Electrics in Extension

richyje

Hi,

I wonder if you can clear something up for me.

I have taken a year off work and have built a double storey side and a single rear extension. I have had an electrician in (who I have been helping - to keep costs down). We ran the circuits together, but I have done all the chasing, cutting out boxes etc. I have also fitted alot of the faceplates.

I have been doing electrics for many years and am au fait with everything I have done upto now. Anything I am unsure of I would ask before doing it - so no sorry mistakes here.

I am now upto the stage where I need to swap out the fuse box (as I now have quite a few more circuits). I am happy to do this myself - and before you say anything - I have no intention of blowing myself up.

In regards to building control, to sign off the build what do they require in regards to ascertain that the electrics are upto scratch ? Would a Landlords Certificate be sufficient ? or is it something else ?

Thanks,

Richard

diable

You have a house and you ask if a LL's cert is enough are you the occupier or the LL?

KillerWatt

As it's the sparky's signature on the cert, it's odds on he'll be wanting to fit the CU himself.
All the donkey work that doesn't matter can be given to a £90 a day labourer.

richyje

I am the owner of the house.

I am trying to find out what is legal and what is not. If I installed the CU and done a fantastic job of doing it. I am guessing he may or may not want to certify it. If he didnt want to certify it, I dont think I would have a problem getting an electrician to to give me a cert. However, he does certs all the time on CU's that he hasnt installed himself.

How many different types of certs do electricians provide ? is a Landlord cert the only one ? Is there one for a completely new builds ?

I think I will ask him how much he wants to install the fuse box and finish things off... Ill then make a decision then...

I know I sound tight, but I have spent around 75k of this house and I am trying to minimise whats left.

Richard

diable

You selling on or living there yourself or renting out?

richyje

living here myself, maybe sell in 2 years.... not renting it out...

diable

don't worry about it until its time to sell.....

richyje

Thanks, but surely the building inspector will require a cert to sign off the house ? or maybe he wont ?

waynehayes

The LABC will require some sort of proof that you have complied with Part P of the building regs. You can do that by either notifying them yourself and paying the fee. Or, you can pay a spark who is registered with a scheme to carry out the work and notify for you.
Either way, you'll need an Electrical Installation Certificate, with a full set of test and inspection results - you'll need a set if test instruments too.
Electricians shouldn't certify work they haven't done themselves, whether the job looks good or not.

designtent

Part P is a must for the works to comply with British Building Standards / Regulations - have a qualified electrical certify the installation then notify your local authority building inspector, your Building Control application should have started this as a minimum.

fluffpot

What happened to your original electrician? Can he not do the board for you and then he has no problem issuing the cert?

If you do do it yourself, how are you going to ascertain the safety of the circuits you are reconnecting? Do you have a calibrated set of test instruments and the knowledge of how to use them?