Part P | Electrical Work Covered

|| Part P, Electrical & Building Regulations

1. What is Part P?

2. Why do we need electrical regulation?

**3. What types of electrical work DOES Part P cover?**

**4. What types of electrical work does Part P NOT cover?**

5. What is the 'Competent Persons' scheme and registration?

6. Are electricians and electrical contractors required to register?

7. How will compliance with Part P be enforced?

8. What benefits is Part P aiming to provide?

9. How do my local area building control office treat Part P?

10. Can I get cheaper house insurance if work is certified to Part P?

**3. What types of electrical work DOES Part P cover?**

Part P applies to electrical installations in buildings or parts of buildings comprising:
> dwelling houses and flats;
> dwellings and business premises that have a common supply – for example shops
and public houses with a flat above;
> common access areas in blocks of flats such as corridors and staircases;
> shared amenities of blocks of flats such as laundries and gymnasiums.

Part P applies also to parts of the above electrical installations:
> in or on land associated with the buildings – for example Part P applies to
fixed lighting and pond pumps in gardens;
> in outbuildings such as sheds, detached garages and greenhouses.

Does Part P apply to ALL electrical work in the above buildings / areas?
No, minor changes and updates (other than those defined as in 'special' areas of
buildings) may be made.

The approved document for Part P from the office of the deputy prime minister (ODPM)
lists the following examples of electrical work that IS allowed without notification, and
thus is NOT applicable to Part P:

Work consisting of:
> Replacing any electrical fitting including socket-outlets, control switches and ceiling
roses.
> Replacing the cable for a single circuit only, where damaged, for example, by fire,
rodent or impact (a)
> Re-fixing or replacing the enclosures of existing installation components (b)
> Providing mechanical protection to existing fixed installations (c)

Work that is not in a kitchen or special location and does not involve a
special installation (d) and consists of:
> Adding lighting points (light fittings and switches) to an existing circuit (e)
> Adding socket-outlets and fused spurs to an existing ring or radial circuit (e)
> Installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding (f)

Work not in a special location on:
Telephone or extra-low voltage wiring and equipment for the purposes of
communications, information technology, signalling, control and similar purposes.

Notes:
(a) On condition that the replacement cable has the same current carrying capacity,
follows the same route and does not serve more than one sub-circuit through a
distribution board.
(b) If the circuit’s protective measures are unaffected.
(c) If the circuit’s protective measures and current-carrying capacity of conductors
are unaffected by increased thermal insulation.
(d) Special locations and installations are listed below.
(e) Only if the existing circuit protective device is suitable and provides protection
for the modified circuit, and other relevant safety provisions are satisfactory.
(f) Such work shall comply with other applicable legislation, such as the Gas Safety
(Installation and Use) Regulations.

Special Locations:
> Locations containing a bath tub or shower basin
> Swimming pools or paddling pools
> Hot air saunas
> Special installations:
> Electric floor or ceiling heating systems
> Garden lighting or power installations
> Solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems
> Small scale generators
> Extra-low voltage lighting, other than pre-assembled, CE-marked lighting sets

The following table (supplied by the NICEIC) provides examples of work that is
notifiable through Part P.

Examples of work	Notifiable?
	Areas not in a kitchen, garden or special location	Within a kitchen, garden or special location
A complete new installation or rewire
Consumer unit change
Installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding
Installing a new final circuit (e.g. for lighting, socket-outlets, a shower or a cooker)
Fitting and connecting an electric shower to an existing wiring point	N/A
Adding a socket-outlet to an existing final circuit
Adding a lighting point to an existing final circuit
Adding a fused connection unit to an existing final circuit
Connecting a cooker to an existing connection unit
Replacing a damaged cable for a single circuit, on a like-for-like basis
Replacing a damaged accessory, such as a socket-outlet
Replacing a lighting fitting
Providing mechanical protection to an existing fixed installation‡
Installing and fitting a storage heater, including final circuit
Fitting and final connection of storage heater to an existing adjacent wiring point
Installing extra-low†† voltage lighting (other than pre-assembled CE marked sets)
Installing a new supply to a garden shed or other outbuilding	N/A
Installing a socket-outlet or lighting point in a garden shed or other detached outbuilding	N/A
Installing a garden pond pump, including supply	N/A
Installing an electric hot air sauna	N/A
Installing a solar photovoltaic power supply
Installing electric ceiling or floor heating
Installing an electricity generator
Installing an additional socket-outlet in a motor caravan	N/A	N/A
Installing telephone or extra-low†† voltage wiring and equipment for communications, information technology, signalling, control or similar purposes
Connecting an item of equipment to an existing adjacent connection point
Replacing an immersion heater
Installing a socket-outlet or lighting point outdoors

Part P - Building Regulations __

|| Part P, Electrical & Building Regulations

3. What types of electrical work DOES Part P cover?

3. What types of electrical work DOES Part P cover?

**3. What types of electrical work DOES Part P cover?**

**3. What types of electrical work DOES Part P cover?**