... Well, not exactly.
But the Government's report on the consultation process and the Regulatory Impact Assessment includes:
- The RIA was criticised by 89% of those who gave an opinion on the document. The primary concern was the inclusion of accident figures from portable and non-portable appliances when Approved Document P is only applicable to fixed electrical installations. Table 1a in the RIA shows that
- The public respondents focussed on the cost of the small number of accidents attributable to fixed installations (approximately 24% of fatalities and 26% of non-fatal accidents) and suggested that the savings in Table 2 in the RIA should exclude portable and non-portable appliances, making a saving of only £38m rather than £104m for an average of 2.6 deaths and 447 accidents per year. Whilst commenting on savings, some respondents queried the source of the 20% saving in accidents quoted in paragraph 33 of the RIA. formatting linkif anyone doubted where support for Part P comes from:
- There were 206 letters to the ODPM supporting Part P, mostly electrical contractors and 142 letters to Members of Parliament, again from electrical contractors, requesting their support for Part P in Parliament. ...
- Views expressed on DIY work on quality and safety issues are (numerically) divided in the consultation. Those respondents who support DIY suggest that more information should be given at DIY outlets and cheaper instruments made available to improve quality and compliance of the DIY installation with good practice. The industry and safety regulators believe that the most dangerous installations are those undertaken by DIY workers and un-qualified practitioners. It is further suggested that these are the installations which would not be inspected and tested by qualified persons unless the owner asked for the inspection and tests. formatting link