Introduction and electrical question

[martcol]

Hi, just signed up, though I've lurked for a while. Missis and I did up our first home, a 1920s Bungalow around 15 years ago. We've just bought a second bungalow, 1950s, renting the original, with a view to doing this one up over the next few years. Plenty of questions, I'm sure, but an electrical one to begin with.

I completely rewired the last bungalow, before part P. This one was done a couple of years back, but looks very messy, the wires being cut through the coving and run down the walls in plastic trunking. Am I allowed to chase out channels in the plaster and bury the wires myself, or do I need to involve myself with part P considerations?

 

[securespark]

That work can be done without notification.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Am I allowed to chase out channels in the plaster and bury the wires myself, or do I need to involve myself with part P considerations?

Yes and yes.

Part P (in fact all of the Building Regulations) applies to any work whatsoever on fixed electrical cables or fixed electrical equipment located on the consumer’s side of the electricity supply meter which operate at low or extra-low voltage and are—
(a) in or attached to a dwelling;
(b) in the common parts of a building serving one or more dwellings, but excluding power supplies to lifts;
(c) in a building that receives its electricity from a source located within or shared with a dwelling; or
(d) in a garden or in or on land associated with a building where the electricity is from a source located within or shared with a dwelling.

 

[ericmark]

Although all work needs to comply with Part P not all work needs notifying. However any changes to Kitchen or Bathroom will likely require notifying.
The big issue is to place cables under plaster needs either special cables or RCD protection and so likely the work will involve a consumer unit change which will need notifying.
In the main the provision to DIY is aimed at people like me who normally work on non domestic premises and are able to inspect and test their own work.
When British standards and IEE as it was then in 1980's combined to produce the 16th Edition the whole idea of people just sticking in cables and sockets without testing went out.
Over the years since the testing required has increased and the enforcement has also increased and courts are much more likely today to lay blame on any person doing work without producing documentation to show how it was tested and proved to be safe.
With the test set costing around £750 it is unlikely any DIY person will have assess to one so to DIY anything but complete rewire would cost more than having an electrician to do the work.
So for most practical purposes DIY of electrics is now out.

 

[electronicsuk]

If the place was rewired 'a few years ago' then it's entirely possible that at least the sockets will already be RCD protected. If that's the case, chasing in those cables should be fine. Light switch drops may be another matter...

 

[martcol]

Hi, As far as I can tell, all the circuits are RCD protected, the consumer unit has the electrical company name and is dated June 2007.

So does it sound like I need to notify, or change the cables to embed them in the walls?

Many thanks for taking the time to answer, btw.

 

[bongos]

So does it sound like I need to notify, or change the cables to embed them in the walls?

When BAS is referring to making yourself aware of Part P he is (I think) referring to the fact that all electrical work in a dwellings comes under Part P.

There is then notifiable work and non-notifiable work.

Yours is non-notifiable.

Have a look here for more info on what is and isn't notifiable.

 

[martcol]

Ok I will. Thanks, again