Basic Information

[IAN999]

Hi,

I'm looking to re-wire my house or get my builder to do it. However I need to find out the basics first. My builder has done rewires before, however he does not know the UK regulations surrounding this area. I was wondering if anyone could answer the following for me:

Min hight sockets need to be above floor level
Max hight light switches can be from floor level
what type of fuse needs to be on the consumer unit for downstair socket ring, downstairs lights ring, upstairs socket ring, upstairs light ring.
What type of fuse is needed for the oven, bathroom shaver socket, bathroom extractor fan
Also, the min width the cables need to be

Alternativly, if anyone can recommend a book I could go through that answers the above I would appreciate it

Thanks in advance

 

[lazygit]

Alternativly, if anyone can recommend a book I could go through that answers the above I would appreciate it

The electricians guide to the building regulations will have answers to all those questions

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Electricians-Building-Regulations-Electrical-Dwellings/dp/086341463X

regards

 

[mattylad]

AFAIK if its being done by a tradesman & not DIY then he needs to be qualified & should know this.

You would be better off getting an approved electrician in rather than a builder IMO.

 

[pompeygit]

Your re-wire won't be worth a bolt without test certificates.......

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Or without a Building Regulations completion certificate...

 

[pompeygit]

Seriously Ian if your Sparky doesn't know how to do cable sizing then I would suggest he has no knowledge on testing. It certainly sounds he has no knowledge of The Building Regs. Therefore it seems logical that no certificates are going to be issued.

When you sell your house under the new HIPS system local authority searches are carried out and this will highlight any compliance certificates issued against your property. If none are available the probability (very high) is that the mortgage lender will ask for an electrical inspection. Any Spark on this forum will tell you the sheer delight they have when called in to do a Periodic Inspection Report on an amateurs work. They will rip it to bits, coding all faults according to severity.

The net result could be the property may need substantial remedial work that will ruin all the decor.

My advice to you is to buy the book recommended to you and read it well. Then go visit your Building Control Office with your story. They may be willing to allow your 'spark' to do the job if you make a formal application for the work. They will charge you a fee and will come and inspect the work at agreed stages.......You need to check with them if they will also do the Inspect and Test part of the work......which they should do. However, we have seen on this forum that some Councils are not up to the job. In order to get your final certificate you or the council will need to fill in an EIC.

Now it sounds to me that your 'spark' hardly knows his '*rse from his elbow'. Why would you make such a massive investment in your house that is in all probability going to cause you loads of trouble. Why don't you phone around and find a registered spark who is a 1 man band. Offer to labour for him (chasing out, pulling cables, lifting floorboards etc ).

Either hire him on day rate or get a price to include you helping. All in all it will probably work out not a lot diff to using the guy who doesn't know his cable sizes. It will also possibly save you the Council fee and having to fill in any forms if he is registered with a competency scheme (Napit, Elecsa, Niceic to name a few)

 

[industryspark]

to be brutally honest i cant see as you will be able to safelly do this job as you seem to lack the knowledge (thats not to have a dig at you, just my opinion from your post)

you need an approved sparks who will issue test certs at completion. ive also seen some builders attempts at electrics which were laughable so dont be tempted to let him have a go imo.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

If he's a competent electrician but experienced in another country's system he shouldn't need to ask basic things like cable sizes and breaker ratings for appliances, as these are all ye-cannae-change-the-laws-of-physics stuff - the only thing that I'd expect him to not know already is ring finals.

And if he's working here as a builder them he really ought to be familiar with the Building Regulations, and accessory heights come under Part M, not Part P.