FACT
FILE - Part "P" Building Regulations (Electrical Safety
in Dwellings)
From
1 January 2005, people carrying out electrical work in homes
and gardens in England and Wales will have to follow the
new rules in the Building Regulations. These apply to all
properties either let as holiday rentals, long term lettings
or owner occupied (not let). The rules are set out in Part
P Building Regulations (Electrical Safety in Dwellings).
Failure to comply with these Regulations is a criminal offence,
which could result in a maximum fine of £5,000 and or imprisonment.
Why has the Government
introduced the new rules?
To reduce the number of deaths, injuries and fires caused
by faulty electrical installations and to make it harder
for 'cowboy builders' to leave electrical installations
in an unsafe condition.
In very
general terms these regulations require that works, repairs,
maintenance etc., on "electrical installations",
in certain areas of a property, are now known as "notifiable"
works and as such must only be carried out by a "competent
person".
Who
is a "Competent Person"? Someone
who is currently registered with an approved self-certification
scheme, which monitors and
regulates his or her activities, competence etc.
The competent person can "self-certify" the relevant
works and he (or she) then has a responsibility to provide
the customer and the local authority building control department
with a copy Certificate relating to the notifiable works.
If your property is let out then you will need to maintain
a copy of any such certificate in their management files
for possible future reference.
Someone who is not a "competent person" could still
do the works as long as they seek appropriate approval from
their local authority Building Control department, before
and after the works are carried out. In most cases an officer
from the department will wish to visit the property and
inspect the works and may require the applicant to submit
suitable drawings or schematics.
What
does an "Electrical Installation" mean? Fixed electrical
cables or fixed electrical equipment located on the consumer's
side of the electricity supply meter in a dwelling or in
the common parts of a building serving one or more dwellings;
and that includes sheds, garages and greenhouses.
Non
notifiable works: Although you should take guidance
from the Building Control department generally these would
include repairs, replacements and maintenance; and additions
or alterations to existing circuits outside kitchens and
bathrooms: Replacing power sockets (white laminate with
chrome for example), replacing a damaged power cable, replacing
a light switch or ceiling rose, adding lighting points,
sockets and fused spurs to existing circuits as long as
they are not in a special location or special
installation.
Special
Locations / installations: Kitchen - bathroom/shower
room, garden lighting and swimming pools.
When the Notifiable work is carried out Will I get a
certificate that the electrical work meets the requirements
of the Building Regulations? Yes - a qualified installer
should give you a signed BS 7671 electrical safety certificate
for all types of electrical work. If you use a registered
installer for notifiable work, the operator of the registration
scheme will send you a Building Regulations compliance certificate.
If you use an unregistered installer for notifiable work,
the Building Control Service will inspect the work to check
that it complies with the Building Regulations before issuing
a completion certificate.
What will happen if the owner does not follow the Building
Regulations?
-
The electrical installation might not
be safe.
-
You
will have no record of the work done.
-
You
may have difficulty selling your home if you do not
have the right electrical safety certificates.
-
Your local authority's Building Control Department may
insist that you put right faulty work.
Where can I get more information? From your local
authority's Building Control Department who publish a free
'Explanatory Booklet on the Building Regulations'. Or visit
www.odpm.gov.uk/explanatory-booklet for a copy
N.B.
This information should not be relied on for accuracy and
is presented here without the responsibility of jml Property
Service and the website it is being displayed at. ©jml property
Services 04-05
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