Building Regulations – Part P (Electrical Safety)

Posted on November 15, 2016 in Electrical

Part P of the Building Regulations which introduce building control requirements in relation to electrical safety came into effect on the 1st January 2005.

Part P applies to electrical installations in a dwelling (including a flat); in the common parts of a building serving one or more dwelling/flat (excluding power supplies to lifts); in a building that receives electricity from a source located within or shared with a dwelling (including a flat); or in a garden or in or on land associated with a building where the electricity is from a source located within or shared with a dwelling. It is intended to improve electrical safety in residential accommodation.

The definition of an “electrical installation” is “an assembly of associated electrical equipment supplied from a common original to fulfil a specific purpose and having certain co-ordinated characteristics”. For the purpose of the Building Regulations effectively it is the fixed electrical cables or fixed electrical equipment which are located on the consumer side of the meter; not the appliance that actually uses the supply of electricity.

The Requirement relates to the design installation inspection and testing of electrical installations. As part of the building work reasonable provision must be made in the design installation and testing of electrical installations in order to protect persons from fire or injury. Sufficient information must be provided so that persons wishing to operate maintain or alter an electrical installation can do so with reasonable electrical safety.

Thus, as well as applying for dwelling houses or flats the requirement relates to dwellings and business premises would have a common supply (e.g. flats above shops) as well as common access areas in blocks of flats (such as corridors and staircases and shared amenities as blocks of flats such as laundries). It includes fixed lighting and pond pumps in gardens and electrical installations in outbuildings such as sheds garages and greenhouses.

As is usual the compliance is limited to reasonable standards to meet health and safety (electrical safety).

Other requirements of the Building Regulations also affect electrical installations. These include depth of chases in walls, the size of holes and notches in roof and door joists, fire safety, provision of fire alarm and fire detection systems, resistance of penetrations through floors and walls, and moisture resistance of cable penetrations through external walls. Also covered are penetrations through floors and walls, ventilation grates for walls of dwellings, energy efficient lighting, reduced current capacity of cables in insulation and height of switches and socket outlets. Upon completion a building must be no worse in terms of level of compliance with other applicable regulations. For instance, a perforation in the ceiling lining beneath a floor made to accommodate recess lighting or fittings may have an effect on the resistance of the floor to fire and sound penetration.

The Approved Document for these purposes is BS7671 Code 2001, otherwise known as the IET Regulation 16th Edition. The requirement will be fulfilled so long as the fundamental principles set out in that document are met. This means that the installations must be designed and installed to afford appropriate protection against mechanical and thermal damage, so that they do not present electric shock and fire hazards to people. They must be suitably inspected and tested to verify that they meet the relevant equipment and installation standards. The technical rules set out in this document must be followed. Guidance given in appropriate manuals which are consistent with the Standard must also be met.

The general rule is that notification of proposals to carry out electrical work must be given to the local authority (or approved building inspector) work begins.

It is not necessary to give prior notification where:-

1. Installation work is undertaken by a competent person under a registered electrical self-certification or scheme authorised by the Communities and Local Government (CLG). In such a situation that person is then responsible for ensuring compliance with the Requirements including any other Requirements contained in the Building Regulations. On completion of the work a signed building regulation self-certification certificate should be issued. A copy of this should be sent to the local authority (or an approved inspector). The client should also receive a duly completed electrical installation certificate in the model form. This certificate must be made out and signed by the competent person or persons who carried out the design, construction and inspection and tested the works. Different people may need to give this certificate where different aspects are undertaken by those different people, or
2. The electrical installation work is not notifiable work as designated in the Regulations (see paragraph 12). So long as it does not include the provision of a new circuit.

Thus where non-notifiable work as described (under 2.9) is undertaken professionally the way to show compliance would be to follow the standards and to issue to the client a minor electrical installation work certificate modelled on the form set out in the British Standard. This certificate must be made out and signed by a competent person in respect of the installation and testing of the installation. Such a person need not necessarily be the person registered under an electrical self-certification scheme. It may be a third party. If the non-notifiable work is to be undertaken by a do it yourself worker then compliance can be shown by following IET Guidance and also then to have a competent person inspect and test the work and supply a minor electrical installation work certificate which must take into account electrical safety. Again, that person need not necessarily be registered but must be competent as regards inspection and testing of installations. The circuits protective measures/current carrying capacity of conductors must be unaffected by increased thermal insulation.

In any event non-notifiable works should be drawn to the attention of the electrician carrying out the subsequent works or periodic inspections. This can be done by supplying a copy of the minor works electrical installation certificate covering the additions and alterations made. Where non-notifiable work is carried out the local authority does not have to be informed nor does the person carrying out the work need to be a member of a self certification scheme. However, the Building Regulations must be complied with by the person doing the electrical work.

Non-notifiable work consists of any of the following:-

1. Replacing any electrical fitting including socket outlets and control switches and ceiling roses
2. Replacing a cable for a single circuit only where damaged
3. Refixing/replacing the enclosures of existing electrical installation components. This is subject to the circuits protective measures being protected.
4. Providing mechanical protection for an existing fixed installation
5. Adding lighting points (light fittings and switches) to an existing circuit. This applies only if the existing circuit protective device is suitable and provides protection for the circuit as modified (so long as this work is not in a kitchen or special location or involving special installations).
6. Adding socket outlets and fuse spurs to existing ring or radial circuit. Again, this only applies to existing circuit protective devices suitable and provides protection for the circuit as modified (so long as this work is not in a kitchen or special location or involving special installations).
7. Installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding. This work must comply with other applicable legislation e.g. Gas Safety Regulations (so long as this work is not in a kitchen or special location or involving special installations).
8. Work not in a special location on telephone or similar wiring and equipment.

Please note that items (e) (f) and (g) only apply if the work is not in a kitchen or special location and does not involve a special installation.

Notes

1.) A kitchen is defined as a room or part of room which contains a sink and food preparation facilities. In open plan areas the zone of a kitchen may be considered to extend from the edge of the sink to a distance of 3 metres or to a dividing wall (if nearer).

2) Special locations:-

• Locations containing bath tub or shower basin
• Swimming pools or paddling pools
• Hot air saunas

3) Special installations are:-

• Electric floor or ceiling heating systems
• Garden lighting or power installations
• Solar power p.v. supply systems
• Small-scale generators
• Extra low voltage lighting installations (except pre-assembled CE marked lighting sets)

There are therefore important exceptions to the normal rules relating to minor works applicable in the place of both kitchens and bathrooms. In such instances work must always be carried out by a registered self-certified electrician or alternatively notification must be given to the local authority (or approved inspector) under the Building Regulations. Clearly the combination of electricity and water is potentially fatal and, for example, special electrical safety requirements apply under the British Standard in relation to bathrooms.

The following are registered self-certification certificates:-

• BRE Certification Limited
• British Standards Institution
• ELECSA Limited
• NICEIC Certification Limited
• NAPIT Certification Limited

The electrical safety requirement will be applicable to alterations and additions to existing installations (including rewires), as well as to new construction. There will be a requirement to ensure that parts of an existing installation upon which new work depends for safety (such as the earthing and bonding arrangement) comply with the requirements of Building Society 7671:2001. This requirement for consequential remedial work is a departure from the normal Building Regulations approach.

In summary the requirement under Part P applies to all fixed electrical installation work in dwellings, whether carried out professionally or by DIY, whether or not minor work, and whether or not the work is notifiable to a building control body. However, certain relaxations may apply for the inspection, testing and certification of minor work undertaken as DIY.

Electrical Safety is paramount and we would always recommend speaking with a qualified electrician should you have any questions. For information on our electrical services please visit: Protech Electrical Solutions.