Part P regulations, changing pendant for rose....

singlehouseholder

Hello, a little while ago a posted on here for advice regarding changing a pendant light fitting to a rose fitting, I decide to take your advice and not bother trying to do it myself as I have no clue.
I rang my electrician/handyman- who done work on my kitchen refit, so I trust him. He reckons because of the new electrical regulations, he mentioned part p, no work can be carried out without first testing the full circuit, which will cost me £40.
So, before he's even so much as changed a bulb, I 'm looking at £40 is this right? Please say it isnt so, I really can't afford it at mo( plumbing disaster....).... All advice greatfully received.
Thanks...

star1_2

Check out the following link QUESTION 5....

You do not need part P approval (nor do you need any testing) if you are changing the items / cables / those listed in question 5. This includes a ceiling rose replacement (effectivly in your case a "like for like" replacement - one style of light fitting for another. (pendant / rose - does'nt really matter!).

Only if you were going to be changing the "switching" mode of the fitting, or doing somthing more substancial would you need to "notify", and consider "testing".

http://www.iee.org/Publish/WireRegs/BR-PartP-dwellings.cfm

Hope that helps .... (and save you the £40) - your "handy man" is trying to charge .... if you were in South London (and not far from me) - I'll do it for less. :-)

singlehouseholder

Thankyou Star1, that is very helpful indeed, I'll point this out to him when he calls, thought is sounded a bit excessive, but didnt know enough to question him.
Much obliged.

weekendwarrior

It depends on whether the light in question is in a bathroom or kitchen?

If it is, then it is notifiable!

If it is not in a kitchen or bathroom then it can be changed without notification.

singlehouseholder

Its an upstairs landing light, but handyman/electrician said its more difficult for a stair light? Hmm, will see what he offers, from whats been said the £40 circuit test thing isn't needed. Thanks, help always appreciated..

raymond

If its a metal pendant he needs to make sure the earthing is suitable, maybe thats what he means ? Old wiring did not require earthing of ceiling lights.

star1_2

singlehouseholder wrote:

Its an upstairs landing light, but handyman/electrician said its more difficult for a stair light? Hmm, will see what he offers, from whats been said the £40 circuit test thing isn't needed. Thanks, help always appreciated..

He probably means he needs to get his "taller ladders" out !! (and he's charging you £40 for the pleasure, in which he's claiming the "test" is required.

To put it simply .... he should ....

a) turn the power off at the fuse board (put a note on it - to stop others switching it on, while work is being done on the house wiring)
b) remove the cover from the pendant base (test for voltage, to remove risk of shock and death, but ensuring there is no power there)
c) make a note of where the current wires go to .... there will either be two, three or four individual "blocks" of wires that terminate together. The existing pendant light fitting will come off two of these blocks in the existing pendant base.
d) Effectivly "copy" whats in the existing pendant base, to the new ceiling rose. Taking care that all wires are intact, not damaged and safely insulated, they must neatly fit into any new fittings/connector block in the rose, or you'll need to use some more to join the cables to maintain the "blocks" of wires that were in the aformentioned Pendant base.
** It's worth noting, that some light (rose) fittings will actually cover a pendant base. This removes the need for re-connecting all the wires. And may only then require connection to the points that the pendant was attached too. (but as per below - make sure you earth the fitting - if required)
e) now for the tricky bit .... if there is no earth (Green or Green/Yellow), and the new fitting for the rose has one (or the insturctions stipulate one is required) - you need to provide one. This needs to be taken from a suitable location, that either continuity can be proven from, or a new one would need to be taken to a suitable earthing point.
f) when the above is complete, Insert blubs into the new light, Now turn the power on and hopefully you will have light .... Turn the switch on/off and make sure it has the desired effect.
g) Now run back to the fusebox (happy that things seam to work), turn everything off again - and replace all the covers on the light/rose - carefully insert screws to hold it all together.
h) go back and turn the power back on .... and then re-test as per (f).

All done ....

Sounds rather tricky, but it's not really .... it's all about being careful, saftey aware, making sure you note where all the current wires go, transposing this to the new fitting, and providing a good earth if its needed.

As others have said - Part P, puts restrictions on changing fittings in bathrooms (that fall into the wet zone - not applicable to your landing - unless there's a shower halfway down the stairs!).

Good luck, and even if you dont attempt it yourself, make sure your handy man does it correctly.

Disclaimer: For general information only, if in doubt always call in an electrician and seek professional opinion.

Sure others will take a slight differing view on how this should be done - although if the steps above are followed it will work, be safe and meet the required regulations.