DIY electrics in extension?

[GaryinAshby]

Honest opinions?

Although I'm not an electrician by trade, I'm design manager for a company that produces LV and MV cable accessories & jointing systems, so while I'm fully aware of what goes off up to the CU, from there inwards I have no qualifications. I've helped a friend with three re-wires many years ago, so I'm conversant with certain "good practises" (using earth sleeve, using grommets etc, etc).

I've built a single storey extension, which requires the following:

4x lights (low energy)
2x extractor fans
1x 8.5kW shower
1x smoke alarm (mains powered)
7x double sockets

I've had a quote to do the above for £1,000 if I do the donkey-work & pull the cables under the floor of the house. As I'm rapidly running out of money, I considered doing it myself, using this site for advice.

Reading through posts on here I'm confused as to how to do the above to please the BCO. Would I have to submit a new application to them to just cover the wiring? Do you think its worth me doing it?

Any help or advice one way or the other would be appreciated.

 

[BS3036]

As I understand it, Part P is part of the building regulations and checking that you comply with it is included in the fee you pay the BCO. Part P is very specific that DIY electrics have to be checked by BCO at their own expense.

The problem is that most BCOs haven't read Part P or just don't believe it. And everything gets very wooly at this point. A lot depends on what they say if you ask them. Many will require you to provide a EIC from a qualified electrician, and this is not something that a qualified electrician will usually do if he didn't do the work.

In my case (I am building an extension at the moment) the man from building control said he would accept an EIC from me as he considered me to be a competent person under the meaning of Part P. (I have C&G 2381 which I did for fun, and also have suitable measuring equipment).

My next door neighbour did his own wiring and got an electrician in the village to produce a EIC, after following his instructions. (I know - many electricians will be shocked!)

You probably have to ask them what they will accept, but arm yourself first with the facts.

See also.. http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=140487

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I've built a single storey extension,

When you submitted your notice/full plans to your council's Building Control dept, what did you tell them you would be doing to comply with Part P?

 

[GaryinAshby]

In the construction notes I simply stated that "all electrical installation to comply to part P of building regs & conform to BS**** (can't remember exact details, plans are downstairs).

 

[RF Lighting]

I would take that statement to mean that you or your appointed electrician will be responsible for compliance with part P, and will submit certificates to prove compliance, at your expense.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Ah - well, to conform to BS 7671 they have to be certified as conforming with them - i.e. if the work isn't properly certified then ipso facto it does not comply.

711-01-01 says that the work shall be inspected and tested.
711-01-02 says that the results of the inspection and testing shall be made available.
712-xx-xx specifies the inspections that shall be done.
713-xx-xx specifies the testing that shall be done.
Chapter 74 specifies the certification and reporting that shall be done.
Appendix 6 specifies the model forms and certificates that shall be used and issued, or used as a basis for the design of forms and certificates.

So if you told them that the work you were doing would comply with BS 7671 you were telling them that you would be able to produce certificates and schedules of test results to show that it did.

So they will probably be expecting you to do what you said, and they may want to be satisfied that the person who signs the certificates is competent to do so....

 

[GaryinAshby]

Okay, I've just fetched the plans & the Electrical part of the construction Notes states:

All electrical work required to meet the Approved Document Part P and must be designed, installed and tested by a person competent to do so. Prior to completion the Council should be satisfied that Approved Document Part P has been complied with. This may require an appropriate BS7671 electrical installation certificate to be issued for the works by a person competent to do so.

Sorry for any confusion, I hope that makes it a bit easier to advise.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

It does.

You're going to have to use an electrician.