Mick Leek said:
I have read with great interest a lot of posts regarding DIY electrics and understand that it is now illegal to tamper with any installation, with the exception of minor jobs like socket fronts and fancy switches.
The I fear you've read the wrong ones, or misunderstood what you have read, for it is not illegal.
My question is this, If this is the case, why do you sparky's still offer advice ?
I guess firstly, because it isn't illegal, and secondly because they would rather see someone do the job safely than any other consideration. I always liken it to the situation with underage sex. It may be wrong, but it's going to happen anyway, so refusing to provide eduction, advice and contraception is a Bad Idea™.
i was angered to find i wasn't allowed to install a ring for 4 plug sockets fit 2 ceiling lights and 2 switches in the new build.
You were allowed to do that, but probably by the time you found out that your LABC was telling you you couldn't it was too late to find out the truth and fight them.
surely on the first fix while most of the cabling is visible whats wrong with DIYing it yourself so long as you know what you are doing and getting the BCO guy to take a look...
Absolutely nothing, and that is the way it is supposed to work.
I think if they bring out new laws like the part P then they should employ the services of a qualified elec to check your work at a REASONABLE cost.
That is what they are supposed to do, and the cost is what you pay the fee to them for, so if it's part of more extensive building works it is supposed to be included in the cost.
I found out that i may as well just get a spark to do the full job cause he will charge the same to test as to install..
That's what most LABCs want you to do, so they make it extraordinarily difficult for you to do anything else, despite you being allowed to.
colport27 said:
A lot of poeple are in a muddle regarding Part P, and a lot will still be in a years time......
Probably, given that it's already been a year since it came into effect, and some people still don't understand it.
there is still a lot of false information flying around to confuse poeple.
Including, for example, the things that Mick was saying above.
Firstly it is not illegal for you to carry out any electrical work in your house, as long as you notify (and pay) building control prior to commencing the work (notifiable works this is).
The ring main you mentioned would be notifiable if it was a new circuit, but not notifiable if you break into an exisiting ring main (as long as it`s not broken into within the kitchen).
The lighting circuit is the same, non notifiable if extending an existing, notifiable if a new circuit.
That's all correct.
Your best bet if you want to put them on their own circuits (from my point of view) would be to carry out the work yourself after informing the LABC what you intended. They will then check the work at 1st fix stage, before ceilings etc are up, this is now where I`m confused, I thought if you paid the fee`s to the LABC, they then had to get somebody to check the work out for you???
They are supposed to. Many (most?) will not.
The most recent version of my summary.
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