| So what's changed? | | | | This will of course entail a charge for the |
| Consider the dramatic increase over the last 10 to | | | | inspection by the Building Control Officer, which, |
| 15 years of electrical equipment in the home such | | | | depending on the local authority can range from |
| as: | | | | £50.00 for a minor notifiable job to several |
| Bathrooms - low voltage lighting, electric showers, | | | | hundreds of pounds for a major notifiable job. If |
| under-floor heating (popular in bathrooms with tiled | | | | the Building Control Officer also insists upon an |
| floors). | | | | inspection by an accredited contractor or |
| Entertainment systems - computer systems, | | | | electrician with the supplying of a Periodic |
| videos, televisions', (every child's bedroom seems | | | | Inspection Report, this will also of course entail a |
| to have a system nowadays). | | | | charge. |
| Bedrooms - electric blankets, hair dryers, hair | | | | In reality, most Building Control Officers are not |
| tongs. | | | | qualified to inspect the work and as such, will try |
| Kitchens - dishwashers, tumble dryers, freezers, | | | | to dissuade you from carrying out the work; |
| microwaves, blenders, sandwich makers. | | | | hence the disproportionate charges and the |
| Gardens - lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, pond | | | | probable requirement of a Periodic Inspection |
| pumps and lighting. | | | | Report. If you do carry out the work yourself |
| Is it any wonder, then, that each year on | | | | and it is acceptable to your local authority, it |
| average there are 10 deaths, 750 serious injuries | | | | remains to be seen whether will be acceptable |
| and 12,500 fires caused either by faulty electrical | | | | when you come to sell your property. |
| work carried out by ambitious DIY enthusiasts, | | | | Therefore, if you are trying to save money on |
| "cowboy" electricians or deteriorating electrical | | | | the labour content of the work, it will probably be |
| installations? | | | | false economy. |
| As such, electrical work with a few minor | | | | If I do decide to carry out the work myself, can |
| exceptions carried out in the home is being | | | | an accredited contractor or electrician certify the |
| regulated as part of the Building Regulations under | | | | work for me, hence saving me the hassle and |
| Part P and is effective from the 1st of January | | | | cost for the Building Control Officer? |
| 2005. | | | | No - An accredited contractor or electrician |
| Failure to comply with Part P of the Building | | | | cannot certify work carried out by anybody else, |
| Regulations is a criminal offence and could result in | | | | as he cannot inspect the full extent of the wiring |
| the order by the local authority to remove or put | | | | especially where it is hidden in the fabric of the |
| right faulty workmanship and fine you up to | | | | building. The only thing he can provide is a Periodic |
| £5000.00. It could also make it difficult to | | | | Inspection Report - which is a formal inspection of |
| sell your property in the future. | | | | the wiring system but does not include an |
| Will anybody find out if I carry out some electrical | | | | inspection of wiring within the fabric of the building |
| work? I can say it was done before January | | | | i.e. under floors etc. The Periodic Inspection Report |
| 2005. | | | | is not a certificate. As such it will not comply with |
| If the work involves the installation of cable you | | | | Part P although as above, some authorities may |
| can be easily found out because since January | | | | insist on one if you carry out the work yourself. |
| 2005 the colours of the cores of the cable has | | | | I want to replace a broken socket - are you |
| changed. Live is now brown (previously red), | | | | saying I need to notify or employ somebody that |
| neutral is now blue (previously black) and earth | | | | is accredited (Government approved)? |
| remains the same (green/yellow) | | | | No - for example you can replace existing |
| What is the scope of Part P? | | | | accessories or replace a damaged cable with like |
| ·Dwellings | | | | (type and size). |
| ·Outbuildings, sheds, garages and | | | | The requirement of whether work is notifiable or |
| greenhouses | | | | not depends on the nature of the work and very |
| ·Garden lighting and power supplies (pond | | | | importantly, its location. Location is important |
| pumps etc.) | | | | because some locations e.g. bathrooms, gardens |
| ·Common areas in blocks of flats - | | | | and kitchens could have an increased shock risk! |
| stairways, laundries etc but not lifts | | | | The information below shows examples of what |
| ·Combined business premises and | | | | is notifiable and which is not. The list is not |
| dwellings having a common supply (pubs, shops | | | | exhaustive and should the work required not fall |
| etc.) | | | | into any of the categories below or you have any |
| How can I comply with Part P? | | | | doubt I would strongly urge that you seek advice |
| You will not need to notify the Building Control | | | | from a Building Control Officer or an accredited |
| Officer to comply with Part P if you employ a | | | | contractor or electrician. |
| contractor or an electrician who is accredited with | | | | You must be aware that the requirements of the |
| a self certifying scheme (belongs to either the | | | | Building Regulations apply to all work carried out |
| N.I.C.E.I.C, E.C.A or other accredited service | | | | irrespective of whether they are notifiable or not. |
| scheme). | | | | Areas within a kitchen, bathroom, garden or |
| The accredited contractor or electrician will notify | | | | special location |
| their accreditation service of the notifiable | | | | NOTIFIABLE: |
| electrical work completed by the application of a | | | | A complete new installation or rewiring |
| form (normally done on the "Web"). The | | | | Installing a new circuit (eg, for socket outlets, |
| accreditation service will then notify the relevant | | | | lighting or shower) |
| Building Control Officer of all notifiable works | | | | Fitting and connecting a shower to an existing |
| carried out in his area (normally on a monthly | | | | point |
| basis) who will then inform you that he has the | | | | Replacing a fuse board |
| required notification. | | | | Adding a socket outlet to an existing circuit |
| You must receive from the contractor or | | | | Adding a lighting point to an existing circuit |
| electrician a Minor Works Certificate if the work | | | | Fitting a storage heater to an existing adjacent |
| entails a replacement part or an alteration of a | | | | point |
| circuit. | | | | Installing a supply to a garden shed, garage or |
| OR | | | | other outbuilding |
| An Electrical Installation Certificate if the works | | | | Installing a lighting point or socket outlet in a |
| entail a complete installation in the case of a new | | | | garden shed, garage or other outbuilding |
| build, a re-wire of a existing electrical installation, | | | | Installing a garden pond pump including the supply |
| the addition of a new circuit, or a major alteration | | | | Installing electric under floor or ceiling heating |
| as in the case of replacing a fuse board. | | | | Installing an electricity generator |
| The certificate must be sent to you within a | | | | NOT NOTIFIABLE: |
| reasonable time of the completed works - one | | | | Connecting a cooker to an existing connection unit |
| month. The certification and any data must be | | | | Replacing a damaged cable for a single circuit |
| kept safe, as this maybe required before any | | | | (cable to be the same size and type and installed |
| future works are carried out or will be required | | | | as original) |
| when you sell the property. | | | | Replacing a damaged accessory such as a light |
| If you decide that you are competent or employ | | | | switch or socket outlet |
| a person who is competent by either experience | | | | Replacing a light fitting |
| or formal qualifications and not engage an | | | | Connecting an item of equipment to an existing |
| accredited contractor or electrician then you must | | | | adjacent connection point |
| inform the Building Control Officer before | | | | Fitting a storage heater to an existing adjacent |
| commencement of the work. The Building Control | | | | point |
| Officer will inspect the completed work. | | | | Replacing an immersion heater |
| Depending on the authority, the Building Control | | | | Areas not in a kitchen, bathroom, garden or |
| Officer will need a completed certificate as part | | | | special location |
| of British Standard 7671 (I.E.E Regulations) and | | | | NOTIFIABLE: |
| may insist upon an inspection by an accredited | | | | A complete new installation or rewiring |
| contractor or electrician who will supply a Periodic | | | | Installing a new circuit e.g. |
| Inspection Report. | | | | |