Proposals to curb the rising number of electrical accidents in the home by bringing electrical safety within the scope of Building Regulations for the first time have recently been published for consultation by Health and Safety Minister:
Government crackdown on faulty home electrics
n recent years householders and their families have faced an increased risk of injury from electric shock or fires caused by faults in fixed installations or portable appliances. Many accidents are due to incompetent extension and alteration work, use of systems that do not comply with British Standards or misuse of portable appliances.
Properly designed, fitted and tested fixed installations offer protection against these dangers. This is why the Government is now consulting with the general public and the construction industry on whether national safety standards should be reinforced by redefining work on fixed electrical installations in the home as building work to bring them within the controls of Building Regulations.
Also good for business:
Health and Safety Minister Dr Alan Whitehead commented: "Each year an average of 10 people die and 756 are seriously injured in accidents involving unsafe fixed electrical installations in the home. This is far too high a price to pay and, as part of the Government's ongoing drive to improve health and safety, we are seeking to bring electrical safety under the Building Regulations safety net.
"Our aim is to protect consumers from incompetent workmanship and make our homes safer. Voluntary controls which have served us well for many decades no longer cover the substantial proportion of installation work that is undertaken privately for gain or by DIY enthusiasts. The proposed new rules would also reinforce the message from DIY manuals and consumer associations cautioning extra care when considering electrical work in the home.
"These proposals are also good news for business. They will raise standards of competence in the industry in line with our aim of creating a better-qualified workforce. New rules allowing self-certification of compliance by competent organisations will be applied. This means work by 'competent persons' will not need to be notified, making administration simpler for building controllers and installers and encouraging contractors to prove their competence. Similar provisions apply to minor works which means DIY enthusiasts will not have to seek approvals."
The plans also bring England and Wales more into line with Scotland where Building Regulations already address electrical safety issues. Another future benefit could be swifter conveyancing with electrical installation certificates more likely to be available for inclusion in sellers' packs to give prospective buyers and their legal advisors reassurance of the safety of the dwellings being offered for sale.
About the proposals:
These regulatory proposals have been developed in response to the Construction Industry Deregulation Task Force's 1995 report which recommended amongst other things that the Building Regulations should address electrical safety and that the administrative burden on builders should be rationalised. The Government responded to these recommendations by agreeing to review the case for new requirements and how they might best be practically introduced.
The current Building Regulations for England & Wales (2000) do not address the safety of fixed electrical systems in buildings. For the purposes of Building Regulations a fixed electrical system means those parts of the wiring and appliances that are fixed to the building fabric e.g. sockets, switches, fuse-boxes, immersion heaters and ceiling fittings.
The hazards posed by unsafe electrical installations and portable appliances are electric shock and injuries arising from fires in buildings ignited by electrical components overheating or arcing. Installations properly designed, fitted, tested and commissioned in accordance with BS7671 will help to minimise these risks.
Quoted accident statistics have been taken from data supplied by the DTI and the Home Office since 1990.
Reasons for increasing risk:
It is believed that risks from unsafe electrical installations have increased over recent years due to:
· Rising numbers and variety of electrical systems and appliances in buildings plus increased demands being made on them.
· Privatisation of the supply industry in 1988 leading to fewer electrical supplier interventions in consumer installations.
· Voluntary self-regulation schemes provide excellent support for existing subscribers but do not always reach the independents or small businesses that have grown rapidly in number since the recession of the early 1990s.
Electrical accident rates in houses have risen and compare with those for carbon monoxide poising, gas explosions and collisions with glass - all of which are covered by the Regulations.
British Standard 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations: the IEE Wiring Regulations is the principal British Standard that covers the safe design, installation and testing of electrical installations in building systems and it is the technical standard almost universally specified in UK contracts for electrical installation work. It would be the basis for approved technical guidance if electrical requirements were to be introduced into the Building Regulations.
Regulations are considered necessary to bolster the existing voluntary schemes because:
· Existing voluntary schemes have attracted just half of those on the VAT register
· Large numbers of jobbing electricians and the DIY market are beyond the reach of voluntary controls
· Such schemes involve advertising costs for the Government and organisers, and fees from members
The Building Regulations 2000: Proposals for amending Schedule 1 to introduce electrical safety requirements is available on the DTLR website (www.dtlr.gov.uk). Paper copies of the electrical safety consultation package can be obtained from:
DTLR Free Literature, PO Box 236, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS23 7NB; Tel: 0870 1226236; Fax: 0870 1226237; Textphone: 0870 1207405; email: dtlr@twoten.press.net. The product code is 02BR00015.
Responses are requested by 13th September 2002 and should be addressed to Andrew Brown, Zone 3/D2 at the above address or fax: 020 7944 5739 or 5719, email: andrew.brown@dtlr.gsi.gov.uk.
DLTR
Tel: 020 7944 3000
Web: www.dtlr.gov.uk
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