Building Control ...
Electrical Safety in the Home : Part P
- Introduction
- Notification to Building Control
- Benefits of using Electricians registered with Competent Persons Schemes
Introduction
From 1st January 2005 people carrying out electrical work in homes must follow the new safety rules in the Building Regulations – Approved Document P.
If you are carrying out new electrical work (see table below for controlled works) it will be necessary to employ an electrician who is either :
a) registered under a Competent Persons scheme
We would strongly encourage the use of Electrical contractor’s who are part of a Competent Person scheme.
OR
b) submit a Building Regulation application to North Tyneside Building Control where :
- an Electrician registered with a recognised trade body who is not registered under a Competent Person’s scheme tests the work and issues a test certificate under BS7671 – Building Control will accept the certificate as evidence that the work complies with Part P of the regulations. Building Control will carry out additional inspections when notified of first fix electrical wiring in conjunction with the acceptance of the certificate.
- the electrical work is carried out by an unregistered electrician or is a DIY installation – the applicant is required to have the work inspected and tested by a registered electrician as above.
A charge will be made for the application based upon the estimated cost of the works.
If you do not comply with the Building Regulations:
- The electrical installation might not be safe.
- You will have no formal record of the work done.
- You may have difficulty selling your home if you do not have the relevant Electrical safety certificates and the Building Regulation Completion certificate.
Notification to Building Control
Notification of inspection of electrical work must be given to Building Control at the following stages :
- Commencement of work
- First fix electrical wiring
- Completion
unless the work is undertaken by person registered under a Competent Person’s scheme.
Whether the work requires notifocation is dependant upon the nature and location within the dwelling :-
| Examples of work | Are the works outside of bath/ shower rooms and kitchens | Are the works within a bath/shower room or kitchen |
|---|---|---|
Complete new/rewire of installation |
Yes |
Yes |
Consumer unit change |
Yes |
Yes |
Installing a new shower circuit |
Yes |
Yes |
Installing an additional socket |
No |
Yes |
Installing an additional light |
No |
Yes |
Addition of fused connection unit to ring final circuit |
No |
Yes |
Installing a new cooker circuit |
Yes |
Yes |
Connecting a cooker to an existing connection unit |
No |
No |
Installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding |
No |
Yes |
Replacing a damaged cable for a single circuit |
No |
No |
Replacing a damaged socket outlet |
No |
No |
Replacing a light fitting |
No |
No |
Installation and fit of a storage heater, including final circuit |
Yes |
Yes |
Fit and final connection of storage heater |
No |
No |
Installing extra low voltage lighting (not CE marked sets) |
Yes |
Yes |
Taking a new supply out to a garden shed |
Yes |
N/A |
Installing a socket in a garden shed |
Yes |
N/A |
Installing a light fitting in a greenhouse |
Yes |
N/A |
Installing a pond pump, including supply |
Yes |
N/A |
Installing a hot air sauna |
Yes |
Yes |
Installing a solar photovoltaic power supply |
Yes |
Yes |
Installing ceiling or floor heating |
Yes |
Yes |
Installing a small scale generator |
Yes |
Yes |
Installing an additional socket in a motor caravan |
N/A |
N/A |
Benefits of using Electricians registered with Competent Persons Schemes
- Members of schemes can deal with all the new rules for you.
- Members are qualified to carry out electrical work.
- Members will give you a certificate to confirm their work follows the new rules.
- You will not have to pay Building Control charges.
- You will have the option of taking out an insurance backed guarantee or the work.
- You will have access to a formal complaints procedure if you are not happy with the work.
Competent person schemes were introduced by the Government to allow individuals and enterprises to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations as an alternative to submit a building notice.
The principles of self-certification are based on giving people who are competent in their field the ability to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations without the need to submit a building notice and thus incurring local authority inspections or fees. It should help tackle the problem of 'cowboy builders', and assist local authorities with enforcement of Building Regulations.
For details of existing Competent Persons Schemes visit the Communities and Local Government website
