Hi all
3 years ago some refurb works were finished at my property, with the exception of electrical re-work. Am I right in thinking that the Building Control Department should still do the inspection of the electrics for Part P under that same buiilding regs application - I intend to start work on the wiring early next year. Or is there a time limit on this stuff?TIA
Phil
My local authority has a standard get you out of jail letter.. it basically says "the stuff was done more than 12 months ago, we have no interest in the matter", so I guess there is a time limit, but it may vary.
Drop me an email Phil
Adam
On Thu, 1 Oct 2009 17:00:12 +0100, a certain chimpanzee, "TheScullster" randomly hit the keyboard and produced:
If the electrical works were (will be?) part of the work you carried out (i.e., as part of a bathroom or kitchen extension), then they are included in the original B/Regs application. If they were not a direct result of the work you did, but you included them on your original application (i.e., "internal alterations _and_ re-wire"), then they too are covered. If neither apply, then any notifiable electrical work not carried out under a Competent Person's Scheme requires a new Building Regulations application.
If this work has been carried out and already signed off by Building Control as complete, then you've missed the boat as far as getting any new work signed off by them. Either that, or they may come back to you and want the electrical work exposed. If you've not yet had a completion certificate from Building Control, you may find they will be asking you for the electrical installation certificate before they do, or asking for it all to be exposed.
Once an application has started, there's no time limit on how long it can take to complete, but the Council have up to a year from discovering a contravention to issuing a notice to put it right.
"Hugo Nebula" wrote
The situation is that the work was carried out to a point where structural changes were complete and the outstanding stuff includes re-fitting the kitchen and bringing the electrics up to compliance level. Effectively we have been living with the original electrical install and old kitchen units since the structural stuff was carried out.
My last communication with Building Control prompted this response:
Following a site inspection on the 20th March (2006) I am satisfied that the works carried out to date are acceptable. Electrical works should be made available for inspection at first fix and completion unless the work is being carried out by a contractor who is registered on the domestic installer scheme.
The above paragraph would suggest that the testing work is within their scope, so it's just the time scale that is against me. When I get started early next year, it will be around four years since the structural stuff was completed. Do you think that they are duty bound to test/inspect? Are their responsibilities for this documented anywhere?
Thanks
Phil
On Fri, 2 Oct 2009 08:51:31 +0100, a certain chimpanzee, "TheScullster" randomly hit the keyboard and produced:
It's clear from that your application covers the electrical installation. As it's started, there's no time limit for completion. However I would check that your authority will sign off the work without a BS 7671 installation certificate from the person who installed it (yourself?) or someone who inspected it. Not all authorities do.
An inspection at first fix is basically to check the blindingly obvious faults, such as cables diagonally across walls or in bell wire. Likewise, on completion, all one can see is that the sockets are on and connected to the CU. We have plug-in testers to show whether a circuit works, but beyond that, we have no way of knowing if the cables are correctly clipped, in junction boxes, or anything else below the surface.
Approved Document P gives guidance, but the caveat in the Use Of Guidance section, "there is no obligation to adopt any particular solution contained in an Approved Document", works both ways. The Building Control body don't universally accept the guidance in sections 1.24-1.27, but require a BS 7671 certificate from an installer who is a member of a recognised body (NICEIC, ECA, etc.,). This is a shorthand way of assessing whether the person is 'qualified', otherwise Building Control gets into the whole checking of certificates & references, which they _really_ don't have time to do.
What you have to understand is, Building Control surveyors _hate_ Part P, and wish the whole bloody mess would just go away! If it _must_ be within our remit, it should be made entirely self-certifying, like work on gas appliances[*].
[*]Yes, I know.
Thank you for your contributions to the group, which are always worth reading.
So is it possible to replace my boiler under a BN without involving a corgi?*
In message , snipped-for-privacy@privacy.net writes
A problem you might have is manufacturers warranty
Did it stop me from replacing my own boiler ?
of course not
Yes.
Which is in addition to, and cannot restrict, your statutory rights against the retailer.
Owain
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