Part P in Practice
 

Hi all

As I am currently jumping through the Part P hoops, thought people may be
interested in the following:

Have submitted plans for refurbishment of two extensions, back study and
side kitchen.
These are being tackled essentially as separate projects, with building work
starting in earnest today on the study.
The question of electrics has obviously reared its head.
On the conditions associated with approval of the drawings, reference was
made to ensuring compliance with Part P.
I responded to this, in writing, explaining that the job would be 2 phase
and that the study work now commencing was not notifiable according to
published information.
The acknowledgement letter stated that first fix inspection of wiring would
be required, but did not seem to differentiate between the different areas
considered.

Last week, the first visit was made by the building inspector, a young guy
with only a few years training and 1 year real experience. His
interpretation was the same as mine ie study not notifiable, kitchen
notifiable. He also believed that the electrical approval would be covered
within the price of the general building inspection fee. I have therefore
confirmed the details of our discussing in writing back to him (which
essentially states exactly what my original letter to his colleague stated).

The good bit came to light in a discussion with the young guy's boss. His
boss started by saying that it would be necessary for the final inspection
of the notifiable works to be carried out at a time when my appointed
electrician could be there to test, and their representative there to
witness.
I explained that on a D-I-Y basis, I would not have an appointed electrician
or the test gear necessary for some of the requisit tests. He accepted this
and said that, if his arm was twisted, he could get an electrician along
with test equipment to do the final testing.

So, if all this works out, I may be able to:
a) Forget the study as far as building regulations approval is concerned.
b) Get the kitchen electrics checked out and signed off within the price of
the building inspection works

As I am doing this on a DIY basis, the total value of the electrical work is
sub £1000, so, even if I have to issue a separate application to cover this,
it should only cost £68.26.
This I think is a reasonable price for testing and certification.

Phil

TheScullster wrote:

As I am doing this on a DIY basis, the total value of the electrical work is
sub £1000, so, even if I have to issue a separate application to cover this,
it should only cost £68.26.

Although it sounds like you've got away with it, you have to cost the
value of the work at a commercial level - you can't just claim diy,
therefore cost is materials only. I know this only too well, as I tried
it on last time I put in a building notice, valueing the work at 1900
GBP (the threshold being 2000 GBP for increasing fees). They rejected
it, and we agreed on about 5000 GBP (IIRC) as a more representive figure!

David

"TheScullster" wrote in message
...
Hi all

As I am currently jumping through the Part P hoops, thought people may be
interested in the following:

Have submitted plans for refurbishment of two extensions, back study and
side kitchen.
These are being tackled essentially as separate projects, with building
work starting in earnest today on the study.
The question of electrics has obviously reared its head.
On the conditions associated with approval of the drawings, reference was
made to ensuring compliance with Part P.
I responded to this, in writing, explaining that the job would be 2 phase
and that the study work now commencing was not notifiable according to
published information.
The acknowledgement letter stated that first fix inspection of wiring
would be required, but did not seem to differentiate between the different
areas considered.

Last week, the first visit was made by the building inspector, a young guy
with only a few years training and 1 year real experience. His
interpretation was the same as mine ie study not notifiable, kitchen
notifiable. He also believed that the electrical approval would be covered
within the price of the general building inspection fee. I have therefore
confirmed the details of our discussing in writing back to him (which
essentially states exactly what my original letter to his colleague
stated).

The good bit came to light in a discussion with the young guy's boss. His
boss started by saying that it would be necessary for the final inspection
of the notifiable works to be carried out at a time when my appointed
electrician could be there to test, and their representative there to
witness.
I explained that on a D-I-Y basis, I would not have an appointed
electrician or the test gear necessary for some of the requisit tests. He
accepted this and said that, if his arm was twisted, he could get an
electrician along with test equipment to do the final testing.

So, if all this works out, I may be able to:
a) Forget the study as far as building regulations approval is concerned.
b) Get the kitchen electrics checked out and signed off within the price
of the building inspection works

As I am doing this on a DIY basis, the total value of the electrical work
is sub £1000, so, even if I have to issue a separate application to cover
this, it should only cost £68.26.
This I think is a reasonable price for testing and certification.

Phil



The more I read about this the more confused I get. Am i right in saying
that if I were
to do all the electrics in an area covered by part-p i.e. kitchen. To get it
inspected it would
only cost £68.26? (obviously notification would have to be submitted etc)

Although it sounds like you've got away with it, you have to cost the
value of the work at a commercial level - you can't just claim diy,
therefore cost is materials only.

Good point, David, thanks for that.
Not entirely sure of current rates, but wouldn't expect commercial rates for
the electrical installation work only to exceed the £1000 figure,
particularly if I D-I-Y'd all the preparatory stuff.

Scope will be:

Move cooker point.
Re-locate sockets
Extractor hood
Maybe lay on separate feeds to the power circuit from CU
Heat detector

Other stuff I will do - alarms etc.


Phil

The more I read about this the more confused I get. Am i right in saying
that if I were
to do all the electrics in an area covered by part-p i.e. kitchen. To get
it
inspected it would
only cost £68.26? (obviously notification would have to be submitted etc)

That is the indication I am getting from my BCO's.
BUT, they all seem to be singing from different hymn sheets at the moment,
so before you start, get all in writing from your own LA.
You may get it done cheaply now (before they realise what's going on).
Alternatively, they may load the price not really knowing what the cost to
them is going to be!


Phil

What *could* happen if you done it yourself and didnt get the work passed
then?

In the event of a failure causing fire/loss of life, quite a lot.
I am sure the insurance legal eagles will be aware of the implications
already!

That is (from insurance company on submission of claim for fire damage): You
did this electrical work which is notifiable; you didn't notify and cannot
prove that all relevant checks/testing was carried out; we will not cover
the damage caused by you, as you did not follow appropriate procedures when
carrying out electrical work.

OR

From would-be-purchasers of your house in years to come (this is the one
being pushed by the authorities):
When was this re-work done exactly? But this visible stretch of cabling is
clearly marked with the year 2005!
I have been looking through the sale documentation and cannot find any
approval for the electrical work on this property. Then either a) I think
I'll buy next door's instead as all their paper work is in order or b) yes I
would like to buy your house, but I will have to make a lower offer to cover
testing and probable rectification works for electrics (price £3 quintillion
europundollars by then).

Do a search on Part P and I expect you will find numerous other
opinions/scenarios

Phil

"TheScullster" wrote:


From would-be-purchasers of your house in years to come (this is the one
being pushed by the authorities):
When was this re-work done exactly? But this visible stretch of cabling is
clearly marked with the year 2005!

All the more reason to buy cable futures - 2004 dated red and black
cable is rocketing in price in fact some say it might be worth more
than gold in a few years.


--

TheScullster wrote:

I have been looking through the sale documentation and cannot find any
approval for the electrical work on this property. Then either a) I think
I'll buy next door's instead as all their paper work is in order or b) yes I
would like to buy your house, but I will have to make a lower offer to cover
testing and probable rectification works for electrics (price £3 quintillion
europundollars by then).

So assuming a buyer's market, you then get a sparks in to do the testing
for 100 quid, and he provides a periodic inspection report which
confirms to the buyer that all the wiring is hunky dory, so no
rectification needed. (In a seller's market, you just tell the buyer to
bog off or pay for his own PIR to be done).

David

TheScullster wrote:
From would-be-purchasers of your house in years to come (this is the one
being pushed by the authorities):
When was this re-work done exactly? But this visible stretch of cabling is
clearly marked with the year 2005!

It was done over the winter 2004-2005. Work started before Jan 1, and
was complete by April 1, so was exempt from Part P. No, sorry, you
didn't bother keeping any receipts.

I have been looking through the sale documentation and cannot find any
approval for the electrical work on this property. Then either a) I think
I'll buy next door's instead as all their paper work is in order or b) yes I
would like to buy your house, but I will have to make a lower offer to cover
testing and probable rectification works for electrics (price £3 quintillion
europundollars by then).

So assuming a buyer's market, you then get a sparks in to do the testing
for 100 quid, and he provides a periodic inspection report which
confirms to the buyer that all the wiring is hunky dory, so no
rectification needed. (In a seller's market, you just tell the buyer
either to bog off, or pay for his own PIR to be done).

David