Information
Electrical Safety Laws in England and Wales
If you are
planning to extend or alter the electrical installation in your home, such
as providing extra sockets in the kitchen, or adding new ceiling lights,
don't attempt it yourself. Ensure you employ a competent electrical
contractor.
The Government introduced a new law in January 2005, which demands that most
electrical work in UK households is only carried out by a ‘competent'
person. Up to now, the electrical industry has maintained relatively high
safety standards aided by only
voluntary controls. But with an increasing use and variety of electrical
equipment and appliances in our homes, it is not surprising that we are
exposed to an increased risk of electric shock and fires caused by faulty
electrical installations.
In fact, each year there are around 21 fatal and 2,788 non-fatal electric shock accidents in the home, plus 7909 fires caused by electrical faults, resulting in 15 deaths and 1100 injuries. With over 30 deaths and nearly 4000 injuries a year it is not difficult to see why an electrical safety law needs to be enforced.
What is the
electrical safety law?
Electrical safety requirements have been included in a new Part P of the
Building Regulations. The Building Regulations deal with the health and
safety of people in and around buildings by providing functional
requirements for building design and construction.
The law states
that anyone carrying out fixed electrical installations in households in
England and Wales must ensure that electrical installations are:
- Designed and installed to afford appropriate protection against mechanical
and thermal damage, and so that they do not present electric shock and fire
hazards to people
- Suitably inspected and tested to verify that they meet the relevant
equipment and installation standards
What is a
fixed electrical installation?
Many improvements carried out in the home include some form of fixed
electrical installation. For example, a new kitchen may require your
electrician to install additional sockets, extra lighting and appliances. A
fixed installation is the wiring and appliances that are fixed to the
building, such as sockets, switches, consumer units (fuse boxes) and ceiling
fittings.
Who is
responsible for ensuring that the electrical work carried out meets the
requirements of Part P?
It is a legal requirement for homeowners and landlords to prove that all
electrical installation work complies . Failure to comply with the
requirement is a criminal offence. Local authorities also have the power to
require the removal or alteration of work that does not comply with the
Building Regulations.
(Please note that we cannot be responsible for information on external
sites)
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NACOSS |
| The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) is an independent, not-for-profit approvals body providing inspection services for the security and fire industries |
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NICEIC |
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NICEIC acts as the electrical contracting industry’s independent voluntary regulatory body for electrical installation safety matters throughout the UK |
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CORGI | |
| CORGI is the national watchdog for gas safety in the United Kingdom. | ||
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Constructionline | |
| Constructionline is the UK's register of pre-qualified local and national construction and construction-related contractors and consultants. Owned and endorsed by the DTI | ||
