Part p when was it introduced

When the Department for Communities and Local Government undertook an exercise in to determine what changes were necessary to the Building Regulations to ensure that they remained fit-for-purpose, with respect to Part P , there was some criticism of its cost and bureaucracy. As a result, the Government decided to examine the costs associated with the existing regulatory regime and to review whether there was a continuing case for regulation, and if there was, whether the regime could be made more cost-effective.

The consultative document outlines, in great detail, the costs and benefits associated with the following three options. Do nothing. This is not preferred, because it would miss the opportunity to minimise the costs currently associated with Part P.

Revoke Part P. This is not preferred, because it would significantly reverse the improvements in the quality of electrical installation work that have occurred since the introduction of Part P in This risk could be exacerbated as hazards continue to increase as electrical installations become more heavily loaded with electrical appliances and devices, including the emerging technologies.

Retain Part P with changes. This is the preferred option as it significantly reduces the cost to business of Part P in a way that continues to deliver the health and safety benefits sought, thereby delivering the largest net benefit when all benefits are accounted for. This would be achieved by firstly, reducing the amount of work that is notifiable, by making certain lower-risk work non-notifiable, and secondly, by allowing third-party certification of electrical work as an alternative to using a building control body.

In addition, minor changes will be made to the guidance to ensure it remains up-to-date and current. These changes will include a revised list of notifiable work, new guidance on inspection and testing by third parties, reference to the latest edition of the national standard for electrical installation work BS and bringing the technical guidance in the appendices into line with the standard.

Obvious objections focus on how lower-risk non-notifiable work is to be categorised and on the independence and competence of the third parties carrying out the certification. While the Electrical Safety Council ESC has submitted a response to the consultative document that broadly welcomes the proposals to reduce the regulatory and cost burdens of Part P on industry, it also expresses concern about the potential impact a watered down version of the Regulation could have on consumer safety.

All work on low voltage and extra low voltage control wiring for fire, security and heating systems that does not include the installation of a new circuit could be made non-notifiable without significantly affecting electrical safety. The ESC also outlines, in detail, its own four-point plan by which Part P could be streamlined and made more effective while continuing to allow the delivery of health and safety benefits.

Can I still apply for self-certification? Part P is concerned only with the fixed electrical installations of dwellings. Q To gain Part P certification, do I have to be trading for 12 months? Q I only carry out minor electrical work in dwellings, eg repairs and replacements, installing extra points. Do I need to be certified? No, provided you keep within the scope of what constitutes non-notifiable work, as stated in Approved Document P, which is very limiting. However, all minor work should comply with BS and be certificated by the issue of a Minor Works Certificate to the client.

Must we be Part P certified? For limited domestic activity, it is a business decision to either gain Part P certification or notify this work to Building Control before the work commences, on a job-by-job basis. BS requirements are non-statutory and will remain so. Having said that, however, meeting the fundamental principles for safety given in BS will be an appropriate means to achieve compliance with Part P requirements. A Competent Person may, however, wish to offer their services to Building Control to carry out inspections on their behalf for which purpose an Electrical Safety Inspection Report is being developed.

However, houses off-campus are treated the same as other dwellings and are subject to Part P compliance. ODPM advises that this depends on the size of the structure. It is best to check on an individual basis with local Building Control. Q Will wholesalers and shops be stopped from selling electrical goods to the general public? No, because DIY electrical work will still be permitted. The hope is, however, that most people will be discouraged from DIY work as a result of the introduction of Part P.

However, the work must start within three years of the approval date, otherwise the approval lapses. Q Does Part P apply to university or boarding school student accommodation? Q Does Part P apply to building work that was approved before 1 January ?

Site powered by Webvision Cloud. Skip to main content Skip to navigation. Part P explained. No comments. The only exceptions to this are: the proposed work is to be undertaken by a Competent Person a company authorised to self-certify compliance on completion of the work ; the proposed work is of a minor nature.

Competent persons Those wishing to join a Competent Person scheme will need to demonstrate their competence and, if necessary, may be required to undergo additional training. Building Regulations Competent Persons that are able to self-certify their own work must have an appreciation of how all of the Building Regulations affect their electrical installation work and need to be competent to confirm that work complies with all the applicable requirements of the Building Regulations, not just Part P.

Such requirements include, but are not limited to: Part A structure — depth of chases in walls and size of openings in joists or structural elements; Part B fire safety — fire resistance of ceilings and walls including provision of fire alarm and detection systems; Part C site preparation and resistance to moisture — moisture resistance of openings or penetrations for cables through external walls; Part E resistance to the passage of sound — penetrations through ceilings and walls; Part F ventilation — ventilation rates for areas within a dwelling; Part L conservation of fuel and power — energy efficient lighting, effective controls including automatic controls; Part M access to and use of buildings — heights of switches, socket outlets, etc; Part P electrical safety — fixed electrical installations in dwellings.

Approved Documents may be downloaded free of charge from www. Scope of Part P Part P applies to fixed electrical installations in buildings, or parts of buildings, comprising: dwelling houses and flats; dwellings and business premises that have a common supply — for example, shops and public houses with a flat above; common access areas in blocks of flats, such as corridors and staircases not lifts ; shared amenities in blocks of flats such as laundries and gyms; outbuildings such as sheds, detached garages and greenhouses served from a local dwelling, including garden electrics, external lighting and pond pumps, etc.

The requirements The new Part P requirements, as taken from the Approved Document P are: design, installation, inspection and testing — reasonable provision shall be made in the design, installation, inspection and testing of electrical installations in order to protect persons from fire or injury; provision of information — sufficient information shall be provided so that persons wishing to operate, maintain or alter an electrical installation can do so safely.

There are limits on application. The requirements of this Part apply only to electrical installations that are intended to operate at low or extra-low voltage and are: in a dwelling; in the common parts of a building serving one or more dwellings, but excluding power supplies to lifts; in a building that receives its electricity from a source located within or shared with a dwelling; in a garden or on land associated with a building where the electricity is from a source located within or shared with a dwelling.

Definitions In order to implement Part P, the definition of an electrical installation is key. The notification process It is presently envisaged that the Competent Person scheme operators will issue a Certificate of Compliance to the client, and will copy information recorded on the certificate to Building Control as a declaration of compliance with Building Regulations 4 and 7.

In the Government introduced electrical safety rules into the Building Regulations for England and Wales. Because of this, most fixed electrical installation work in homes must, by law, meet the Building Regulations.

Part P states that anyone carrying out electrical installation work in a home must make sure that the work is designed and installed to protect people from fire and electric shocks. Part P applies to any changes made to existing installations, including any parts that have been rewired.