For most electrical work you will need to either make a Building Regulations application or use an NICEIC-registered Part P-compliant ‘competent’ electrician who can then certify the work for you (see below).

       Building Regulations approval is required for: replacement or modification of the consumer unit/fuse box; a new circuit in any part of the house; underfloor heating in any part of the house; any modifications/additions outside of the main property (garden, detached garage, etc); and any work in kitchens or bathrooms (excl. replacement of light, socket or switch).

Building Regulations approval is required for: replacement or modification of the consumer unit/fuse box; a new circuit in any part of the house; underfloor heating in any part of the house; any modifications/additions outside of the main property (garden, detached garage, etc); and any work in kitchens or bathrooms (excl. replacement of light, socket or switch).

What can you DIY?

• The Building Regulations allow certain works (known as non-notifiable or minor work) to be carried out without notifying Building Control or using a registered electrician. Such work includes:

• replacing any electrical fitting (for example, socket outlets, light fittings, control switches)

• adding a fused spur (a socket that has a fuse and a switch that is connected to an appliance) to an existing circuit (but not in a kitchen, bathroom or outdoors)

• any repair or maintenance work

• installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding

• installing cabling at extra-low voltage for signalling, cabling or communication purposes (for example, cabling for telephones, fire alarms or burglar alarms, or heating control systems).

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WHAT WORK DOES NOT NEED CERTIFICATION?

1.2

Work that does not need to be notified to building control bodies.

Replacing old accessories, such as switches, sockets, ceiling roses

Replacing the cable for a single circuit only, where damaged, for example, by fire, rodent or impact. (On condition that the replacement cable has the same current carrying capacity, follows the same route and does not serve more than one sub-circuit through a distribution board.)

Re-fixing or replacing the enclosures of existing installation components. (If the circuit's protective measures are unaffected)

Providing mechanical protection to existing fixed installations. (the circuit's measures and current-carrying capacity of conductors are unaffected by increased thermal insulation.)

Work that is not in a kitchen or special location and does not involve a special installation (Special locations and installations are listed in table 2) and consists of:

Adding lighting points to an existing circuit (Only if the existing circuit protective device is suitable and provides protection for the modified).

Installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding (Such work shall comply with other applicable legislation, such as the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulation.)

2.2

Special Locations and Installations

Locations containing a bath tub or shower

Swimming pools or paddling pools

Hot air saunas

Electric floor or ceiling heating systems

Garden lighting or power installations

Solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply system’s

Small scale generators such as microchip units

Extra-low voltage lighting installations, other than pre-assembled, CE-marked lighting sets