electrical checking

lex20000

i have just built an extension on my house and installed all the electrics myself. the building inspector told me i need to get a certificate before he can pass my extension off. i rang a company today to ask for a check, they told me that they could not test somebody elses work. the only way round this is by having the whole house checked. is this right? does anybody know what i can do to get this certificate

baldelectrician

the answer is yes and no.

to certify a job (by means of a periodic inspection), the existing electrical system in the house must meet minimum standards.

There must be adequate bonding of gas (and water if needed- if all pipes in he house are plastic then water bonding will not be required)

You need RCD protection for socket outlets liable to supply equipment outdoors; this applie to your extension- but if you have altered any of the existing downstairs sockets these will require RCD protection.

This link applies to Scotland, and is from a local council
http://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/na/BuildingStandards.nsf/index/E441C90598DB890500257227005420B2?OpenDocument&MenuType=Environment-Land%20and%20premises-Buildings&DocDisplay=NoDoc&DFBC=Building%20regulations&CatLevel=3||

If you live in Scotland then you will need a SELECT or NICIEC company; or a company / person that meets these standards to provide certification (AT YOUR COST -if in Scotland)

Ellidee

We have had this problem. Our extension was finished twelve months ago and the builder did the electrics himself. He got a firm to come in , when all work finished , who issued Periodic certificate. This not acceptable to Building Inspector and it has been a nightmare trying to get someone to come and do full Test and Installation check and issue certificate. We still havent had our extension 'signed off '. Any advice please ?

The_Mare

I work for an electrical contractor who unfortunately would tell you the same - sorry

Phil_rich

Did you not agree with the builder that all of the electrics would be signed off and a certificate issued once he had finished the work? If he did it himself does he need to be part-p?

When we had an extension done the builder got his own sub-contracted electrician in and he issued us and the building inspector with everything we needed.

Phil

ban-all-sheds

If you did the electrics yourself you should have told the council that when you submitted the plans to Building Control, as then it would have been their responsibility to check that the work complied with Part P, and any testing or inspection that they wanted would have had to have been done by them, or organised by them, and all at their expense as it would all have been included in the fee you paid them that was based on the overall value of the work.

But as you clearly didn't tell them that you could well be in trouble. You'll be able to get a PIR for the whole installation done by any electrician, but if the council won't accept that, and want an EIC for the new installation work, then I'm afraid you're stuffed.

Why, when you decided to build an extension, did you not take the trouble to find out what laws applied to what you were doing?

lex20000

hi, thanks for all the replys. when i asked the building control man about the electrics, he said i could do it myself as long as i get someone to certify them. i had to do it myself because i could not afford the cost of a contractor. if the building control man said to me i would have problems then i would of had to save and get someone in.

ban-all-sheds

Building Control man misled you - that's not how it is supposed to work.

lex20000

Ellidee wrote: »

We have had this problem. Our extension was finished twelve months ago and the builder did the electrics himself. He got a firm to come in , when all work finished , who issued Periodic certificate. This not acceptable to Building Inspector and it has been a nightmare trying to get someone to come and do full Test and Installation check and issue certificate. We still havent had our extension 'signed off '. Any advice please ?

hi just to update you on my problem, i spoke to building control today. he said if i ring them and ask to have my extension tested via building control, then you can get it checked via one of there approved electricians which will comply to part p. hope this helps

mercurystar999

It still amazes me the lack of public knowledge about part p.