaking about the launch of the technology, Andy Reakes, JIB Director of Growth & Development and Chair of CSCS Smart Check Implementation Group said: “CSCS Smart Check is the biggest change to site entry processes since the introduction of CSCS more than 20 years ago, so to see it already make an impact across the industry is welcomed by all involved.” 

ECS Check hits major milestone

The free-to-access digital ECS Check, which allows contractors and clients to verify the ECS card of electrical engineers, has now hit the milestone of more than 2,000 company registrations. The ECS network gives real-time access for companies or workers to prove their competence upon entry to sites or for spot checks. 

Standards and safety updates

The Building Safety Act 2022 came into effect last summer, one of the main regulatory developments introduced to improve safety in construction in the wake of the Grenfell disaster. 

This included appointing a new Building Safety Regulator, to be overseen by the Health & Safety Executive, who will enforce a stricter regime on the safety and performance of high-rise buildings.

There were also updates to questions included in the ECS Electrical Safety Unit, which had originally been introduced in 2018 in response to new requirements laid out in 2015 for CSCS partner schemes as part of the Government’s Construction 2025 strategy. 

The framework was developed to provide a basic knowledge assessment for those dealing with electrotechnical systems, however, following concerns over a lack of clarity in the wording of some questions and a lower-than-expected pass rate, the question bank was changed in October 2022, leading to an improvement in pass rates. 

You can read the full ECS Annual Review here.