Electrics - competent person - Part P

George_Bray

I just found partp.co.uk and it says:

" A 'Competent Person' is a firm that has been approved by one of the government-approved Part P schemes as sufficiently competent to self-certify that its work complies with the Building Regulations. "

Is that right? Why would the regulations say 'person' if they mean "Part P registered firm". Is it not like gas work when any competent (unqualified, but truly competent) person can do their own gas repairs on their own house? You only need to be CORGI registered to offer services to others.

Also, don't local authority building control sign off the work and issue a certifcate for about £150 whereas it might cost nearer £250 to get an independent electrician to do the same thing?

Regards
George

BarmyBubba

The Part P is all about self certifying your own work. So whilst some electricians may inspect and test your work providing you with the certificates he shouldnt really as he is accepting all liability for the work.

It does not have to be a firm. Any single person can get the stupid competence qualification by proving ability to regional inspectors.

I spent 5 years at college, have worked as a sparkie for 11 years but by law I aint competent unless I pay £700 a year to be inspected. When I move into my first house next week any electrical work I do will be illegal.

Ridiculous? Damn right it is.

JennyW_2

BarmyBubba wrote:

The Part P is all about self certifying your own work. So whilst some electricians may inspect and test your work providing you with the certificates he shouldnt really as he is accepting all liability for the work.

It does not have to be a firm. Any single person can get the stupid competence qualification by proving ability to regional inspectors.

I spent 5 years at college, have worked as a sparkie for 11 years but by law I aint competent unless I pay £700 a year to be inspected. When I move into my first house next week any electrical work I do will be illegal.

Ridiculous? Damn right it is.

I know. My husband is an electrical engineer working on nuclear submarines - he couldn't be any more qualified to work with electrics but will not spend hundreds of pounds just to get his Part-P

George_Bray

BarmyBubba wrote:

I spent 5 years at college, have worked as a sparkie for 11 years but by law I aint competent unless I pay £700 a year to be inspected.

I hope the people who voted for this wretched Government feel pleased with themselves. They are pushing up indirect costs to frightening levels, like your £700 a year or a householder having to pay £150 or £250 tax (effectively) each and every time they want to do a bit of electrical work, or fit new windows. It all mounts up and hits the lowest paid, hardest.

Regards
George

JennyW_2

BarmyBubba wrote:

When I move into my first house next week any electrical work I do will be illegal.

Ridiculous? Damn right it is.

how will you deal with these issues when you eventually sell up?

JennyW_2

George_Bray wrote:

I hope the people who voted for this wretched Government feel pleased with themselves. They are pushing up indirect costs to frightening levels, like your £700 a year or a householder having to pay £150 or £250 tax (effectively) each and every time they want to do a bit of electrical work, or fit new windows. It all mounts up and hits the lowest paid, hardest.

Regards
George

I've just paid £200 to let the council know of our intended works on our new flat. I had to think of everything possible that we want to do because I'm damned if I'm gonna send another £200 just to let them know that we want to install downlighters in 12 months time. It's bloody ridiculous.......

Our council asssessed the works we want to do and worked out how much it will cost (approx figures) and then worked out a fee based on a sliding scale. They reckon the building works would be about £2500 so have charged us £200 to make the application which includes a few periodic visits whilst the work is being done

BarmyBubba

JennyW wrote:

how will you deal with these issues when you eventually sell up?

As it happens the house has just been rewired.

I have a few things I need to do such as install some electric out to the garage. But what they dont know wont hurt them and I aint intending on moving in the near future.

Its been stressful enough and neither the seller or I are part of a chain. God knows what its like when involved in a chain.

George_Bray

JennyW wrote:

I've just paid £200 to let the council know of our intended works on our new flat. I had to think of everything possible that we want to do because I'm damned if I'm gonna send another £200 just to let them know that we want to install downlighters in 12 months time. It's bloody ridiculous.......
Our council asssessed the works we want to do and worked out how much it will cost (approx figures) and then worked out a fee based on a sliding scale. They reckon the building works would be about £2500 so have charged us £200 to make the application which includes a few periodic visits whilst the work is being done

Good idea! How far ahead can you 'predict' for intended future work though? e.g. you may be refitting the kitchen now and hoping to do the bathroom in 2 years time. But would the bathroom be outside some time limit for a 'single' project.

Also, do the Council use a typical market rate for the perceived value of the work, arriving at £2500 in your case, even if it's DIY and costs you only a fraction of that, plus their tax of £200. And do the Council issue the certficate for the £200?

Regards
George

Mr_Grumpy_7

George_Bray wrote:

I hope the people who voted for this wretched Government feel pleased with themselves. They are pushing up indirect costs to frightening levels, like your £700 a year or a householder having to pay £150 or £250 tax (effectively) each and every time they want to do a bit of electrical work, or fit new windows. It all mounts up and hits the lowest paid, hardest.

Regards
George

The sad thing is that when, or if, we have a change of government, all that happens is that we get another load of blithering idiots in charge, the only difference being the colour of their ties... and what about the back room boys who we never get the chance to vote out.

I firmly believe that any government that has been as incompetant as this one has needed all the help they could... and that's where the civil service comes in.

Ystrad_Lad

Not everything is notifiable. If you can avoid kitchens, bathrooms or outside you can get away with quite a lot.

http://www.iee.org/Publish/WireRegs/WiringMatters/Documents/Issue15/2005_15_summer_wiring_matters_part_p_notifications_to_building_control.pdf