To DIY or not to DIY?

Gavin77 · 19 Jul 2011

Hello
Im after a few additions to my household electrics.

New circuit to kitchen for a 10kW instant water heater.
New circuit to bathroom for a 5kW instant water heater.
New circuit to the shed (When i finish building it

)

And I currently have no rcd protection in the house, so I could probably do with a new consumer unit as well.

I know a reasonable amount about electrics and safety, but im the 1st to admit, that I don't know enough to do a CU change at the moment.

I would like to have gone down the DIY route, but Im now wondering if its really worth it. I have spoken to my LABC and their fee is £230, which includes them coming out to test. + maybe £150 of materials (excluding water heaters), so i guess £400 ish.

Assuming a PIR shows no existing faults and the cable routing is quite straightforward (No wall chasing, shed is attached to the house) what am i roughly looking at for a sparky to do this?

MalcofArabia · 19 Jul 2011

First thing I would be considering is can your existing installation and the main fuse take an extra 15kw + whatever the new shed will be.

Once you have ascertained this, I think you may be a little optimistic with that 150 pound figure for materials.

As for the LABC fees that 250 may just be the start, you will need all your work tested, and if the LABC do not feel you are competent enough to carry out your own testing and certification then you could be charged with them sending someone to do it for you.

Finally there is the testing and certification. Do you know how to do it and what's more do you know what the results will mean. Have you got calibrated meter/s that need to be used.

Finally on the CU change, if you encountered faults say for instance a borrowed neutral on a lighting circuit, have you the expertise to repair it.

My advice is why don't you get a scheme affiliated local electrician or better perhaps 2 or 3 to come over and give you estimates. The majority will give you free quotes and also free advice and you can then decide.

JohnW2 · 19 Jul 2011

MalcofArabia said:
As for the LABC fees that 250 may just be the start, you will need all your work tested, and if the LABC do not feel you are competent enough to carry out your own testing and certification then you could be charged with them sending someone to do it for you.

It seems not:

Gavin77 said:
I have spoken to my LABC and their fee is £230, which includes them coming out to test.

Kind Regards, John.

MalcofArabia · 19 Jul 2011

JohnW2 said:
MalcofArabia said:

As for the LABC fees that 250 may just be the start, you will need all your work tested, and if the LABC do not feel you are competent enough to carry out your own testing and certification then you could be charged with them sending someone to do it for you.

Click to expand...

It seems not:

Gavin77 said:

I have spoken to my LABC and their fee is £230, which includes them coming out to test.

Click to expand...

Kind Regards, John.

Very reasonable then.

holmslaw · 19 Jul 2011

MalcofArabia · 19 Jul 2011

Have to admit Holms won't be a lot of profit for the approved contractor if the LABC fees are 230 including testing.

But if that was what the OP was told then it is very reasonable.

ban-all-sheds · 19 Jul 2011

Gavin77 said:
I have spoken to my LABC and their fee is £230, which includes them coming out to test.

Hmm.

You need to get it clearly confirmed, in writing, that they will be doing all the necessary inspection and testing required for them to issue a completion certificate, because here it says you have to provide an EIC issued by a competent electrical engineer, and as they charge less for a Full Plans submission than they do a Building Notice, it seems unlikely that they will do more for it.

If you make a Full Plans submission you will have to describe how you will ensure that the electrical work will comply with P1. What will you say?

Gavin77 · 19 Jul 2011

OK thanks for your replies guys. And especially to BAS for that link. I had not seen that form. I think you are all correct and that their fee does not include test, despite them telling me differently on the phone (This wouldnt be the 1st time that my LABC have messed up

)

So a bit annoying, but they define the term 'compentent electrical engineer' as amongst other things, someone who is a member of the IEE, of which I am, so hopefully that implies that they will accept testing done by myself.

Stoday · 19 Jul 2011

Gavin77 said:
they define the term 'compentent electrical engineer' as amongst other things, someone who is a member of the IEE

According to that publication, as a member of the IEE (presumably the ITE) you may be a competent engineer, but competent person you are not.

Of course, that publication only applies to Bournmouth; other towns may have different rules. Indeed, Gavin might be competent in other towns or even completely incompetent. Just goes to show what a cock-up the implementation of part P is.

Taylortwocities · 19 Jul 2011

Stoday said:
Gavin77 said:

they define the term 'compentent electrical engineer' as amongst other things, someone who is a member of the IEE

Click to expand...

According to that publication, as a member of the IEE (presumably the ITE) you may be a competent engineer, but competent person you are not.

Indeed. When Part P was introduced there were many (and probably still are) full IEE members who found that they were no longer legally able to do electrical work in their own kitchens.

Gavin77 · 20 Jul 2011

Hmm, well the more i read about this, the more confusing it gets.

My local LABC's charges i found here
www.bournemouth.gov.uk/PlanningBuildings/BuildingControl/chargesFiles/TableC.pdf]
suggests the fee of £217 + vat, which is clearly for 'non competent persons' which includes inspection, but as people have commented here, maybe not testing, which appears confirmed on BAS's link.

So if they dont test, they may accept an EIC written out by myself as a member of the IET, if I can hire the required test equipment. So if the LABC dont test, what exactly do I get for my £230? Im guessing not a lot...

Anyway, I've decided that I should really finish off the 3 current diy projects before starting another one, so this will go on hold which will allow me to do some further research and/or pin down the LABC to find out exactly what they want.

Gavin

Gavin77 · 20 Jul 2011

Stoday said:
Gavin might be competent in other towns or even completely incompetent.

Thanks!

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To DIY or not to DIY?

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