2006
(02/10/2006) AXA launches electrical inspection survey for SMEs
AXA, in partnership, with The National Electrical Certification & Training Alliance Ltd (NECTA), an independent electrical safety specialist, have introduced an innovative and bespoke electrical inspection service for small to medium-sized businesses in the UK.
Defective electrical installations are the second largest cause of fire in the UK. It is estimated that one in three electrical installations are likely to have some kind of fault which would be identified by a competent electrical inspection of their installation. Many find it difficult to source competent persons to complete an inspection or they find it is often expensive and the quality cannot be guaranteed.
The Electrical Safety Inspection Service is carried out under strict quality controls by City & Guilds’ qualified inspectors and adheres to AXA’s transparent pricing policy. This service is approved by City & Guilds, the UK ’s leading awarding body for work-related qualifications.
NECTA has a Guaranteed Service Standard for customers that states the inspection will be carried out within 10 working days of the request – this is a major improvement as business owners often have to wait for 3 months or more for an inspection to be undertaken.
This new service is offered on a simple and affordable pricing structure to make it easy for the business customer. All Assessors are fully qualified and employed by NECTA. At the end of an inspection the customer receives an easy to read report on the condition of the electrical systems.
Douglas Barnett, AXA’s risk control strategy manager, says: “We are very pleased to be able to offer this efficient and effective service to our existing and potential customers. It removes any uncertainty between the business owner and their insurer, which means peace of mind. It is important for businesses to keep their electrical inspections up-to-date as 80% of businesses affected by a major incident like a fire either never re-open or close within 18 months.”
Ken Thompson, group business manager at City & Guilds welcomed the new scheme as a real innovation for the insurance industry. “There is a great need for properly trained and qualified inspectors to assess business risks effectively to meet insurance requirements. The new scheme should effectively meet this gap in the market. City & Guilds is delighted to have been actively involved in the development and accreditation of this comprehensive scheme which covers regular audits of management, procedures, documentation, and the qualifications and credentials of assessors.”
1. SAFED (Safety Assessment Federation)
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Notes to Editors
The new Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order will apply to the majority of business with effect from 1 st October 2006 . This new legislation, which replaces current fire regulations, requires an increased emphasis towards risk reduction and fire prevention. Fire certificates will no longer be used. The integrity of the electrical installation within a building will be one of the essential elements any business will require to address when they undertake their fire risk assessments to comply with these new regulations.
City & Guilds ( www.cityandguilds.com) is the UK 's leading vocational awarding body for work-related qualifications. In total, City & Guilds awards 1.3 million certificates to learners each year on over 500 subjects ranging from hair and beauty to catering and management. 1.9 million people are currently working towards a City & Guilds qualification. The City & Guilds Group comprises City & Guilds (vocational awards), the Institute of Leadership & Management (management and leadership awards), NPTC (land-based awards) and the Hospitality Awarding Body (catering and hospitality awards).
More information
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About AXA
AXA Group is a worldwide leader in Financial Protection. AXA's operations are diverse geographically, with major operations in Western Europe , North America and the Asia/Pacific area. AXA had € 1,091 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2006 , and reported total revenues of € 41 billion and underlying earnings of € 2,090 million for the first half of 2006.
AXA ordinary shares are listed on the Paris Stock Exchange; AXA American Depositary Shares (ADSs) are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol AXA.