Gate installers required to complete Part P Electrical Certificates from January 1st 2005. For electrical contractors..

In line with new policy provided through government approval - there is a whole new standard expected by electrical installers when completing Electrical installation works. (including entrance automation) In accordance with directives issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister through Part P the responsibilities for electrical installers has changed for the better.

The above image provides a weblink through to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and you can read/download the details in Acrobat PDF format by clicking on the link here. In short, we shall summarise in the columns below:

Knowledge and understanding of Part P should be of paramount importance for the safety of you and your customers. Particular attention should be paid if you carry out work in kitchens, bathrooms or other areas where water is present. The utmost care and attention should be applied to the design and construction of electrical installation work, including minor work, in these locations, where the consequences of faulty electrical installations work can be far more severe.

Competent businesses that carry out electrical installation work follow the national standard for the safety of electrical installations (BS 7671) on a voluntary basis. However, when Part P is introduced, the assurance of electrical safety in homes will become a legal requirement.

What is Part P?

Part P of the Building Regulations is a new electrical safety requirement, which requires that:
‘Fixed electrical installations in dwellings shall be suitably designed, installed, inspected and tested so as to provide reasonable protection against there being the source of a fire or a cause of injury to persons'.

Part P will apply to all fixed electrical installation work in dwellings in England and Wales, whether carried out professionally, whether or not the work is minor in nature, and whether or not the work is notifiable to a building control body.

  What is minor work?

‘Minor Work' is electrical work not involving the addition of a new circuit, such as the installation of socket outlets or lighting points to existing circuits and the replacement of accessories.

  What work will need to be notified?

All proposed electrical installation work in dwellings will need to be notified to a building control body before work commences, unless:

• the proposed work is to be undertaken by a prescribed competent person (an individual or a firm) authorised to self-certify compliance on completion of the work, or

• the proposed work is minor, and it is not in a kitchen or in an area classified as a special installation or location

  What is a ‘special installation or location'?

The following are classified as special installations or locations:

• locations containing a bath tub or shower basin

• swimming pools or paddling pools

• hot air saunas

• garden lighting or power installations

• solar photovoltaic power supply systems

• electric floor or ceiling heating systems

• extra-low voltage lighting installations, other than pre-assembled, CE- marked lighting sets

• small scale generators such as microCHP units

All electrical installation work in such areas, as well as in kitchens, will need to be either notified or self-certified by a prescribed competent person, even if only ‘minor works'.

  What must I do to comply with Part P?

First, ensure that you are following the fundamental principles for electrical safety, set out in Chapter 13 of BS 7671: 2001. Then register with a Government approved body operating a Competent Persons Scheme.

The Domestic Installer Scheme is designed to enable registered businesses to be deemed ‘competent persons', able to self-certify compliance with Part P of the Building Regulations (and other Building Regulation requirements)*. An Approved Document, giving official guidance on complying with the new legal requirements, entitled Electrical Safety is available from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

*Building Regulations requirements include fire safety (Part B), Part F (ventilation), accessibility (Part M) and energy conservation (Part L1)