Part P of the Building Regulations
Part P of the Building Regulations was published on 22nd July 2004.This will provide improved statutory support to BS 7671, the IEE Wiring Regulations, and will take the form of introducing Approved Document P of the Building Regulations concerning fixed electrical installations in dwellings in England and Wales.
As a result, this introduces a new statutory regulation and all fixed electrical installations in dwellings will become a controlled service as defined in the Building Regulations 2000. This means that, from 1st January 2005, anyone carrying out fixed electrical installation work in a dwelling must comply with Part P; also, all such work will need to be notified to the local Building Control body before work commences, unless:
1) the proposed work is to be undertaken by a Competent Person (an individual or a company authorised to self-certify compliance on completion of the work); or
2) the proposed work is of a minor nature.
Competent Person schemes are formally recognised by the Government as schemes whose members are adjudged sufficiently competent to self-certify that their work has been carried out in compliance with the Building Regulations.
Competent Persons for Part P are the firms that are responsible for carrying out the work. A firm wishing to join a Competent Person scheme is vetted to ensure it meets the respective scheme conditions including the relevant levels of competence. If it meets these conditions, it is classified as a "Competent Person" and its work is then not subject to inspection by Building Control bodies.
For further information regarding Part P of the Building Regulations go to the following websites:
www.partp.co.uk
www.odpm.gov.uk
www.eca.co.uk