From the 1st January 2006, the Law has changed. The Government has amended the Building
regulations with a new Part P requiring all domestic electrical work to be carried out
by a registered electrical contractor. All domestic electrical work in England and Wales
will be enforced through local building control.
This has wide ranging implications - when it comes to selling a property or even
taking out building insurance the home owner will be required to provide evidence
in the form of certificated paperwork that all electrical work has been carried out
to BS 7671 by a registered electrical contractor.
If you are planning to extend or alter the electrical installation in your home, such
as providing extra sockets in the kitchen, or adding new ceiling lights, don't attempt
it yourself. Ensure you employ a competent electrician.
The Government introduced a new law in January, which demands that most electrical
work in UK households is only carried out by a 'competent' person. Up to now, the
electrical industry has maintained relatively high safety standards but with an
increasing use and variety of electrical equipment and appliances in our homes, it is
not surprising that we are exposed to an increased risk of electric shock and fires
caused by faulty electrical installations.
In fact, according to Government statistics, every year 5 deaths and over 500 injuries
are caused by faulty electrical installations in the home. Added to this, 12,500 fires
caused by electrical faults, resulting in 25 deaths and 590 injuries every year, so it
is not difficult to see why an electrical safety law needs to be enforced.
A complete guide to "PART P" is available to view at www.niceic.com
