Government gives green light to Part P

The Government has announced that from 1 January 2005 anyone carrying out electrical installation work in domestic premises must comply with a new Part P of the Building Regulations.
Electrical contractors will have the choice to become registered under a “competent person” scheme so that they can issue Building Regulations certificates of compliance, or otherwise notify local authority building control before any work commences, with the chance of an inspection as work progresses. Firms will need to balance the cost of becoming registered as a competent person against the costs associated with building control.
The Government’s Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has approved five competent persons assessment schemes. These are run by: BRE Certification (in association with the ECA and the IEE); British Standards Institution; ELECSA; NICEIC Certification Services and Zurich Certification.
The ODPM says: “These schemes are aimed at those carrying out electrical installation work as the primary activity of their business. The Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC) are continuing to consider a number of applications for schemes aimed at those who carry out installation work only as an adjunct to or in connection with the primary activity of their business.” These include applications from CORGI Services and OFTEC. BRAC hopes to be able to make recommendations for approval on these shortly.
Welcoming the government’s announcement, ECA director David Pollock said: “The implementation of Part P will protect consumers from incompetent electrical installers. This is the culmination of a long and energetic lobby on the part of the Association and other industry organisations. We are also delighted to hear that the application by BRE Certification to run a Part P competent person scheme has been successful.”
The ECA/IEE/BRE Certification scheme is based on the Electrotechnical Assessment Scheme and will cost £540 plus vat.
“The challenge now will be to process the many thousands of electrical firms who, it is anticipated, will want to become approved as competent persons in time for implementation of Part P at the start of 2005,” said Pollock, who warned electrical contractors to apply for competent person status sooner rather than later.
The Government will be laying amendments to the Building Regulations before Parliament on 22 July. On the same day, the ODPM will publish an Approved Document giving guidance on the requirements of Part P, as well as the final regulatory impact assessment.
David Cowburn, director of Zurich Certification commented: “We are delighted to be recognised as a scheme operator. By giving the industry multiple routes to compliance with the new regulations, the government has demonstrated its willingness to give electrical installers the choice and flexibility they have been crying out for.”
The NICEIC believes that to comply with Part P by January 2005, domestic electrical installers need to understand how to certify an electrical installation in accordance with BS 7671. Phil Buckle, the NICEIC’s business development director said: “Many operatives carrying out electrical work in the domestic sector are technically competent and capable of complying with Part P. However, problems relating to inspection, testing and certification have been identified.”
The government expects that the introduction of Part P should result in a significant reduction in the number of deaths, injuries and fires caused by defective electrical installations. Each year on average 10 people die and about 750 are seriously injured in accidents involving unsafe electrical installations in the home.