What is Part P and what does it mean for my electrical repairs?

If you’re looking for emergency electrical work, then you might have heard about Part P. This regulation is incredibly important to our home emergency cover team; all electrical work performed by our contractors must conform with Part P. But what is Part P electrical safety requirement, and what do the regulations entail?

 

Part P forms part of the Building Regulations and was introduced by the government on January 1st 2005. It covers electrical repairs and electrical work in England and Wales, and applies to electrical works in or attached to residences, in the common parts of communal residences such as flats (but not the power supply to lifts), and in buildings, gardens or other land that receive their electricity from dwellings or sources shared with dwellings.

 

The aim of Part P of the Building Regulations is to improve the health and safety of people in England and Wales and to eliminate the risk of fire, electrocution and other injuries electrical work poses.

 

Part P requirements

All work to which Part P applies must conform to UK standard BS 7671:2008 ‘Requirements for Electrical Installations’. It must be completed by electricians who are registered with government-approved schemes. After work has been completed, electricians must provide residents with a compliance certificate and an electrical safety certificate to confirm that the work conforms with Part P.

 

These building regulations also add duties on homeowners who wish to perform electrical work themselves. People may only undertake electrical work if they can inspect it and perform safety checks on it. Members of the public who wish to perform any work that is covered by Part P must tell the building control office before they begin working, and may have to pay a fee so a specialist can examine and test the work.

What work does not come under Part P?

Part P regulations do not apply to some electrical work; although most electrical home emergency cover claims are covered by these building regulations, there are some smaller and less dangerous domestic energy jobs that are considered ‘non-notifiable’.

 

These are:

• Upgrading or installing supplementary or main equitopotential bonding earthing, although this work may have to conform with other regulations such as gas safety regulations

 

• Replacing ceiling roses, control switches, socket outlets and other accessories

 

• Replacing damaged single-circuit cables

 

• Adding mechanical protection to fixed installations

 

• Replacing or refixing existing installation components’ enclosures

 

• Electrical work involving the installation of light fittings and switches to existing circuits, or adding fused spurs and socket outlets to existing radial or ring circuits, but only if the work is not in a bathroom, kitchen, garden or other special ‘high-risk’ location and does not involve a special installation

 

When completing this minor work, installers must merely ensure that they follow and adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions and complete the work in a safe manner.

 

If you’re looking for an accredited and registered electrician to perform your electrical work, why not sign up for a home emergency cover service plan with 247 Home Rescue?

 

Got an electrical emergency?

Don’t attempt to make any changes to your electricals if you are unsure or not confident. Some electrical work in the home requires compliance with Part P building control and needs to be done in accordance with BS7671 wiring regulations. Don’t forget – electricity is VERY dangerous and can kill you. 

 

Instead, call 24|7 Home Rescue on 0345 3192 247 and we can help. Our technical teams will run through some very simple troubleshooting with you over the phone to see if your problem can be resolved easily and if not, they will book one of our qualified and highly knowledgeable Part P certified engineers to get you back up and running as soon as possible. 

 

We will cover you in the event of electrical emergencies and breakdowns, including those caused by DIY accidents, fusebox breakdowns, loss of power to circuits, failed wiring issues and a range of other problems. To find out more please contact us here. 

 

247 Home Rescue accepts no liability for any injuries or damages you sustain following the advice on this website. If in doubt, seek professional assistance.