BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH home improvements and more homes being built around the islands, some electricians are not following the Building Codes when it comes to wiring and grounding of electrical wires in the Federation.
Hugh Charles, a leading electrician in Nevis, said this practice has being going on for a number of years because the government, through its commissioners, has not being doing the requisite checks when necessary.
“What we are doing in Nevis is because the government is lapse in getting these things in place and the laws are not being enforced,” Charles said.
He emphatically stated that contractors, junior electricians and homeowners themselves have all been delinquent when it comes to electrical installation, noting that it is so because persons are not familiar with the relevant Building and Electrical Codes of the Federation.
Speaking on this subject with SKNVibes, Chairman of the Development Control and Planning Board, Victor Williams said that the codes are very simple for all electricians to follow in St. Kitts, but some contractors and electricians provide a broad array of service when it comes to building codes.
“Those codes are very simple when it comes to development and planning. The Building Code, Number Seven of year 2000 Section G states that only experienced electricians should do installation in the Federation…and that speaks in a broad light.”
He noted that the St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) requires detailed codes and they too are basic requirements.
“Mr. Charles has some level of foundation on the grounds that all is not being followed, but I think what is happening is recognition that a lot of electricians need to elevate their game.”
Charles opined that carpenters and so-called wiremen need thorough training when it comes specifically to the implementation of high power and low voltage wiring. With this, he boldly stated that it is a dangerous fact happening with potential harmful repercussions for homeowners if not dealt with.
“They need to do calculations. If you want to be a top class electrician you must know all the formulas. Also, you must know Algebra to a certain level. You not only need to do high voltage but low voltage as well,” he added.
To this end, it was stated that most Kittians and Nevisians often keep their metal grounding poles perturding out of the ground which should not be; rather it should be buried under the earth.
Williams said that the St. Kitts Development Control and Planning Board’s Sub-Committee is currently implementing more stringent codes when it comes to electricity, and that those codes would be made mandatory to follow.
He highlighted that in development planning the Building Codes are called Minimum Codes and explained that a larger volume to guide contractors and electricians was introduced in 2000.
“Prior to 2000, we had a Building Code which was 10-12 pages long. After the 2000 Act, it was a thick volume with couple hundred pages. So that was a transition from a small code to a much larger code.”
Williams explained that the larger volume is a more detailed code, but it is only operational and functional if the users are brought “up to speed with it”.
He recommended that it is not to throw out more and more codes but to elevate the educational level of all the electricians.
When asked how safe homes in the Federation are, specifically in St Kitts, he noted that they have all reached the minimal standard which SKELEC inspects.
Information reaching this publication states that a number of young electricians in Nevis have recently completed training to upgrade their skills in Universal Electrical Standards and Wiring in Nevis.
