Outdoor electrics

I always did. From the 60s to now, but need to get a person in I think as not being able to see the wire colours could be a little dodgy! Brian

In 2000 I wired up my outdoor 9.5 kW sauna directly to the fuse box so I am in the clear.

I got my new CU and outdoor sockets finished shortly before Part P came in. I'd had the bits for over a year, so it did push me into finishing the job.

You always could. Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools.

April 2013, but only in England.

I genuinely fitted mine on 31/12/2004.

With the 2013 revision of the part P doc. It also made a number of other sensible changes, and a general watering down of the dafter requirements.

See:

It didn't. Domestic electrical work outdoors (outbuildings, in gardens and outdoor lighting, etc.) is still in-scope of Part P - i.e. it must be safe in respect of electric shock and fire risks.

What changed in 2013 is that the range of work deemed to be notifiable was significantly reduced. Only the following are notifiable now:

- installation of a new circuit (presumably meaning either a distribution circuit (submain) or a final circuit;

- the replacement of a consumer unit (but not the installation of a new one, in a new shed, for instance...)

- any work within the zones in a bath/shower room, or in a swimming pool or sauna.

So, if I wanted to, I could wire a new consumer unit into my shed, direct from the one in the house and I wouldn't have to notify the council?

If you already have the submain to the shed, then yes. If you need to install a new circuit from the house CU then it would still be notifiable.

(having said all this, its a bit of a moot point since conversations with BCOs seem to indicate the number of applications that they get for standalone electrical jobs is typically zero!)

But you cannot add any circuits to the new CU without notification. However the Part P Police do not exist.

And nobody gives a toss. Having just moved house, Part 'P' was never mentioned, either in the sale or purchase.

Odd that... :~)

The only Part P prosecutions I know of have been for seriously dangerous work by cowboy tradesmen, who (IMHO) deserve all they get.

If you know what you're doing, your work is safe and complies with the fundamental rules in BS 7671 then you will have complied with the essential requirements of Part P.

Oh right, I thought new circuits to outside buildings weren't notifiable?

So, if I had no electric to my shed and wanted to run power to it, I'd have to take it from a spur from an existing circuit then?

But, a potential problem arises when you come to sell your house.

But you were not buying from or selling to dennis.

No "potential" problem I can foresee.

If after the solicitation of a conveyancer and a house survey, any perceived problem is with the buyer if the seller can't produce an appropriate sheet of paper or a certificate.

strange way of looking at it. Many buyers would simply walk away. That puts the problem on the vendor's lap.

A difficult purchaser might well walk away, but generally once a mind is set on a property minor things like Part P compliance is a long way down the list of importance.

Most house surveys suggest an appropriate gas and electric survey in any case.

YMMV