Government rules can appear overbearing and needless at times. It is an entirely natural reaction to ask if they are simply bloated bureaucracy rather than something truly crucial to the health and well-being of individuals concerned. This is particularly true while working on your property, such as your home. After all, why do you need permission from the government to work in your own house?
Many rules and regulations are simple to comprehend. It doesn’t take a building code specialist to understand why you should get planning approval before constructing a two-story residence with adjoining neighbours in your suburban back garden. It should also be obvious why the residence would have to meet relatively rigid construction and material strength requirements. Electricity, on the other hand, may not be as clear to some.
You may be forgiven for assuming that electrical problems solely affect you at first glance and without any electrical skill. And, though it might be comforting to know that your government cares about you, it is understandable to argue that you should be permitted to put yourself in danger if you so desire. The risk is not solely yours.
The first issue is that the dangers posed by faulty electrical work can affect anyone who enters your property. And, while the consequences of such an incident are entirely your responsibility, it is preferable to avoid such incidents in the first place. The next main issue is of electrical faults can, in some important cases, result in electrical fires, which can spread to neighbouring buildings and put a strain on emergency electrical services. Finally, there is the risk of causing damage to the electrical grid itself, albeit a bit of trouble due to several safeguarding measures.
As a result, the government imposes regulations on electrical work to ensure that everything is done to a high and safe standard, judged through certifications. Electrical certificates are signed by a qualified individual who certifies that the work performed meets all of the required standards for the electrical work performed. Electrical certification is a legal requirement in some cases (but not all). Even if the work is done by an unqualified individual (such as the homeowner), it must be certified by someone qualified.
What are the various types of Electrical Safety Certificate and Reports?
There are several types of electrical work certifications to suit various situations. If you hire a professional electrician to handle your electrical works, they will be aware of any credentials required for the job. If you decide to do the work yourself, you must understand what certifications are needed and will have to bring in an expert to inspect your work.
Certificate of Minor Electrical Work Installation
This certificate applies to minor works (as the name implies!) and verifies that the work was done correctly and that any wiring was tested following the 1IEE Wiring Regulation BS 767s. This type of testing can only be performed by electricians who are “Part P” registered.
It is a legal necessity in instances where this type of certification is required. The certificate’s issuer should always give an original copy of the certificate to the person or business that ordered the work to be done.
There are complexities to what this certification covers, of course, but as an example, if you had a fixture changed—say, a light fitting altered or an electrical outlet swapped—you would not need to tell. However, if a light fitting or electrical socket was moved and the wiring was changed. As a result, the work would need to be certified.
Notifications under Part P
Part P refers to the legislation that governs the safe installation and alteration of electrical systems. A Part P notification is regarded as “notifiable,” which means that the work must be reported to a building control agency.
Electrical work can take many forms, with some requiring no formal qualification at all. The tasks that do necessitate certification are also notifiable. Among the notifiable works are:
- The setting up of a new circuit
- Adding or modifying an existing circuit
- Replacing a fuse box
The property owner is legally responsible for showing that any electrical work performed follows Part P rules. Local governments have the authority to order property owners to remove or alter anything that does not meet this standard.
Condition Report on Electrical Installation
An electrical installation condition report, or known as EICR, is a safety assessment of a property’s electrical wiring performed regularly. This type of test is suggested to be performed on a property at least once every ten years for residential homes and once every five years for rental properties. It is also known as a “Homebuyers Test” or a “Landlord’s Safety Test.” In the case of rental properties, regardless of the time since the last test, a test must take place every time there is a change of tenancy.
The purpose of an electrical installation condition report, as you might guess, is to protect the safety of the individuals who live in the house. It is significant because many electrical flaws are invisible to the inexperienced eye, and many electrical problems are simply undetectable regardless of how well your eyes are educated. Residents of a property should, of course, be attentive for apparent symptoms of an electrical problem, such as burned sockets or burning smells emanating from electrical fixtures, but this test safeguards against the things that aren’t visible.
Certificate of Electrical Installation
An electrical installation certificate is issued to demonstrate that a new installation has been installed and complies with Part P requirements. This is often granted by the electrician who performed the installation. However, it is also possible to execute the work yourself and have a Part P qualified electrician inspect and issue the certificate after the fact in some situations.
This differs from a condition report in that it is issued for a single job rather than the entire property. An electrical installation certificate must be supported by a schedule of test results and inspections to be regarded as valid.
Request a Consultation from a professional
While unqualified people and others can do specific electrical work that can be done DIY and then certified, the official electrical safety certificate can only be done by a competent professional.
Fortunately, numerous certified specialists Electricians are available that can provide you with an estimate for an inspection, installation certification, or anything else you may require for your electrical installations. If you’re concerned about an issue, or if it’s been a long time since your property’s last electrical inspection, get a quotation from a professional immediately!
