What does the P stand for in Part P?

[Stevethetiler]

Im just your average competent DIY er. Im a tller by trade. Fairly good at most things. blah blah blah.

Recently coming up against a brick wall of legislation and government beurocracy concerning electrical work in the home.

My gripe is that i want to do some electrical work myself. This, in the past wouldnt have been a problem. Its in a kitchen. New stuff states i have to have it certificated or signed off by buildings regs.

My issue is that what i come up with now is that i cant find a spark who will give ANY advice.....appreciate they cant sign off on someone elses work.

Council want to rob me of both my arms to come and check if i do it myself.

My point being, they say DIY electric is NOT against the rules. However, the cost involved now has esculated to beyond my means as i cant afford a spark to do what i need - they, in turn, wont advise me for DIY purposes and the council (blood suckers as they are) would cost just as much for some guy to come and say - yeah, thats ok.

Does anyone else think that , although the regs exist for safety and to prevent bodged DIY leccy, that the cost now involved to do work yourself is only going to further more encourage people to "have a go" themselves?

Im looking forward to any reply.

Ill now dismount from my soap box !

 

[breezer]

I guess it was the next avilable letter in the alphabet, since part P is a building reg, not an electrical reg

 

[Stevethetiler]

I stand corrected. Just that every sparky ive talked to has rightly informed me that i cant just "DIY" my own eleccy in kitchen/bathroom.....it needs to be signed off etc.

What would your view on this be?

I know we cant ascertain everyones degree of "competency" but it would be my belief that a suitably qualified electrician SHOULD be allowed to inspect / advise on a non qualified persons DIY electrics.

This would ensure that any work undertaken by DIYers WOULD be safe.

Part P regs obviously incurrs alot of un needed expense if you choose to have a buildings officer sign it off....and the only other option for joe public is to get a professional electrician in.

Seems to be no middle ground anymore.

 

[nitro23456]

If you honestly know what you are doing just get on with it!

I wouldn't pay an electrician or the council to swap a light fitting for example in the kitchen or add some spots or a shaver socket.

It was "like that when you moved in" or undo the work if you sell your home. Better still, get some old twin and earth with the old colours from ebay and your laughing.

One of mates is an electrician but not part P, and he has done stuff for me FULLY knowing what he is doing but legally shouldn't have - his advice being, it was like that when I moved in.......... suits me saving £££

I will now be slammed by everyone below, despite probably voicing the opinion of every normal man (ie not a spark) in the UK.

 

[Stevethetiler]

Im hearing you on that one!

Id just like to be able to consult a local spark if the need arose. Have done all the downilghts upstairs myself years ago - never had a prob - no MCB's have popped - not even a bulb has gone !! No dodgy fishy smells in any of the bedrooms (apart from the missus ) ..... better check she dont read this thread eh?

 

[breezer]

I think you are all missing the point.

Part P seems tpo have been brought in so that new stuff is done correctly and safely. since it has to be checked afterwards.

That said i also think if some one wants to so something they will do it anyway, and when it comes to selling the house deny all knowledge of it, or if the buyer wants money knocked off o have it cetificated say, tell you what i will rip it out then you wont have to worry about it will you. Of course no one will want a new looking what ever taken out. (will they?)

 

[Stevethetiler]

I appreciate the safety aspect and agree totally.

What regs have done tho (as i cant seem to get a local spark to say, yup mate...thats what i'd have done) is make it very expensive for a DIYer to actually DIY!

Options i would be looking at (oficially) to do work of any note in my kitchen are limited to:

1) Do it myelsf - pay £250 ish for building regs officer to sign off on it.
2) Pay a spark to do it in the 1st place.
3) Do it myself and trust to luck - if something bad happens then deny all knowledge!)

As the cost to do the work oficially has now gone up , what is the DIYer to do? He cant get a spark to do anything as most wont touch it with a barge pole (appreciate protecting themselves)

So, if you ask me, alot of DIYers will weigh up the additional expense and then think....damn, thats gonna cost me a fortune....hmmm ill do it myself anyway!
I reckon the regs will dramatically increase people doing it without correct advise etc to avoid the extra cost.

What dya think?

 

[nitro23456]

I also dont think people will always be able to tell whats new and what isnt........ how would anyone know my shaver socket in my bathroom hasnt always been there since the house was built in the 90's and therefore hasnt got another certificate?

Even with the new harmonised cable colours, people aren't going to take everything apart to see are they?

We know part P is there for safety, my point is I can get it done completely safely without it.

I also think the cost implication does encourage people to 'have a go', whereas if it was more reasonably priced it would probably be done officially...hence part P is actually creating a scenario that it was designed to prevent.

 

[nitro23456]

Also, if I take all the householders I personally know who have additions done I would say atleast 75% of the work hasnt been signed off......... I would say the circles I move in are pretty typical of the country as a whole and therefore this is happening up and down the country everyday.

 

[breezer]

Even with the new harmonised cable colours, people aren't going to take everything apart to see are they?

Actually, yes.

If you are paying lots of money for a house survey then you would expect everything taken apart to see

 

[nitro23456]

Even with the new harmonised cable colours, people aren't going to take everything apart to see are they?

Actually, yes.

If you are paying lots of money for a house survey then you would expect everything taken apart to see

I disagree, I have moved homes three times in the last 7 years and non of the surveys I have paid for or the surveys carried out by the buyers of my houses (with me present) have done such a thing.

Admittedly I havent moved since HIPS, but the onus woulod be on me and my house then. That can be blagged.

 

[Click-Sure]

Give me an hour in a reasonable sized new-ish property and I'd be able to give you a reasonable idea of any electrical modifications and additions to the original system, and when they likely took place, as would any competant sparky.

 

[kevindgas]

as previously said it is part P for the simple reason that was the next letter available in the building regs Part Q is on its way and will deal with telecoms etc (electronic Communication services)

the ful list is
A. structural
B. fire safety
C. site preparation and resistance to moisture
D. toxic substances
E. resistance to the passage of sound
F. ventilation
G. hygeine
H. drainage and waste disposal
J. combustion appliances
K. protection from falling collision and impact
L. conservation of fuel and power (this is 2 part L1 and L2)
M. accessand facilities for disabled people
N. glazing - safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning
O. not used
P. Electrical safety
Q. electronic communication services

 

[bernardgreen]

If you are paying lots of money for a house survey then you would expect everything taken apart to see

Expect but not always get.

Even with a diligent inspection it is impossible to inspect every metre of cable in a property without taking up floor boards. Many faults such as in-accessible junction boxes cannot be found by resistance measurements alone.

And if the inspection is not done with due diligence. ?

 

[Stevethetiler]

Ooops ! did i open a rather large can of wriggly worms with this!