| Until recently the standards and regulation | | | | requirement of Part P. The building regulations, |
| surrounding the electrical wiring and installation in | | | | which are Part P, were introduced to England and |
| the UK varied greatly from other European | | | | Wales on 1st of January 2005. |
| countries. However the standards and regulations | | | | When these building regulations were introduced in |
| in the UK no longer differ substantially from other | | | | 2005 they were met with a lot of controversy |
| European countries. | | | | especially when it come to the rules surrounding |
| The current wring colours used in the UK are as | | | | work that is carried out by non-professional |
| follows:o Protective Earth = Greeno Neutral = | | | | bodies such as DIY work. Under the new |
| Blueo Single Phase: live, three phase L1 = Browno | | | | regulations, initiation of any work other than |
| Three Phase L2 = Blacko Three Phase L3 = Grey | | | | simple changes becomes notifiable to the local |
| When it comes to the UK electrical power circuits, | | | | building control authority. What is meant by simple |
| they are normally described as either radial or ring. | | | | changes are aspects such as adding extra lights |
| If a power circuit is radial the power is | | | | or sockets to an existing circuit. Work on a bigger |
| transmitted from point to point, which is | | | | scale than this should be carried out by a |
| conducted by a single length of cable that links | | | | professional. |
| each point to the next. This starts at the main | | | | When the new Part P regulations were brought |
| switch or fuse and terminates at the last | | | | about in 2005 the government approved several |
| connected device. It may branch at a connection | | | | professional bodies' awards to 'competent |
| point. Lighting circuits are normally wired in this | | | | persons.' This allows these 'competent persons' to |
| way, but it may also be used for low power | | | | self-certify work they carry out. |
| socket circuits. | | | | The Building Control Authority must be informed |
| The ring circuit however is unknown in many | | | | of any work that is carried out by someone not |
| other national wiring codes. With a ring circuit a | | | | qualified under this scheme, unless the work is |
| cable starts at the supply point and then goes | | | | done in an emergency. |
| down to each device, the same way as in a radial | | | | Any electrical work carried out needs to be |
| circuit. The last device is connected back to the | | | | approved and when it is approved you will be |
| supply so that the whole circuit forms a | | | | granted a certificate, a Building Regulations |
| continuous ring. The primary advantage is to allow | | | | Completion Certificate. |
| more power to be supplied than could otherwise | | | | If you do have any electrical wiring or installation |
| be carried with a given size of cable. | | | | work that needs to be carried out on your |
| Going back to the standards and regulations, it | | | | property it is important that you hire a |
| should also be noted that there has been | | | | professional to not only make sure that your |
| considerable change to the rules surrounding | | | | work is carried out in a professional manner but |
| electrical installation. These changes mean that all | | | | to ensure that your electrical installation or |
| electrical work within a domestic setting must be | | | | re-wiring etc meets the standards set out by the |
| in compliance with British standards as a | | | | Part P regulations. |