Current Laws on Electrical Work

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From 1st January 2005, all electrical work carried out in dwellings must comply with part P of the Building Regulations and be carried out by a person who is competent to do the work.

All work which involves adding a new circuit to a dwelling needs either to be notified to building control, which will then inspect the work, or to be carried out by a competent person who is registered with a Part P Self-Certification Scheme.

Small jobs such as replacing a socket-outlet or a light switch on an existing circuit will not need to be notified to a building control body although there are higher- risk areas work involving installation of extra power pints or changes to circuits in kitchens, bathrooms or outdoors must be notified.

Persons registered with Part P Self-Certification Schemes are fully qualified electrical contractors with the ability to check a circuit for safety. They will be able to issue Building Regulations certificates of compliance.

The term ‘dwelling’ includes houses, maisonettes and flats. It also applies to electrical installations in business premises that share an electricity supply with dwellings, such as shops and public houses with a flat above, and to the common parts of buildings such as hallways and shared amenities in blocks of flats. Part P also applies to electrical installations in outbuildings such as detached garages, sheds and greenhouses and to electrical installations located on land around dwellings, such as garden lighting.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has published a booklet entitled ‘New Rules for Electrical Safety in the Home’. 

The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.