Building Regulations

The statutory requirements for electrical installations are different in England and Wales from those in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Electricians carrying out work in England and Wales have to comply with Part P of the Building Regulations whereas in Scotland it is the Building Standards system. At the present time Northern Ireland has no equivalent statutory requirement.

Government Consultation and changes to Part P

In January 2012, the Government launched a public consultation on Part P of the Building Regulations for England. This consultation closed on 27th April and changes came into force in April 2013. Any amendments with a regulatory impact will take effect in October 2013.

The main changes, introduced in April are:

• The range of electrical installation work that is notifiable (where there is a requirement to certify compliance with the Building Regulations) has been reduced - removing some work carried out in kitchens and outdoors.
• An installer who is not a regeistered competent person may use a registered third party to certify notifiable electrical installation work as an alternative to using a building control body.

 
We were particularly concerned with the government’s preferred course of removing electrical work in bathrooms and outdoors from the scope of Part P and would urge that these areas be retained as notifiable, due to the increased risks to householders.
 

Further information about the consultation:

The ESC submitted its response, which, whilst broadly welcoming the proposals to reduce the regulatory and cost burdens of Part P on industry, expresses concerns about the potential impact a watered down version of the Regulation could have on consumer safety.

Part P Consultation Response from the Electrical Safety Council

To see the public consultation document, go to: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/brconsultationsection3