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Planning & DesignFail to plan and plan to fail. The old adage holds true no matter the task at hand. But in the electrical world, failures due to poorly planned work can result in anything from inconvenience to loss of property to even loss of life. That is why there are strict rules and regulations governing what can be done and by whom. It is imperative that before you undertake a job of any electrical magnitude, you know what you're doing. Planning a rewire takes a little work, but follow our guidelines and all should progress well. If in any doubt, please consult a qualified electrician who can give you any advice you need and complete any jobs you are not familiar with. It is better to be safe than sorry.
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What is Part P? |
The P in Part P stands for 'Protect'. Well, it doesn't actually, but it might as well. It is part of the government's electrical safety rules that make it a legal obligation to ensure that any electrical work on fixed electrical installations in dwellings and associated buildings must comply with relevant standards. Since 2005 it has been part and parcel of the Building Regulations. The requirement is stated thus:
Reasonable provision shall be made in the design and installation of electrical installations in order to protect persons operating, maintaining or altering the installations from fire or injury. And there's much more information on the government's website if you wish to download and read it yourself.
Most electrical work carried out inside your home is covered by the requirements of Part P. Some is notifiable (requiring special attention/certification), some is not; however, all work must be designed, installed, tested inspected and certified to BS 7671 - more bedtime reading which can be purchased from the British Standards Institute. If found to be unsafe and non-compliant, governing bodies can (and likely will) take action to correct any issues. |
