FAQs about Part P answered by the NICEIC

1. The Requirement P - what will it be?

The electrical safety requirement in the new Part P of the Building Regulations is expected to be simply that:

"Fixed electrical installations in dwellings shall be suitably designed, installed, inspected and tested so as to provide reasonable protection against their being the source of a fire or a cause of injury to persons."

The requirement will apply only to fixed electrical installations in dwellings in England and Wales intended to operate at Low Voltage or Extra-Low Voltage. Though covered by BS 7671, the requirement will not apply to the safety of livestock.

For the purposes of the Building Regulations, a fixed electrical installation will mean those parts that are attached to, or supported from, the building fabric.

2. What guidance will be provided?

Official guidance on complying with the new legal requirement will be given in a new Approved Document P, entitled ‘Fixed electrical installations in dwellings'. The NICEIC will also be providing guidance in due course.

3. What will be the scope of Part P?

Part P will apply to all fixed installations after the supplier's meter in buildings or parts of buildings comprising:

•	dwellings
•	dwellings and business premises having a common supply (such as shops, pubs etc)
•	common access areas in blocks of flats (but not lifts)
•	shared amenities in blocks of flats (such as laundries, gymnasiums etc)

Parts of fixed electrical installations external to such premises, such as in gardens, sheds, detached garages and the like will also be subject to the requirements of Part P.

Fixed electrical installation work in all such locations will become a ‘controlled service' under the Building Regulations. The safety requirement will be applicable to alterations and additions to existing installations (including rewires), as well as to new construction.

For alterations and additions to existing installations, there will be a requirement to ensure that parts of an existing installation upon which new work depends for safety (such as the earthing and bonding arrangements) comply with the requirements of BS 7671: 2001. This requirement for consequential remedial work is a departure from the normal Building Regulations approach.

4. What is a dwelling?

The following definition of a dwelling is given in Approved Document B (Fire safety). It may be equally applicable to Part P:

‘A unit of residential accommodation occupied (whether or not as a sole or main residence):

a)	by a single person or by people living together as a family, or
b)	by not more than 6 residents living together as a single household, including a household where care is provided for residents'.

5. Will any electrical installation work in dwellings be exempt from Part P?

No. The requirement will apply to all fixed electrical installation work in dwellings, whether carried out professionally or by DIY, whether or not minor work (see below), and whether or not the work is notifiable to a building control body.

There may be certain relaxations regarding requirements for the inspection, testing and certification of minor works undertaken as DIY.

6. Will Part P cover Periodic Inspection Reporting?

No. Part P covers electrical installation work only, not the inspection and testing of existing electrical installations to determine their suitability for continued use. However, any remedial work carried out to correct deficiencies identified in a periodic inspection report will come within the scope of Part P.

7. How can compliance be achieved?

Compliance with Part P may be achieved by following the fundamental principles for safety set out in Chapter 13 of BS 7671: 2001. The normal way of satisfying the fundamental principles would be to follow the applicable regulations (rules) in the body of the British Standard.

The Approved Document will emphasise the need for electrical installation work to be inspected and tested during, and on completion of, the work to verify that it is reasonably safe, that is to say complies with BS 7671.

8. What work will need to be notified?

All proposed electrical installation work in dwellings will need to be notified to a building control body before work commences, unless:

•	the proposed work is to be undertaken by a prescribed competent person (an individual or a firm) authorized to self-certify compliance on completion of the work, or
•	the proposed work is minor, and it is not in a kitchen or in an area classified as a special installation or location.

The new NICEIC Building Regulations scheme is designed to enable businesses registered under that scheme to be deemed as competent persons.

9. What is ‘minor work'?

‘Minor work' is electrical work not involving the addition of a new circuit, such as the addition of socket-outlets or lighting points to existing circuits and the replacement of accessories.

10. What is a ‘special installation or location'?

The following are expected to be classified as special installations or locations for the purposes of Part P:

•	solar photovoltaic power supply systems
•	electric floor and heating systems
•	extra-low voltage lighting installations, other than pre-assembled sets
•	small scale generators
•	locations containing a bath tub or shower basin
•	swimming pools and fountains
•	hot air saunas
•	gardens

All electrical installation work in such areas (as well as in kitchens) will need to be notified or self-certified by a prescribed competent person, even if only ‘minor works'.

11. What form of compliance certificate will have to be given to the building control body by those self-certifying?

This had yet to be decided by ODPM. There may be a requirement to provide building control with a full copy of the certificate (including schedules of test results) required by BS 7671, ie an Electrical Installation Certificate (or for minor works in a kitchen or special location, a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate).

Alternatively, there may be a requirement to provide a separate form, simply certifying that the work complies with the relevant Building Regulations.

In either case, there will be a specific requirement in Part P to provide a copy of the appropriate BS 7671 certificate to the person ordering the work.

12. Will there be a need to certify compliance with Building Regulation requirements other than those in Part P?

Yes. Those self-certifying compliance with Part P will also have to certify compliance with other relevant parts of the Building Regulations that have been affected by the electrical work, such as Part B (fire safety), Part M (accessibility) and Part L1 (energy conservation). The NICEIC will be providing guidance to help contractors registered under the new self-certification scheme to confirm compliance with the relevant requirements of other parts of the Building Regulations.

13. When is Part P expected to come into force?

Probably not before 1 July 2004.

This article is reproduced courtesy of the NICEIC. For further information on the NICEIC click here

If you have any further questions, call the NICEIC dedicated Part P Helpline on 0800 013 0900