Building Control may wish to inspect the work in order to confirm that it complies fully with the Building Regulations. As its officers don't have the resources or expertise to inspect and certify electrical installations, the Government intends to approve competent person schemes.
The firms assessed and registered by such schemes will be able to certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations. Once Part P is implemented it will be a criminal offence if the person or firm carrying out electrical installation work contravenes the Building Regulations.
Common questions
Q. Will my firm be affected by Part P?
A. If your firm undertakes work in dwellings or anticipates doing so in the future you will almost certainly be affected.
Q. Why is Part P restricted to dwellings?
A. Other buildings benefit from the safety requirements of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. It should be noted that in addition to dwellings, Part P will apply to:
- combined dwellings and business premises such as shops with a common supply;
- common access parts in blocks of flats;
- shared amenities in flats eg laundries or gyms.
Q. What is a dwelling?
A. This can be a domestic property, block of flats or a Housing Association estate.
Q. What and who is a competent person?
A. This is a legal phrase used to describe a firm that has been independently assessed by a government-approved scheme as competent to self-certify its own work. Such a firm may be a sole trader, a partnership or a limited company.
Q. Is all electrical work in dwellings covered by Part P?
A. All electrical installation work must comply with Part P, but minor works do not need to be notified to Building Control unless they are in high-risk areas such as bathrooms.
Q. How does my firm comply with Part P?
A. Your firm will meet the requirements of Part P if the electrical installation work it carries out complies with the requirements of BS 7671.
Once Part P is implemented it will be a criminal offence if the firm carrying out electrical work contravenes the Building Regulations
Q. Does BS 7671 suffice for complying with the Building Regulations?
A. No. You must bear in mind that the non-electrical builder's work that you carry out in connection with the electrical installation should also comply with the applicable requirements of the Building Regulations.
Q. How will Part P be enforced?
A. Local authorities have the responsibility for enforcing the Building Regulations. Solicitors responsible for conveyancing property will seek the appropriate documentation certifying that any electrical work carried out does comply with the Building Regulations. Once the Home Information Pack is introduced this should reinforce the need for the appropriate documentation and the effectiveness of enforcement.
Q. Have any competent person schemes been approved?
A. Not yet. The Government has received a number of applications but has yet to approve any. An announcement is expected imminently.
Q. Has the ECA applied to run a competent person scheme?
A. The ECA, working in partnership with BRE Certification and the IEE has applied to run a UKAS-accredited scheme using its own technical expertise.
Q. Will there be sufficient capacity in the industry to assess all the firms that want to become competent persons prior to the implementation of Part P?
A. Exact, reliable figures exist about the number of firms that are likely to want to become competent persons; numbers in excess of 100 000 firms have been cited. Moreover, we do not know how many competent person schemes are going to be approved.
It is anticipated that as the implementation date approaches there will be a rush of firms seeking assessment and there could well be delays. Firms leaving their applications until late may find that they have not achieved competent person status in time for Part P.
Q. When will Part P come into force?
A. The formal date has yet to be announced but it is anticipated that Part P will be launched in January 2005.
Q. How much will certification as a competent person cost my firm?
A. Fees will no doubt be published once the successful competent scheme providers have been announced. Firms will be charged for an initial assessment to confirm their competence, thereafter they will be subject to shorter, annual surveillance visits to ensure their work complies with the Building Regulations.
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
Postscript
Once the formal Part P announcement is made the ECA will also launch, with BRE Certification and the IEE, a separate information site at www.partp.co.uk.
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