What is the Silver Award for Theatre Electricians?

The Silver Award is a five day course which gives candidates more in-depth knowledge and understanding of best practice in Theatre Electrics. It allows candidates to specialise further and validate experience in a specific area whilst progressing on from the Bronze Award.

Who can do the course?

Candidates wanting to pursue a Silver Award for Theatre Electricians should have gained equivalent knowledge and skills covered by the Bronze Award prior to considering undertaking this course.

How is the course structured?

The course is split in to five sections:

1. Electronics Fundamentals – Part One

2. Electronics Fundamentals – Part Two

3. Electrical Inspection and Testing – Part One

4. Electrical Inspection and Testing – Part Two

5. Electrical Installation and Electrical Equipment Testing (EET/PAT Testing)

The training is followed by the Silver Award Test.

What is covered in the course?

Courses 1 and 2: Electronics Fundamentals teach basic electronic theory and soldering skills, passive-basic semiconductor components, simple circuits, common power components and fuses. Kirchoff’s Laws, AC/DC, power, energy, resistor networks, capacitor networks, inductors, transformers, switches and electronic switches, potential divider circuits, passive filters, impedance, diodes & LEDs, AC rectification, fuses, MCBs, RCDs. Sensors, actuators and Boolean logic are also included.

Courses 3 and 4: Electrical Inspection and Testing teach how to interpret legislation and codes of practice when testing electrical installations. The objective is understanding the requirements of BS 7671 Wiring Regulations and the Electricity at Work Act 1989, including insulation resistance polarity, earth fault loop impedance and residual current device testing.

Course 5: Electrical Installation and  Electrical Equipment Testing (EET/PAT Testing) considers circuit design in relation to theatre and studio, highlighting potential problems with cabling installations and how to choose and install the correct cable run – the new requirements of BS7909; 2011, the code of practice for Temporary Electrical Systems for Entertainment. We will also set out systems to organise the In-Service Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment  (EET/PAT testing) of theatre electrical equipment and how to comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations for inspection & testing. The course includes visual inspection and electrical testing; testing periods; record keeping; system of inspection and testing; selection of suitable testing instruments, inspection requirements and the need to ‘risk assess’ the requirement for inspections and test.

How do I progress after this course?

Once a Silver Award has been achieved, many students decide that they wish to broaden their skill set and do a further “Silver Award” course in a different area. Alternatively – some decide they want to progress on the final Gold Award Course once they have moved in to managerial roles.

We offer the Gold Award Course to support the candidate in managerial roles within the Industry. Candidates should have responsibility for the management of the working environment and the practices therein.