Electrical Work on Houses in the UK
If you live in the UK and want to have any type of electrical work done in your house or even in your garden, new rules apply. They have been in effect since January 2005. For any type of work done in your home or yard, Building Regulation approval is essential.
What does this mean for me, the homeowner who wants to have a renovation or a new service installed. Well, it means that you must have a certificate of compliance which is outlined by the Electrical Regulations or Building Regulations.
If you do not comply with the law and have the proper certifications, it could end up costing you. This is considered a violation of the law if not properly followed to the letter. If you own your home and decide to sell it, you will be asked to supply the paperwork for any work done to prove that you followed the rules. This applies if you apply for a mortgage as well.
The only electrical work that you do not have to have certification for is any work connected to a 13A plug, non-major replacements of electrical switches or sockets, and if you are replacing one cable which is not a major one. You can also add extra lighting fixtures to circuits that are already there as long as they are not in a kitchen, bathroom, or an outside area, such as a pool or sauna.
If you have the work done by a registered installer, they take care of making sure that everything is taken care of when it comes to the Building Regulations and the Council. Should you decide to go this way, you will not have to pay a fee.
However, if you hire an unregistered installer, you will have to get the Building Registration ok for the job you want done. This is not to say that you cannot choose an electrician who is not a registered installer. But he must prove to the Council’s Building Control Service that he is capable of performing the job. If the electrical work is carried out by an unregistered electrician or is a DIY installation you may be required to have the work inspected and tested by a registered electrician .
If you use an unregistered electrician, it would be best to take an insurance-backed guarantee out to protect your interest should anything go wrong. Another reason for hiring a registered electrician is to know the materials they will be using will not be in any way damaged or not up to the expectations that are required for installing.
Since all inspectors have a certain criteria that must be met, it is best to discuss the business with the help that you have hired. Make sure they only use the best materials and the safest that is available.
The regulations have been tightened for the business of installing electrical components in residential housing, one reason must be to reduce the number of deaths and accidents from faulty wiring jobs.
