AM2 (Unit 399)
Electrotechnical Occupational Competence
This unit (Unit 399) is designed to enable candidates to demonstrate ‘Electrotechnical occupational competence’ in accordance with approved industry practices and the current statutory and non-statutory regulations:
- The Electricity at Work Regulations (1989)
- The current edition of BS7671 Wiring Regulations
- Health & Safety Act (1974)
- Building Regulations (2000)
- Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
- Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations
- Manual Handling Operations Regulations
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations
- Work at Height Regulations
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
- Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations
The outcomes and the assessment criteria of this unit underpin the electrotechnical industry’s competence requirements for qualified operatives in an installation or maintenance role.
The 3 AM2 Variants
There are three different variations which you will see and hear referred to – the AM2, the AM2E and the AM2S.
- The AM2 Assessment is taken with the NVQ 2357 qualification
- The AM2E Assessment is taken with the NVQ 2346-03 qualifications
- The AM2S Assessment is taken by apprentices on the NVQ 5357
The AM2S & AM2E largely follow the same format as the AM2, but with two additional tasks under the Installation section:
- Candidate to install a piece of steel conduit with a bend and a set to a box they fix to a set measurement
- Candidate to install a piece of PVC conduit between 2 fixed points with a bend and a set over a pre-fixed obstacle.
The candidate then has to wire circuits through these pieces of conduit. An extra 1.5 hrs is allowed to complete these tasks (10 hrs v 8.5 hrs for the AM2).
The Three AM2 Variants
There are three different variations which you will see and hear referred to – the AM2, the AM2E and the AM2S.
- The AM2 Assessment is taken with the NVQ 2357 qualification
- The AM2E Assessment is taken with the NVQ 2346-03 qualifications
- The AM2S Assessment is taken by apprentices on the NVQ 5357
The AM2S & AM2E largely follow the same format as the AM2, but with two additional tasks under the Installation section:
- Candidate to install a piece of steel conduit with a bend and a set to a box they fix to a set measurement
- Candidate to install a piece of PVC conduit between 2 fixed points with a bend and a set over a pre-fixed obstacle.
The candidate then has to wire circuits through these pieces of conduit. An extra 1.5 hrs is allowed to complete these tasks (10 hrs v 8.5 hrs for the AM2).
Learning outcomes
There are eight learning outcomes to this unit. The learner will be able to:
- Interpret specifications, drawings and diagrams
- Undertake risk assessments
- Carry out the safe isolation of electrical circuits and complete electrical installations
- Plan and prepare to install, terminate and connect wiring systems
- Complete the installation, termination and connection of wiring systems in accordance with industry requirements
- Complete the visual inspection, initial verification and certification of an electrical installation
- Complete the testing and certification of an electrical installation in accordance with industry requirements
- Diagnose, and recommend how to rectify, electrical faults in an electrical installation in accordance with industry requirements.
Candidates will be expected to install, terminate, connect, inspect, test, commission and diagnose faults in accordance with the installation specification and the relevant statutory and non-statutory regulations on the following:
- A three-phase distribution board and sub-circuit
- A three-phase Direct-on-Line Motor circuit
- Single-phase lighting and power circuits
- A central heating/sustainable energy system
- A safety services circuit and device
- A data-cabling system
The assessment is in four sections:
- Section A and A1 – Risk Assessment and Safe Isolation; Composite Installation
- Section B – Inspection and Testing of the completed composite installation
- Section C – Safe Isolation (C1) and Fault Diagnosis and Correction (C2)
- Section D – Assessment of Applied Knowledge
Section A: Composite Installation (8.5 Hours)
This section has areas where candidates will need to demonstrate occupational competence in accordance with statutory and non-statutory regulations and approved industry working practices.
The areas are:
- Risk assessment and safe-isolation.
- Interpretation of specifications and technical data.
- Selection of protective devices.
- Install Protective Equipotential Bonding.
- Installing and terminating pvc singles cable.
- Installing and terminating pvc/pvc multi-core & cpc cable.
- Installing and terminating SY multi-flex cable.
- Installing and terminating heat-resistant flex.
- Installing and terminating XLPE SWA.
- Installing and terminating data-cable.
- Installing and terminating FP200 type cable.
To demonstrate occupational competence candidates will be expected to:
- Undertake an assessment of risk and work according to best practise as required by Health and Safety legislation.
- Ensure the installation is correctly isolated before commencing the inspection and test activity.
- Carry out a visual inspection of the installation in accordance with BS 7671 and IEE Guidance Note 3.
- Complete the following tests on the installation in accordance with BS 7671 and IEE Guidance Note 3:
- Continuity of protective conductors
- Continuity of ring final circuit conductors
- Insulation resistance
- Polarity
- Earth fault-loop impedance (EFLI)
- Prospective fault current (PFC)
- Functional testing
Candidates will be required to verify that the test results obtained conform to the values required by BS 7671 and IEE Guidance Note 3.
Complete an electrical installation certificate, schedule of inspections and schedule of test results using the model forms as illustrated in Appendix 6 of BS 7671.
Section C: Safe Isolation and Fault Diagnosis (2.5 hours)
Section C1 Safe Isolation: 30 minutes
Section C2 fault diagnosis: 2 hours
To demonstrate occupational competence candidates will be expected to:
- Undertake an assessment of risk.
- Correctly identify and use tools, equipment and test instruments that are fit for purpose.
- Carry out checks and preparations that must be completed prior to undertaking fault diagnosis.
Carry out safe isolation in the correct sequence for
i) a designated single phase circuit
ii) a designated three phase circuit
iii) the complete installation
Identify faults from ’fault symptom’ information.
- State and record how the identified faults can be rectified.
- Candidates will be expected to follow practices and procedures that take into account voltage sensitive equipment.
Section D: Assessment of Applied Knowledge (1 hour)
Candidates will be assessed on their application of knowledge associated with the work undertaken within the Assessment of Occupational Competence.
The Section D assessment will last for one hour and be in the form of a computerised multiple choice test.
Candidates will be expected to answer 30 questions and achieve a pass mark of 70%, thus requiring candidates to achieve 21 correct answers.
- Hand tool use and care
- Health and Safety
- BS 7671: Requirements for Electrical Installations
- Building Regulations
- Installation techniques
- Motor control and overload protection
- Control Systems – sustainable energy system
- Overload and Short-circuit protection
- Inspection, Testing and Fault Finding
Extra Resources
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