Part P inspections: anything you still can't do?

[ChrisKingston]

Hi,

I'm about to cough up 288 quid to the council to do my own electrics reconverting a flat. I'm just thinking though: if I go down this route, is there still anything I am not allowed to do, even if I have it inspected? It will involve new circuits, perhaps moving circuit board as well as bathrooms and kitchen work. If I'm going to shell out that much just for an inspection, I want to be sure I can do it all.

Chris

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

When you make your application detail all the work you intend to carry out, so you are not having to re-apply and therefor be charged again.
As far as Part P it will only cover the electrical work being done.
Be careful though some councils no longer include the testing of the installation as part of the apllication and may expect a third party to do this, if you can not do the testing.

 

[stuartturbo]

I am going through a similar thing
I found that a local sparky will test and sign off rather than the councils electricians.
And i would rather pay a local sparky than pay the council whom then pay a sparky after taking their cut

 

[ajrobb]

I did some electrical work involving consumer unit and kitchen wiring. I paid the fee to LABC and they appointed a local electrician for first fit inspection and PIR on finished work. My understanding is that only LABC can sign off the work if not done by a member of a Competent Persons' scheme.

 

[ajrobb]

I am not an electrician. The IEE On-site Guide BS 7671:2008 is a useful and practical book for IEE Wiring Regulations 17th Edition. The IEE Wiring Regulations are not statutory and you probably only HAVE to comply with Part P see "Approved Document P: Electrical safety - dwellings (2006 edition)".

Most good electricians probably work to 17th Edition and it should improve the safety of the installation. I view Part P as the minimum needed to avoid prosecution and 17th Edition as standard practice with a mind to cost. I suspect that 'best practice' is something else.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Regardless of who installs/inspects/tests the installation the work will be approved/certified by building controls at some stage. Even if the work done is by an electrician that is a member of a domestic installers scheme(Competent Person).
The scheme providers send the details/documents off to building controls.
It is much cheaper to have the installation signed off by an electrician that can can self cert. But most electrician will not simply sign off an installation they have not seen at first fix.
If you were going down the road of having an electrician signing the work off at the time of commisioning/energizing the system, therefor not having to apply/notify BCs, the electrictrician should be a scheme member and have seen the installation at first fix.
So if this is an option, I would contact one now and get them on-board before you start.
If you are DIYing the installation, the books/publications, I would recommend would be
On Site Guide
Electricians-Guide-Building-Regulations
Practical-Inspection-Certification-Electrical-Installations
GN3
That should keep you going.
The best practice is to follow the requirements of BS7671:2008 (17th edition of wiring regs) this will ensure that the work done does then comply to Part P of the building regs.
Cost is not the issue, safety is!