DIY - Are You Breaking the Law?

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Summary of the Various parts of the building legislation. Examining the scope in the various parts of the building regs as used in the building industry.

The Building Regulations comprises 14 Different Parts. They are identified using letters in the alphabet, Currently Parts A to Part P. Each Part Represents a different section of construction. For example Part A represents structure, Part P represents Electro-mechanical installations.

Partially P the breakdown of content is really as below

section 0 general guidance
section 1 design, installation, inspection and testing
section 2 extensions, material alterations and material changes of usage
section 3 details about other relevant legislation
appendix A samples of electrical installation diagrams
appendix B copies of BS and model forms
appendix C older practice that can be encountered in alteration succeed
appendix D innovative harmonised cable identification colours

Each Regulation will give a guide to expected standards for its particular area of construction for instance in Part P it is stated that a person must be "competent". Part N deals with Glazing and to give an example specify s where safety Glass should be used in relation to doors.

For example during the Electrical installation holes ought to be made in joists to enable cables to pass through. This process involves changing the structure with the building which would Involve Part A with the building regulations being deemed.

Another Part affected would be prevention for the spread of fire as a result of introduction of the ditch, In this case Part B in the building regulations should end up referenced.

As shown within our Part P example above, when any building work is to be considered all area's of the building regulations should be taken into account. At the end of each the main building regulations the requirement to consult other building regulations is outlined.
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Element P - The Legislation

As per government statistics every year in Britain ten most people die and over seven-hundred and fifty are in pain through faulty electrical installations in your house. So as to address this the UK building regulations have been completely expanded to include electro-mechanical safety requirements.

Recommended initially by the Construction Industry Deregulation Job Force in 1995 'Part P' grew to be a law on January 1st 2005 and states:


  • 'Reasonable provision shall be made in the pattern, installing, check up and testing of electrical installations in order to protect persons from fire or injury. '

  • 'Sufficient information will be provided so that persons wishing to operate, maintain or alter a utility installation can do so with reasonable care. '

Part P relates to all fixed electrical installation work implemented in dwellings, with the exception:

  • repairs and maintenance work or

  • excess power points or illumination points or other modifications to existing circuits ( with the exception of in specially defined areas for example a kitchen, lavatory or outdoors



In practice

All electrical works controlled by Part P must be approved by a 'competent person', nearby authority building control unit, and also other approved private marketplace building inspector. Upon completion with the work the inspector must provide you with the relevant building control body (as well as the person ordering the work) with the Electrical Installation Certificate.

This means that electrical contractors will either ought to be approved as 'a skilled person', and also have their work, on every individual installation, passed by the local authority, and also Building Control. electricians eastbourne