For information: DIY electrics sign-off

Sep 09, 2024 Last reply: 1 year ago 4 Replies

Finally got round to setting up NNTP after the Google demise.



My experiences doing a large (rewire of house plus detached outbuildings) electrical job might be of interest.



I’ve had a long-standing rewiring project - I sent a an application to Buildings Control, who told me it would be 250+VAT. When I filed the application, they told me to talk to their contracted electrician. I sent him an email telling him my plans and he responded with “take lots of photos”, and a couple of points of advice. He also told me I’d need to TT the detached annexe because it had a water supply.



Mid-way through when lots of floors were up, I told him it was a good time to come take a look, and he dropped by for an hour or so.



At the end, I produced an EIC plus a detailed report of what I’d done (as much for my own future use as for his), noting that I had not TT-ed the annexe (I thought it made no sense - it was less than two meters from the main house, so it would in principle be possible to touch copper pipes (say) which were deliberately at different potentials. I felt it better to export the main earth instead.He accepted that.



He tested everything, but not to the same level as an EIC (which made my life much nicer, as I didn’t have to disconnect all the LED lights and smokes). He found nothing to complain about, told me I’d done a good job.



I then chased buildings control a few months later asking where my completion cert was, and they told me they’d heard nothing from the electrician - but



24 hours later they got back to me with the certificate.

Thanks, BTW to people who gave advice during the project, particularly ARW.



As a graduate electrical engineer, the BCO was happy to take my word that it (my work) was all to spec.

As far as wiring goes, I happen to think the regulations are entirely sane and would never wish to deviate from them. Except in the positioning of outlets. The height they now are makes trailing wires a trip hazard for the elderly.

And also stops access to sockets behind furniture, that could have been accessed under it with lower sockets (computer desks with all their plugs, beds & drawer units with legs and their lamps or alarm clocks).

... snipped That's interesting. With similar qualifications, I've met quite a few peers who were good designers but who would not know which end of a soldering iron to hold ... so I'm surprised that the BCO was influenced by an academic qualification. How did the conversation go?

I cant recall a 22 year old conversation. I think he said 'I suppose you will be self certifying your own work and I said 'yes'...

I had already wired up most of the house by then - not the first fix, but all the final fix. Including coax for radio and TV and CAT5 for networking and phones

We got on well. A few disagreements were resolved by reference to the building regulations book. I never cut any corners.

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