Part P - Electrical Safety

New Electrical Safety Regulation for Safer Homes

A new Regulation for electrical safety, which will make homes safer for households and DIY enthusiasts, was announced on the 29 June 2004 by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Each year on average 10 people die and about 750 are seriously injured in accidents involving unsafe electrical installations in the home. The aim will be to reduce the risk by bringing electrical safety in the home within the scope of the Building Regulations for the first time.

As of 1 January 2005 electrical work in dwellings should comply with Part P requirements and be carried out by persons who are competent to do the work. Minor jobs like replacing sockets and light switches will not be affected, but anyone thinking of, for example, adding new circuits to their house will have to get Building Control involved (check sheet available from downloads section on the right).

There are two ways to apply for consent through Building Control: either submit a Building Notice, or a Full Plans Application.

The charge for individual electrical installations not associated with other building work will be based on an estimate cost that assumes a competent electrician is doing the work. If the electrical installations are part of other domestic building works then the charges will be as outlined, for that type of work, on our fees page.

Full Plans applications should carry the following note on the drawings:

“All electrical work required to meet the requirements of Part P (Electrical Safety) must be designed, installed, inspected and tested by a person competent to do so.

Prior to completion the Council should be satisfied that Part P has been complied with. This will require an appropriate BS 7671 electrical installation certificate to be issued for the work by a person competent to do so.”

On site our Building Control Surveyors will be looking to inspect the electrical installation before it is covered, and will need evidence that a competent person has tested the installation before a completion certificate for the work can be issued.

The alternative is to get the work carried out by a competent person who is registered with a Part P Self-Certification Scheme.

Self-Certification Schemes

The Building Regulations Advisory Committee has considered a number of applications to run such schemes and has recommended five of them for approval.

The Government has accepted the recommendations and has approved schemes to be operated by:

These schemes are aimed at those carrying out electrical installations as the primary activity of their business.