9 replies to this topic

[starseeker]

I just thought i would let anybody who is interested in doing the Iluminate psk course, that there is one on the 19th oct near wellington, Somerset.

 

Me and my crew are attending and you can find all the details on the UKFR in the professional section.

 

Cheers 

 

Vince

[fruitfulsteve]

Is this different from the cat4 course they do ?

[dannytsg]

Is this different from the cat4 course they do ?

 

From their website:

 

 

Covering all the required theory elements of the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2010 and introducing additional materials useful for all display personnel. This course meets the mandatory competency regulation that became a legal requirement on 4th July 2013 for all persons handling Category 4 materials. The course includes a formal examination to be passed that provides a competency certificate valid for 3 years from the date of certificate issue.

 

This course is a mandatory for the above to enable most people to receive and handle Cat4 from my understanding. There are also other courses they do aimed at firers etc

[martyn]

From their website:

 

 

This course is a mandatory for the above to enable most people to receive and handle Cat4 from my understanding. There are also other courses they do aimed at firers etc

Ah - that's worded cleverly.

The course isn't mandatory, it's the competency that is mandatory. There are other ways of achieving and documenting competency, but the course will tick the boxes with minimal effort on your part.

Nothing wrong with the course though, as far as i know. IC have a good reputation. Like all training providers however, they are not really running the course for you, they are doing it to make a profit for themselves. Again nothing wrong with that though.

[phildunford]

Yes, IC are good, but they are a profit making business.

 

UKPS has collaborated with them several times and many members have done their courses either independently or though the Society (30 or more I think).

 

A good thing about them is that they are happy to accept all comers and don't have the 'closed shop' attitude of some other (ahem) trainers...

 

Also - all insurers accept their courses.

Edited by phildunford, 22 September 2014 - 01:25 PM.

[starseeker]

Even though i did the last Illuminate course, it seems that you have to take one every three years to comply with the regulations .

[fruitfulsteve]

So it's basically the one they did a Steve's a few years back.

 

Do they do any that cover SFX and such like ?

[Arthur Brown]

Very similar course to the ones at Icarus place, but no firing practical. IC consider the course to need refreshing every three years, When Insurance Experts offered discounts for people who had passed the course it was for people who had passed the course within three years.

 

No, the IC course doesn't approach SFX however I was talking with a skilled person to run a T2 course for arena pyro and sfx, -Could be a society day out?

[phildunford]

This is what slightly **sses me off - what you really need to know does not need 'refreshing' every three years, just a great excuse for people to make money.

 

I'm sure the highway code, cars and traffic conditions change all the time (more than fireworks) but we don't have to take our driving tests again every three years, thank god. Yet...

[fruitfulsteve]

Someone once said to me "you pass your driving test, then you learn to drive" !!!

 

Seems strange that you can pass a cat 4 course, fire displays for 3 years, yet need to do the same course again. I suppose legislation changes but that rarely affects firers.

 

Hands on experience seems to count for very little these days.

 

I would be happy to do a SFX course if it goes ahead.