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Building Regulations Part P Electrical Safety

Information sheet
Any person who wishes to install, alter or extend a low or extra low voltage electrical installation in a dwelling, or sourced from within a dwelling, e.g. garden shed, must have the works carried out by a "competent person" registered with either BRE Certification Ltd., British Standards Institution, ELECSA Ltd., NICEIC Certification Services Ltd., Zurich Certification Ltd. or NAPIT Certification Ltd who will self-certify that the works comply with all relevant requirements.

Alternatively, formal notification under the provisions of The Building Regulations 2000 (as amended) must be given to The Councils Building Control Unit.  If a person chooses to use Local Authority Building Control, the applicant/building owner will be requested on completion to supply an installation and commissioning test certificate completed by a person competent in respect of the inspection and testing of such installations as required by British Standard 7671.

Any person who undertakes works on domestic electrical installations to which The Building Regulations apply and fails to follow one of the above procedures may:

• potentially put their health and safety and that of others at risk
• be liable for a fine
• possibly invalidate the home insurance
• encounter problems with any future sale of the property

There are certain exceptions to the above and outlined below are the types of electrical works which may be carried out by someone other than a "competent person" and without formal notification to the Building Control Unit.  However, it is still recommended that the completed installation be tested by an appropriately qualified person in accordance with British Standard 7671.

Work consisting of:

• replacing accessories such as socket-outlets, control switches and ceiling roses
• replacing the cable for a single circuit only, where damaged, for example 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
  
  

Special locations and installations are defined as:

• locations containing a bath tub or shower basin
• swimming pools or paddling pools
• hot air saunas
• electric floor or ceiling heating systems
• garden lighting or power installations
• solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems
• small scale generators such as microchip units
• extra-low voltage lighting installations, other than pre-assembled, CE-marked lighting sets
  
  
• Electrical Installations Notification Procedure   ( pdf ) 

The above is intended as general guidance only.  Should you require further information, please contact the Council's Building Control Unit on 023 80 688327/8294 or e--mail building.control@eastleigh.gov.uk.  

Alternatively, refer to "Part P Electrical Safety" of Schedule 1 of The Building Regulations 2000 below 

• Supporting Guidance "Approved Document P   ( pdf )