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As of April this year the Government's new 'Part P' regulations have been fully in force, introducing regulation to the filed of domestic electrical work.
This is an important event for a number of reasons, not only does it mean a greater level of safety in the home but it will have a knock on effect for everyone in the trade, mainly electricians whose major income comes from carrying out major work on domestic wiring, but also DIYers and those who supply both groups.
The key wording of Part P is that: "Reasonable provision shall be made in the design, installation, inspection and testing of electrical installations in order to protect persons from fire or injury."
Anyone carrying out electrical work that doesn't meet the regulation's standards can be fined up to £5,000 for a contravention and £50 each day that it continues. It is also likely in future that anyone wishing to sell a house that has had electrical work done on it will have trouble finding a buyer if they cannot show that work on the building meets with the regulations.
The ultimate responsibility for ensuring a house meets meets all building regulations, including Part P lies with the home owner.
Part P applies across England and Wales, and is relevant to all fixed electrical installations after the electricity meter, so essentially on the homeowners end of the power supply. The rules apply to all dwellings and businesses that have a common supply, common access areas in blocks of flats, shared amenities in blocks of flats - such as laundries and gyms, any out buildings such as greenhouses and sheds that takes power from a
dwelling or any other situations listed above.
The relevant standard that Part P takes is lead from is BS 7671 and this defines an electrical installation as, 'an assembly of associated electrical equipment supplied from a common origin to fulfil a specific purpose and having co-ordinated characteristics'.
In simple terms what Part P means is that anyone having electrical work carried out will have a choice of two courses of action, firstly they could opt to employ a company that is registered as 'a competent person' under the regulations, or work can be overseen by the local authority's Building Control Department. It is compulsory for all work to comply with the buildings regulations, however firms do not have to register with a competent persons scheme, so it is important for the person having the work done to ensure he knows which route the company used is following and that if they are not Competent Persons they have notified Building Control of the work that is being undertaken.
Clearly for most people who need electrical work to be done the best route is to employ a company that is part of a competent Person Scheme. This way they get a company doing the work that can easily deal with all the new rules and is qualified to carry out electrical work that meets BS7671, they will also receive a certificate outlining the work that has been done and that it meets the standard required.
The term 'Competent Person' is a slightly misleading one, it actually applies to firms that are registered under a Competent Persons scheme, although firms can be a single workman who is self employed they are not individual employees of a company.
Usually a Competent Person will issue a certificate to the householder, they will also notify the operator of the scheme of any work carried out. The scheme operator then sends a certificate of compliance to the householder and a notification to Building Control, so ensuring all work is on record.
In order for a company to qualify as a Competent Person they will have to prove to a body that organises one of the schemes that they meet its requirments, these will include having a qualified staff and good records of work done, scheme organisers will also expect to examine two finished jobs to make sure they reach the correct standard, then accreditation will be given.
While all these rules and regulations may seem very specialised they do have a knock on effect beyond trade professionals, for suppliers dealing specifically with DIYers there has been concern that this may effect them and damage their trade. The truth is that, in the long run, it probably will. The law does not stop people doing DIY on their home electrics, however it is designed to discourage them, introducing a level of bureaucracy that didn't exist before. Diyers will have to pay a fee to have their work inspected and tested after it is done. The law will not stop shops stocking items required for people carrying out electrical work, however it does seem likely that if your customers are mainly DIYers the chances are they will be doing less electrical work themselves. If your customers are mainly professionals, on the other hand, you may find you start getting an increase in trade as people ensure work is done properly and the saleability of their homes isn't impared.
Useful Websites
Information on Part P schemes and certification:
www.partp.co.uk
www.eca.co.uk
www.brecertification.co.uk
www.bsi-global.com/kitemark
www.elecsa.org.uk
www.napit.org.uk
www.niceic.org.uk
Institute of Electrical Engineers:
www.iee.org.uk
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister , responsible for implementing the
new law:
www.odpm.gov.uk
Downloadable explanatory booklet on building regulations:
www.odpm.gov.uk/explanatory-booklet
Courses for electricians:
www.city-and-guilds.co.uk
www.eal.org.uk
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Airstream Business Communications Ltd