Part P consultation

malc_b

In case anyone is interested there is a Part P consultation taking place. Comments in by April 27.

Part P is the rules than prevent DIYers being able to do any and all electrics as they used to be able to do. The government is looking to change or revoke it and is consulting on that.

My opinion is that Part P has probably been a bad thing. It's put the cost of DIY up to stupid levels so I suspect a lot of DIYers just ignore it. Arguable since a DIYer could kill far fewer people than an electrician then DIY could be excluded anyway as low risk. Or building regs made a more affordable cost so that DIYers wouldn't just ignore part P. If many DIYers ignore part P has it made any difference to the DIYer accident rate? Or has it just criminalise DIYers?

You still read about (Part P approved) electricians killing people due to mis-wiring so even with the new qualifications required we still have bad electricians. A lot of experienced electricians will have retired rather than pay for more training and NICEIC fees so we're probably lost a lot of good electricians.

If Part P has saved lives then it is worthwhile, but since no one collects these statistics that's unknown and you have to wonder why such statistics are not collected.

verydeeppockets

Part P isn't about saving lives, it's about providing clear accountability in the blame n claim world we've been forced into. Extra boxes to tick means extra jobs too. Bonus.

baldelectrician

The Scottish Building Standards system is a lot better than Part P

The Part P is a fiasco - only covers domestic etc

The system up here is better, but not perfect

Leif

The prices charged by electricians in our area (East hants) are outrageous, no doubt helped by the fact that people like me cannot do most electrics, so electricians can increase their prices to silly levels. That said, I know plenty of people who do electrics themselves, and it would be hard to prove they did it. Whilst I would trust the people I know, I am sure there are bodgers who ignore Part P.

baldelectrician

Leif wrote: »

The prices charged by electricians in our area (East hants) are outrageous, no doubt helped by the fact that people like me cannot do most electrics, so electricians can increase their prices to silly levels. That said, I know plenty of people who do electrics themselves, and it would be hard to prove they did it. Whilst I would trust the people I know, I am sure there are bodgers who ignore Part P.

It's quite easy to prove

All the materials (including the cable) has a time of manufacture on it

Leif

baldelectrician wrote: »

It's quite easy to prove

All the materials (including the cable) has a time of manufacture on it

I didn't know that. However, to prove a new socket was put in a ring you'd have to pull the cable out from the wall, which is not going to happen. Obviously wiring that is exposed will be visible. But who is going to check? I assume this really only matters a) if an electrical fire occurs and insurers investigate or b) at the time of sale of the property. I know a home buyers report survey will not check the dates on the wiring, so in practice isn't it unlikely that anyone would pick up non approved work, except in certain cases e.g. where it is obvious the kitchen was refitted recently in which case Part P certificates would be asked for?

Gloomendoom

A newly fitted socket or even wire won't prove anything. As far as I am aware, like for like replacements are allowed. You would have to prove that there was no socket there originally. Altogether a lot more difficult.

keystone

baldelectrician wrote: »

The Part P is a fiasco - only covers domestic etc

It only covers domestic because one of its aims (like the GSR) is to drive the cowboys out of the marketplace charging people for dangerous and inadequate installations.

Cheers

Ectophile

Part P was a well-meaning idea, badly implemented.

There are quite a number of DIY things you can do quite legally without notifying the council, provided you are competent to do the work.

You can replace things - sockets, switches, light fittings, etc. This includes damaged cables, but not whole fuse boards.

In addition, you can make minor changes to existing circuits, so long as it's not in a kitchen, bathroom, or outdoors.

Unfortunately, if you want to do anything more than that, your council will charge an extortionate rate just to come out and inspect your work.

fluffpot

As a sparky, it does make me laugh that so many DIY'ers are quite happy to have a go when it comes to electrics to save a few bob (even major work), despite not having any of the equipment to test that what they have done in their own home is safe. But when it comes to gas I suspect the majority would 'leave it to the professionals' and be happy to pay them for the work. Both can kill, y'know

Me, I'm just trying to earn a crust like everyone else

Canucklehead

fluffpot wrote: »

As a sparky, it does make me laugh that so many DIY'ers are quite happy to have a go when it comes to electrics to save a few bob (even major work), despite not having any of the equipment to test that what they have done in their own home is safe. But when it comes to gas I suspect the majority would 'leave it to the professionals' and be happy to pay them for the work. Both can kill, y'know

Me, I'm just trying to earn a crust like everyone else

Hi.

Maybe it's because you can't smell electricity.:)

GSR