Diy electrical for volutary work

[dave]

I hoping to do some volutary diy work for a local charity ( shelving to coathooks kind of thing ).

Am a bit concened about any electrical work. I'd like to offer to help these folk and want to say I can but there's a problem. The work itself is ok (trained & worked as electricain - allbeit many years ago) - but I admt I'm completely ot of touch with the regulations regarding what I may or may not do. As I say I'm ok with actually doing the tasks I expect need to be done

- replace plugs, check non-funtioning office kit, (eg kettle :-) ) and maybe some simple wiring ("extension" light/ outlet etc). Can someone pls tell me whether I can even think about doing such things for these folk?

I thought to take the PAT testing course (own expense) which I will do if needed (or help my case) for this charity - but can't afford to splash out on a PAT tester!

Any related advice appreciated. Thank you.

[Owain]

If this is not a dwelling, then you can do anything you are competent to do within the meaning of the Electricity at Work Regulations.

If by 'out of touch' you mean you haven't quite got round to green sleeving on the earth wires yet, then you'd have some updating to do :-)

The limiting factor is likely to be the charity's own health and safety policy and its insurers.

Chuck it out and buy new one.

In many cases you will not need to Test appliances less than 3 years old, just a visual inspection, and appliances older than 3 years you chuck out and buy new. You can buy a heck of a lot of kettles for the cost of a PAT machine. But remember if you are using power tools then they need to be included in the inspection and test regime too.

Owain

[dave]

Well I'm not that oot! The (elec) theory and practice is not a problem

- the *red* tape and regulations are. It's not what I can do but what I "allowed" to.

Aye - I need to ask them.

Yes, - well I wasn't intending to be that literal I guess.

It's a minefield - pity!

[Andrew Gabriel]

You'll need brown tape, nowadays... ;-)

[John]

The trouble is that once you start you end up going further than you should.............

eg. Replacing a broken switch - you find the wire has broken - you need to re-wire a switch drop and before you know where you are you are in dodgy territory. The electrical equivalent of a pingfuckit.

[nightjar]

Not really. As Owain points out, I can legally rewire an entire factory in three phase, but I can't legally fit a socket in my kitchen at home.

Colin Bignell

[John]

Point taken - but insurers might view it differently.

[dave]

But tomorrow it'll be pink! :-) I'll stockpile a load of yellow-green so it looks like I taped it up years ago!

[NT]

which edn of the regs are you upto speed on?

NT

[Steve Walker]

I know how you feel - I can specify the protection needed at the substation, local distribution panels, MCCs, local control panels, etc., I can oversee and approve the fitting of them, I can test them, but I can't select and fit a new MCB for an extra circuit in my house.

SteveW

[Man at B&Q]

Yes you can.

MBQ

[nightjar]

Not without jumping through lots of hoops and getting the work approved.

Colin Bignell

[Steve Walker]

You can't add a socket in a kitchen, but you can replace an existing one. You can add sockets to existing circuits except in kitchens.

SteveW

[geoff]

I think that you should use the word "may" there

[nightjar]

I can fit a new socket, but I would then have to bring in a 'competent person' to certify it, hence my comment.

Colin Bignell

[Frank Erskine]

On Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:20:36 +0100, "nightjar" had this to say:

Sod all that. Just carry on as you have done for the past 30 years. What you do in your own home is no business of anybody else, least of all the guvmint.

Personally I've no intention of selling my house in my lifetime, so any certification isn't any worry of mine.

[js.b1]

It starts off black & white...

- Normal maintenance is permitted even in special locations

- Adding mechanical protection is permitted

So no problem with...

- Replacing existing SWA across a garden

- Replacing socket or light fitting anywhere (age, aesthetics)

- Cable replacement (heat, chemical, mechanical)

- Backbox replacement (rust, damaged screws)

- Oval/Capping fitment during redecoration (mechanical protection)

However it gets a bit grey...

- Sinking surface socket in same position - protection, maintenance?

- Changing 2G to 1G+1G - maintenance if two 13A loads (2G limit is

19.5A)?

- Like for like - by powered (wireless/mains)?, function (switch)?, type (switch/dimmer)?, brand?, spec?

The legal reading is whether the change constitutes an added socket or light, if not then it is based on function & maintenance. The legal reality is watching the prosecution argue the toss between an MK Echo light switch, MK Dimmer light switch and MK light switch and the judge asking "so... you have not added a socket or light... the function remains the same... or I just can't tell shit from shinola?".

Supposedly Part P fees are to become "better scaled to the work" which would end the "SI2004 applies" myth (to the extent that some neighbours have been ostracised and even police called as "illegal"). Would be bloody funny watching Crimewatch discussing how it was "dreadful" someone fitted a socket in place of a SFCU having changed from a built-in fridge to a slide-in fridge - whlst another Baby P #2 headline scrolls across the screen. Yes I am being cynical, because socialism & protectionism are a disease not a treatment.

Re OP, the other issue about voluntary is w.r.t. *your* insurance. Not just whether the organisation's insurers impose any restrictions (they may not, but may go after anyone causing them to incur any costs). With any work a good rule is photo-before, photo-after - Part P1 imposes the legal requirement which is a lot more practical than what John Prescotts stakeholder bodies wrote.

[Pete Verdon]

nightjar I can fit a new socket, but I would then have to bring in a 'competent

Nope, that's one of the things you can't do. He can certify his own work, but he can't certify yours. Yours can only be officially blessed via your council's Building Control department, who seem to be able to make up their own rules about checking it, aren't supposed to charge you for whatever they make up, but probably will anyway.

Pete

[nightjar]

It is not for nothing that I have good stocks of old colour cable..

Colin Bignell

[nightjar]

"Pete Verdon" wrote in message news:h5t5cn$mgs$ [e-mail]...

Depends whether you know one who will, for a few quid in hand, claim to have done the work himself or not. However, it's not a problem until I run out of my old cable stocks.

Colin Bignell