Since January 2005, domestic electrical installations have been included within the scope of the Building Regulations. All new domestic electrical installations, together with specific alterations and additions to current installations, will have to be inspected and comply with strict electrical safety performance standards. The standards cover the design, installation, inspection and testing of domestic electrical work and the provision of information.

The main reason for the change is the need to reduce the hazards posed by unsafe domestic electrical installations and thereby help to reduce injuries from electrical shocks and burns. It is also hoped to reduce injuries arising from fires in dwellings due to electrical components overheating or arcing.

When the time comes to sell your property, your purchaser’s surveyors will ask for evidence that notifiable domestic electrical work, installed after January 2005 complies with the new Building Regulations. There are two ways to prove compliance:

  • A certificate showing that the work has been done by a competent installer who is registered under one of six Electrical Self-Certification schemes as outlined below (this is the preferred route) or
  • A completion certificate from the local authority saying that the installation has approval under the Building Regulations. This however, is dependent on the owner who has ordered the providing relevant electrical test certificates on completion of the installation, from a competent person and on the electrics being inspected by a competent person during installation.

Periodic inspection reports are no longer considered sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the requirements as the routing of the wiring, connections etc. have not been seen by the person carrying out the test.

Electrical self-certification schemes

It is estimated that several million domestic electrical installations are made every year. If all of them went through the normal Building Regulations application process it would place an enormous burden on local authorities. It is essential to have a way to ensure that the work is done properly without an unreasonable increase in the administrative and financial burden on installers and property owners.

The answer is a self-certification scheme for domestic electrical installations, which allows installation companies, which meet certain criteria, to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations.

There are six electrical self-certification schemes to choose from.

Most schemes are intended for those whose main business is electrical contracting and who wish to be able to self-certify electrical work in dwellings.

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BRE Certification Limited
Bucknalls Lane, Garston, Watford, Hertfordshire WD25 9XX
Tel 01923 664100
Email enquiries@brecertification.co.uk
Web  www.brecertification.co.uk

This scheme is operated with the support of the Electrical Contractors Association and the institution of Electrical Engineers.  

For more information on this scheme see www.partp.co.uk

British Standards Institution
BSI Product Services,
Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4SQ
Tel 01442 278 607
Email product.services@bsi-global.com
Web www.bsi-global.com

This scheme will be known as the Kitemark Scheme for electrical installation work.

For more information on this scheme see www.kitemarktoday.com

ELECSA Limited
44-48 Borough High Street, London SE1 1XB
Tel 0870 749 0080
Email enquiries@elecsa.org.uk
Web www.elecsa.org.uk

This scheme will be operated with the support of the British Board of Agrément.

NICEIC Certification Limited
Warwick House, Houghton Hall Park, Houghton Regis, Dunstable,
Bedfordshire LU5 5ZX
Tel 0800 013 0900
Email enquiries@dis.niceic.org.uk
Web www.niceic.org.uk

This scheme, which will be known as the Domestic Installer Scheme, is designed for those who wish to be able to self-certify all types of electrical work in dwellings either as an electrical contractor or as part of an ancillary trade activity.

NIC Certification Limited
The Zurich Centre, 3000 Parkway, Whiteley, Fareham, Hampshire
PO15 7JZ
Tel 08000 966 233
Web www.zurich.co.uk

NAPIT
4th Floor, Mill 3, Pleasley Business Park, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
NG19 8RL
Tel 0870 444 1392
Fax: 0870 444 1427
Email info@napit.org.uk
Web www.napit.org.uk

NAPIT is the national association of professional inspectors and testers.

The local authority system

Any notifiable domestic electrical installation carried out by a firm, which is not registered to self-certify as outlined above, or done as a DIY project by a householder, will need full local authority approval (Full Plan or Building Notice) under the Building Regulations. Local authorities will be aware of all the approved self-certified installers in their areas and will be able to identify unauthorised work very easily. One should note that the house owner is ultimately responsible for ensuring the work complies with the Building Regulations.

Generally, the Building Regulations covering domestic electrical installations will apply to all electrical work:

  1. within dwellings.
  2. within the grounds of dwellings or buildings sharing their supply with dwellings.  This would include a pond pump and garden lighting systems.
  3. within other buildings or premises sharing their supply with dwellings.  This includes sheds, garages, outbuildings etc.; linked shops etc.,
  4. within the common and shared areas of flats.

However, you do not need to notify the local authority in the case of:

1. Work consisting of -

(a) replacing any socket-outlet, control switch or ceiling rose;

(b) replacing a damaged cable for a single circuit only;

(c) re-fixing or replacing enclosures of existing installation components, where the circuit protective measures are unaffected;

(d) providing mechanical protection to an existing fixed installation, where the circuit protective measures and current carrying capacity of conductors are unaffected by the increased thermal insulation.

or for,

2. Work which -

(a) is not in a kitchen, or a special location,

(b) does not involve work on a special installation, and

(c) consists of -

(i) adding light fittings and switches to an existing circuit;

(ii) adding socket outlets and fused spurs to an existing ring or radial circuit; or

(iii) installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding.

Essential information

Before you sign a contract for notifiable domestic electrical installation work, be sure to ask whether the installer is able to self-certify under one of the five schemes as listed above.

If not, either they, or you, will need to make an application to your local authority for approval under the Building Regulations and pay any relevant charges.

The local authority will ask for a relevant electrical installation certificate, signed by a competent person in accordance with Approved Document P, before they are able to complete a satisfactory final inspection of the work.

For electrical certification to be acceptable by the local authority, it must state clearly:

  • The address of the installation,
  • The extent of the installation,
  • The name and address of the installer,
  • The scheme they are registered with to self-certify,
  • The installers registration number and
  • The certificate number.

This guidance is based on that provided by the London District Surveyors Association.

Further information is available from your local Building Control Offices together with application forms (Full Plan or Building Notice) and current scale of charges.

There is also information on the Department of Communities and Local Government web site: www.communities.gov.uk

This information was last reviewed by Building Control in August 2007.

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Building Control
Environment and Regeneration
Waltham Forest Council
Sycamore House
Forest Road
London E17 4JF
Tel 020 8496 3000
Email building.control@walthamforest.gov.uk

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