Building Regulations

Government statistics have shown that around ten people a year die due to unsafe electrical installations in the home. A further 750 are seriously injured. In order to prevent such unnecessary occurrences, the Construction Industry Deregulation Task Force requested that electrical safety standards be added to the Building Regulations.

This new Part P section of the building regulations is intended to improve household safety with considerations for electrical design, installing, inspecting and testing. These considerations must be made for both new electrical installations and for alterations.

Requirement P is split into two sections:

- P1 Design, Installation, Inspection and Testing

- P2 Provision Information

The Approved Document P details ways in which householders and contractors can comply with new electrical regulations. Part P applies to fixed electrical installations and not to minor works.

The Approved Document P covers:

• Design
• Installation
• Testing and Inspection

It offers guidance on electrical installing that does not require notification, and includes illustrations and diagrams on the kinds of electrical services your home will receive. It also shows the types of certification and equipment encountered.

Part P incorporates all fixed electrical installations in buildings that contain:

• Dwellings or combined dwellings with business
• Areas of common access & amenities in flats (excludes lifts)
• Sheds, garages and other outdoor structures
• Garden lighting

Building Regulations are enforceable whenever any building work is undertaken. Under Part P, building work now includes electrical work on homes or fixed installations.

Requirement P applies to fixed electrical installations that operate at low/extra low voltage, as they are not controlled by the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 (amended), or the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (amended).

It is a criminal offence not to comply with Requirement P. Local authorities will be able to remove or change any electrical work that does not meet the Building Regulations, and any planned work must be submitted to the local authority before it can go ahead.

The government defined 'Competent Firms' are able to self-certify the standard of their work against the Part P regulations. Competent Firms are Approved Electrical Contractors registered under:

Full Scope Schemes

The following organisations are authorised to run competent persons self-certification schemes for registered electrical installers who can do all types of electrical installation work in dwellings

• BRE Certification Ltd
• British Standards Institute
• ELECSA Limited
• NAPIT Certification Limited
• NICEIC Group Limited

Defined Scope

The following organisations are authorised to run competent persons self-certification schemes for registered installers who can do electrical work as an adjuct to or arising out of other work.

• CORGI Services Limited
• ELECSA Limited
• NAPIT Certification Limited
• NICEIC Group Limited
• OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association Limited)

Mains Electricity - New Cable Colours

As from 31st March 2006, new electrical mains wiring and portable appliance flexible leads will be changing colour.

The LIVE and NEUTRAL will change from RED and BLACK to BROWN and BLUE.