Part P Notifiable Electrical Work (Part P) 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which Building Regulation part covers electrical safety in dwellings?
- Part P (Electrical safety — dwellings) (Correct answer)
- Part L (Conservation of fuel and power)
- Part J (Combustion appliances)
- Part M (Access and facilities for disabled people)
Correct answer: Part P (Electrical safety — dwellings)
Building Regulations Part P applies to electrical installations in dwellings and specifies that electrical work must be designed and installed to comply with BS 7671, and that notifiable work must be notified to Building Control.
Question 2: What is 'notifiable work' under Part P of Building Regulations?
- New circuits, consumer unit replacements, and additions/alterations in special locations (kitchens, bathrooms, outdoors) that must be notified to a Competent Person scheme or Building Control (Correct answer)
- Any electrical repair regardless of scale
- Only complete rewires
- Only work involving the main fuse
Correct answer: New circuits, consumer unit replacements, and additions/alterations in special locations (kitchens, bathrooms, outdoors) that must be notified to a Competent Person scheme or Building Control
Part P defines notifiable work as: installation of new circuits, consumer unit replacement, additions/alterations in special locations (kitchen, bathroom, outdoors, sauna, swimming pool), or work on commercial garden buildings.
Question 3: How can a registered electrician self-certify Part P notifiable work?
- By being registered with a Part P Competent Person scheme (e.g., NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA) and issuing the required Electrical Installation Certificate (Correct answer)
- By submitting plans to the local authority Building Control before starting
- By having the work inspected by a Building Inspector after completion
- By filing a self-certification form with the local council within 30 days
Correct answer: By being registered with a Part P Competent Person scheme (e.g., NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA) and issuing the required Electrical Installation Certificate
Electricians registered with an approved Competent Person scheme can self-certify their work as complying with Building Regulations, notifying the scheme which in turn notifies Building Control and registers the work.
Question 4: Which of the following is NOT notifiable work under Part P?
- Replacing a like-for-like socket outlet on an existing circuit in a living room (Correct answer)
- Installing a new circuit from the consumer unit
- Replacing a consumer unit
- Adding a socket to a kitchen circuit
Correct answer: Replacing a like-for-like socket outlet on an existing circuit in a living room
Minor works such as replacing like-for-like accessories (sockets, switches) on existing circuits in dry, non-special locations are not notifiable under Part P. New circuits, CU replacements and work in special locations are notifiable.
Question 5: What penalty can apply to a homeowner or electrician for failing to comply with Part P notification requirements?
- The local authority may require the work to be opened up for inspection, re-done at the owner's cost, and an enforcement notice may be issued; the installation may cause issues when selling the property (Correct answer)
- An immediate fine of £10,000
- Automatic disconnection of the electricity supply
- Criminal prosecution in all cases
Correct answer: The local authority may require the work to be opened up for inspection, re-done at the owner's cost, and an enforcement notice may be issued; the installation may cause issues when selling the property
Non-compliance with Part P can result in enforcement action by the local authority, requiring expensive remediation; it also creates a legal liability and conveyancing problems when the property is sold.
Question 6: What document is issued on completion of new notifiable electrical installation work?
- Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) with a schedule of inspections and schedule of test results (Correct answer)
- Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate only
- Building Regulations completion certificate only
- Gas Safe equivalent certificate for electrical work
Correct answer: Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) with a schedule of inspections and schedule of test results
An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), accompanied by a Schedule of Circuit Details/Inspections and a Schedule of Test Results, is issued on completion of new installation work, confirming compliance with BS 7671.
Part P Notifiable Electrical Work (Part P) 1
Which Building Regulation part covers electrical safety in dwellings?