"Ed Sirett" wrote in message
...
Andy Hall wrote:

On Sun, 31 Aug 2003 18:28:48 +0200, "tim"
wrote:

However, (and yes I know this record is worn out), it is this
'loophole' that will make the incident of wrong installations more
likely with the new rules as now unknowledgeable people will
install spurs for themselves because the cost of having a
'professional' do the work will be unaffordable due to the costs
of the new regs

tim
.


I rather suspect thsat unknoweldgable people won't even know that
there are any new rules so will proceed as before.

But it's been reported in the newspaper!

Tim


Yeeees!...... and......

sorry Andy I wasn't being serious.....

I think that a significant issue here is that the materials to do
electrical work have been widely available in the retail sector since
the year dot and people are used to buying it and doing what they want
to do. If you compare it with double glazing or even gas fitting,
these have never been such popular DIY tasks and materials, although
available are not *so* available.

Consider the amount of shelf space given to electrical fittings and
cables in B&Q. They also have fairly substantial plumbing sections,
which also carry some of the basic materials needed for gas fitting,
but mixed in with the rest.

Since the materials to do minor works are largely a subset of what is
used for comprehensive electrical work, it would be hard to
differentiate. It will be interesting to see whether consumer units
and the bits that fit them will disappear from DIY stores - I somehow
doubt it.

I am more and more inclined to think that this legislation is going to
fail.
Gas fitting and Window replacment are not normally considered beginner
level jobs.
Changing a light fitting is something many people will have a go at,
similary changing a bathroom pull cord switch is seen as fairly striaght
forward. I just can't see how the law will be enforced.

It will be enforced by a solictor asking "have you done any of the
following work on your electrics when you come te sell, In the same
way I'm having to do for my DG.

Of course, if I were to lie it would be much harder to find out
and if I tell the truth that I have but didn't get the work certified,
all that is needed is for me to get the BCO to certify it retrospectively.
So, as has been said before the much simpler solution is to insist on
a wiring check when you want to sell a house.

tim

The only time in practise that the matter is likely to come up against
any difficulty is during conveyancing and then only if
A) A surveyor spots something glaringly irregular - even less likely
with a simple valuation survey.
OR
B) A culture of getting everything checked (Gas, Plumbing, Electrics,
Timber, Structure...) and certified on paper becomes the norm during
conveyancing.


--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html