teleprocessing usurious: Electrical Safety & Installation Regulations

Did you know that there are around 12,500 domestic electrical fires in the UK every year? According to the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC), there are also around 2,000 non-fatal and 10 fatal electric shock accidents per year.? In many cases electric shocks and fires are caused by poorly installed or maintained household electrics; to keep you and your family safe it?s essential that you follow part P electrical safety regulations when carrying out any work.

What is Part P?

By law, all electric work must be carried out in compliance with Building Regulations Part P: Electrical Safety, which aims to prevent electrical fire and shock accidents. Failing to carry out electrical work to part p standards can result in a ?5,000 fine and having to re-do the work; you?ll also have trouble selling a property which does not have the correct electrical safety certificates.

Part P registered electricians

You can only carry out electrical work yourself if you?re competent and able to test the work afterwards, even then you?ll need to independently notify your Local Building Authority who will need to assess the work, for which you?ll be charged a fee.

The easiest way to ensure all your electrical work is safe and complies with building regulations is to hire an electrician registered with a self-assessment scheme such as the NICEIC, the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) or NAPIT. Electricians registered with these schemes will:

Be trained to BS 7671: Requirements for Electrical Installations
Part P trained and able to provide Building Regulation Compliance Certificates
Have Public Liability Insurance
Be able to provide Electrical Installation Certificates

Electrical installation regulations do state that some minor electrical tasks can be carried out without having to notify building control, if you?re confident about carrying them out. These minor tasks include:

Replacing any fixed electrical equipment, such as socket outlets, which doesn?t require new cabling work
Replacing damaged cables for a single circuit only
Replacing enclosures of existing encapsulation components
Additional tasks such as replacing lighting points and socket outlets can be done in certain low risk areas (not kitchens, bathrooms or gardens)

For more information on minor electrical tasks check the Planning Portal website.

Electrical Safety Tips

Hire a qualified electrician to carry out an electrical survey at least once every 10 years
Don?t overload sockets ? if you find you?re using a lot of extension leads, get a qualified electrician to fit some more socket points
Upgrade old wiring; if you?re planning to re-decorate this is the perfect time to carry out rewiring work