Landord Support – Part P
If you own a home or rental property, you are legally responsible for compliance with the Building Regulations (Part P)
Part P of the Building Regulations for England and Wales was introduced by the government in January 2005, with an aim of reducing the number of accidents in the home related to faulty electrical installations and similar laws apply in Scotland. It is now a legal requirement for electricians, kitchen, bathroom and gas installers, and all other trades or individuals involved in carrying out domestic electrician work to comply with Building Regulations (Part P).
Most electrical installations carried out in a property are now notifiable: In other words the local authority building control must be notified prior to the work being carried out. The exception is if it is carried out, and certified by a person registered with a government-authorised competent scheme such as an NICEIC electrician.
Failure to comply with Part P is a criminal offence and local authorities have the power to require the removal or alteration of work that does not comply with regulations. The Building Regulations apply to building work in England and Wales and set standards for the design and construction of buildings to ensure the health and safety of people in or around those buildings.
Electrical Hazards
Electrical hazards are invisible but deadly, causing fires and electrical shocks. These hazards are easily preventable if you use an Niceic electrician to install, inspect and maintain your electrics.
Government figures estimate that each year there are around:
10 fatal and 2000 none fatal electrical shock accidents in the home
19 fatal and 880 none fatal shock accidents in the workplace
There are also about 12,500 electrical fires in homes across the UK each year. Although many incidents are caused by faulty appliances rather than the electrical installation itself, a properly installed and well-maintained electrical system could save lives.
Cables, switches, socket-outlets and other equipment deteriorate with prolonged use, so they all need to be checked and necessary replacements or repairs made in good time.
Whilst it is relatively easy to make an electrical circuit work it is far more tricky to make the circuit work safely. To avoid the dangers that electricity can create it is essential that electrical work is carried out only by those with the correct knowledge, skill and experience in the type of electrical work to be undertaken.
The Electrical Safety Council published the results of their National Consumer Survey and found that:
42% of those surveyed stated they had never had their electrics checked, which could void some polices for home insurance, as in most polices it states you should maintain your property, and the only way to tell if there is any deterioration of your electrical installation is by carrying out am Electrical Periodic inspection.
32% of DIY electrical installers stated they had experienced one or more electric shocks while carrying out DIYÂ
59% of people do not use qualified electricians when carrying out electrical work, which is now illegal under Part P of the Building Regulations if working in the Kitchen, Bath room or External areas of your home.
48% of those surveyed did not know that their electrics should be checked at least every 10 years.
If the property is rented their electrics should be checked at least every 5 years and if there is a change of tenant after a period of 12 months from last inspection, although these are only recommendations it is the only way to tell if there has been any deterioration or damage of your electrical installation.
Electrical work should only be carried out by competent persons with the necessary skills and training. It’s easy to make an electrical circuit work – it is far more demanding to make the circuit work safely. All contractors registered with NICEIC have undergone appropriate training and assessment demonstrating competence and having relevant qualifications and training is their only route to becoming registered.
Any electrical contractor constructing a new electrical installation, or altering or adding to an existing electrical installation, should issue an Electrical Installation Certificate, which is a safety declaration confirming that their work complies with the national safety standard.
An electrical contractor reporting on the condition of an existing electrical installation should issue a Periodic Inspection Report detailing their findings and providing recommendations for any work that needs to be carried out.
As NICEIC Approved Contractors you can be assured our work is to the highest safety standards and meets current regulations.
How can we help?
We can advise on the legality of existing electrical work, and offer ideas for proposed electrical layouts.