Part p and the building regulations

Building regulations are made under powers provided in the Building Act 1984, and apply in England and Wales. The current edition of the regulations is ‘The Building Regulations 2000’ (as amended) and the majority of building projects are required to comply with them. They exist to ensure the health and safety of people in and around all types of buildings. They also provide for energy conservation and for access and facilities for disabled people.

You are responsible for making sure that the work complies with the regulations if you are carrying out building work personally. 

If you are employing a builder, the responsibility will usually be theirs - but you should confirm this at the very beginning. You should also bear in mind that if you are the owner of the building, it is ultimately you who may be served with an enforcement notice if the work does not comply with the regulations.

Remember - complying with Building Regulations is a separate matter from getting planning permission for your work.

The Building Regulations contain various sections dealing with definitions, procedures, and what is expected in terms of the technical performance of building work. For example, they:

• Define what types of building, plumbing, and heating projects amount to ‘Building Work’ and make these subject to control under the Building Regulations
• Specify what types of buildings are exempt from control under the Building Regulations
• Set out the notification procedures to follow when starting, carrying out, and completing building work
• set out the ‘requirements’ with which the individual aspects of building design and construction must comply in the interests of the health and safety of building users, of energy conservation, and of access to and use of buildings

Part P does not apply in the case of all buildings. It applies to all fixed electrical installations after the suppliers’ meter in buildings or parts of buildings comprising:

• Dwellings
• Dwellings and business premises such as shops and public houses that have a common supply
• Common access areas in blocks of flats such as corridors and staircases but not lifts shared amenities in blocks of flats, such as laundries and gymnasiums.

While Approved Documentation ‘P’ applies to all electrical installation work in dwellings, it is not necessary to notify building control bodies in the following circumstances:

• The electrical installation work is to be undertaken by a ‘Competent Person’ and self certificated*
• When electrical installation work is 'Minor Work' and is not contained within the kitchen or special location and does not involve a special installation
• Competent persons registered enterprises (Competent Persons Scheme)

* Clarify this with your local Building Control before commencing work. Although Part P was designed to enforce standards and increase safety, many council offices simply do not understand the implications of the document and merely insist you are part of a competent persons scheme. This is not true but you do need to notify before you begin work on an installation. Please refer to the Part P document if you are unsure as to the implications.

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