From the 1st January 2005, the design, installation, inspection and testing of electrical installations will be controlled under the Building Regulations.

The New Part P will apply to dwelling houses and flats including garden electrics, ponds, outbuildings, garages, greenhouses, conservatories, porches, a covered yard or way and car ports open on at least two sides.

*From the 1st January 2005, all electrical work in dwellings will need to comply with Building Regulations Part P requirements and be carried out by persons who are competent to design and undertake the work.

*Minor Work, such as:-

replacing any electrical fitting including socket -outlets, control switches and ceiling roses

replacing cable for a single circuit only, where damaged by fire, rodent or impact

re-fixing or replacing the enclosures of existing installation components

providing mechanical protection to existing fixed installations.

Work that is not in a kitchen or special location and does not involve a special installation and consists of:-

Adding lighting points (light fittings and switches) to an existing circuit

Adding socket outlets and fused spurs to an existing ring or radial circuit

Installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding

Will not need not be notified to a Building Control Body (see table 1 of Approved Document P)

'Special locations' referred to above include locations containing a bath tub or shower, swimming and paddling pools, hot air saunas. Special locations includes electric floor or ceiling heating systems, garden lighting or power installations, extra low voltage lighting installations.

*All work that involves adding a new circuit to a dwelling, or electrical work in kitchens and bathrooms or in special locations will need to be either:-

a) Designed and carried out by a person who is registered with a Competent Person Self Certification Scheme. There are currently five such schemes in operation (see below**).

b) Be notified to a Building Control body, e.g. .form part of a Building Notice or Full Plans submission to the Local Authority where electrical work is designed and carried out by an electrical installer competent to test the installation and

issue a BS7671 completion certificate to the client. Building Control will need to inspect the installation work before any covering finishes are applied and at completion. Building Control will ask to have sight of, or preferably a copy of, the BS 7671 Completion Certificate before being able to issue any Final Certificate under the Building Regulations. (This may include electrical contractors who are members of the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting, NICEIC or the Electrical Contractors Association, ECA but are not registered with a Competent Person Self Certification Scheme)

c) In all other cases, be notified to the Building Control body, e.g.. form part of a Building Notice or Full Plans submission to the Local Authority. Building Control will need to make inspections before any installations are covered by finishes and at completion and may use a consultant to assist with the inspection process.

Persons considering undertaking electrical work using unqualified installers or on a DIY basis are strongly advised to contact a competent electrician/installer who would be willing to provide a BS7671 Completion Certificate for them and to seek guidance on what may be required prior to covering up the work. Building Control will request sight of, and preferably a copy of, a BS7671 Completion Certificate before being able to issue any Final certificate under the Building Regulations.

This means that electrical work should not be undertaken by unqualified persons unless it is carried out in such a way as to be capable of being inspected, tested and certified by an electrician competent to test the particular installation.

**The five competent person schemes currently in operation are:-

BRE Certification, c/o ECA Inspection & Assessment Services, Mansfield, NG18 2

British Standards Institution, Hemel Hempstead

ELECSA, Borough High Street, London

NICEIC, Albert Embankment, London

NAPIT, The Gardeners' Lodge, Pleasley Vale Business Park, Mansfield.

Additionally, there are Authorised competent person self certification schemes for installers who can do electrical work only if it is necessary when they are carrying out other work:-

CORGI Services Limited

Website: wwwhttp://www.corgi-gas-safety.com

OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association for the Petroleum Industry Limited)

Website: www.oftec.co.uk.

We strongly advise and encourage the use of Electricians who are registered with a Competent Person Scheme.

Building Regulation Submissions.

May be made by Building Notice or Full Plans application, Charges made for Building regulations submissions will be applicable. Persons intending to make a submission are advised that:-

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 may require an appropriate BS7671 electrical installation certificate to be issued for the work by a person competent to do so.

A standard note on a Full Plan application to this effect is suggested..

Transitional Provisions

Initially, compliance with Part P may not be required where the following transitional provisions apply:-

i) Where a contract for the provision of building work comprising the installation of a heat producing gas appliance, of an oil fired combustion appliance or oil storage tanks and pipes or a solid fuel burning combustion appliance was entered into before the 1st January 2005 and the work was completed before 1st April 2005.

ii) Before the 1st January 2005, a Building Notice has been submitted, a commencement notice has been given and building work started in respect of the described building work.

iii) Before 1st January 2005, Full Plans have been deposited and approved without conditions,

iv) Before 1st January 2005, Full Plans have been deposited and approved and a written statement issued that any conditions attached have been fully met.

v) Before 1st January 2005, Full Plans have been deposited, a commencement notice has been given and building work has started.

The term 'building work has started' is deemed to mean;-

a) excavation for strip or trench foundations or pad footings

b) digging out and preparation of ground for raft foundations

c) vibroflotation (stone columns), piling, boring for piles or pile driving.

John Brett M.R.I.C.S., M.C.I.O.B

Building Control Services Manager