What do the codes BA4 and BA5 stand for?
The BA4 or BA5 certificate indicates the competence level for working in and around electrical installations.
According to the General Regulations on Electrical Installations (AREI/RGIE), access to electrical installations is exclusively reserved for employees who have the necessary competence.
A Royal Decree of 24 April 2004 describes the competence of persons:
Code BA4 - warned
- Persons who have been sufficiently instructed about the electrical risks associated with the work entrusted to them, either...
- Are permanently supervised by a skilled person during the work entrusted to them
- e.g. maintenance staff of electrical installations
Code BA5 - skilled
- Persons who, through knowledge gained by training or experience, can themselves assess the dangers associated with the work to be carried out and determine the measures to eliminate specific risks.
- e.g. technicians responsible for operating electrical installations
Training mandatory!
Based on the results of the electrical risk analysis in the company, employees receive appropriate training.
This way, employees have the required competences to work on the company's specific electrical installation.
After completing training, the employer must declare their employees competent.
So there is a difference between 'following training' and 'declaring an employee competent'.
Download an example competence declaration here (NL / FR / EN)
Declaring competent
For the competence declaration, the employer must consider 3 points:
- The employee's knowledge of the risks of the electrical installations = training
- Nature and variety of the electrical installations to which this knowledge applies
- Nature and variety of the work to be carried out by the person concerned.
The BA4 or BA5 certificate is therefore:
A written document drawn up by the employer, by which employees know for which parts of the installation and for which work on these parts they are declared competent (warned or skilled).
Attention! No risk analysis of the electrical installation in the company?
Impossible to draw up a BA4 or BA5 certificate.
More info: check our legislation department here.