Part P Building Regulations Part P 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Part P, which of the following minor works can a non-registered person carry out without notification to Building Control?
- Installing a new circuit for an electric shower
- Adding a fused spur to an existing ring circuit in a living room (Correct answer)
- Replacing a consumer unit
- Installing a new outdoor lighting circuit
Correct answer: Adding a fused spur to an existing ring circuit in a living room
Adding a fused spur to an existing circuit outside of special locations (bathrooms, kitchens, outdoors) is classified as non-notifiable minor works under Part P. The work must still comply with BS 7671, but it does not need to be notified to Building Control or carried out by a registered competent person.
Question 2: Part P applies to electrical installations in which type of building?
- Commercial premises only
- Dwellings and their associated gardens, outbuildings and shared amenities (Correct answer)
- All buildings in England and Wales
- Only new-build properties
Correct answer: Dwellings and their associated gardens, outbuildings and shared amenities
Part P of the Building Regulations applies specifically to dwellings (houses, flats, maisonettes) and their associated outbuildings, gardens, conservatories, and shared amenities in England and Wales. It does not apply to commercial premises, which are covered by other legislation such as the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
Question 3: If notifiable work is carried out by a non-registered electrician, what must happen before work begins?
- Nothing — any qualified electrician can do the work
- A Building Control Body must be notified, and the work must be inspected and approved (Correct answer)
- The homeowner must obtain planning permission
- The work must be checked by a gas engineer
Correct answer: A Building Control Body must be notified, and the work must be inspected and approved
If the electrician is not registered with a competent person scheme, the homeowner or electrician must notify the local Building Control Body before the work starts. Building Control will inspect the work during and after completion and charge a fee for the inspection. A completion certificate is issued only after satisfactory inspection.
Question 4: Which edition of the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) is the current standard referenced by Part P?
- 16th Edition
- 17th Edition
- 18th Edition (Amendment 2) (Correct answer)
- 19th Edition
Correct answer: 18th Edition (Amendment 2)
The 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2018 with Amendment 2:2022) is the current standard. Part P requires that all electrical installation work in dwellings complies with BS 7671. The 18th Edition introduced significant changes including requirements for arc fault detection devices (AFDDs), enhanced RCD protection, and surge protection.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of Building Regulations Part P?
- To generate revenue for local authorities through inspection fees
- To ensure that electrical installation work in dwellings is designed and installed to protect people from fire and electric shock (Correct answer)
- To restrict electrical work to qualified electricians only
- To standardise the colour of cables used in domestic installations
Correct answer: To ensure that electrical installation work in dwellings is designed and installed to protect people from fire and electric shock
The stated aim of Part P is to ensure that reasonable provision is made in the design, installation, inspection, and testing of electrical installations in dwellings to protect persons from fire and injury including electric shock. It achieves this through the requirement for competent person self-certification or Building Control oversight.
Question 6: A Part P registered electrician completes notifiable work. Within what timeframe must the notification be sent to the local authority?
- Before work commences
- Within 30 days of completion (Correct answer)
- Within 7 days of completion
- Within 6 months of completion
Correct answer: Within 30 days of completion
A competent person registered with an approved scheme must notify their scheme provider within 30 days of completing notifiable work. The scheme provider then notifies the local authority and arranges for the Building Regulations compliance certificate to be issued to the homeowner. Failure to notify within this timeframe is a breach of scheme rules.
Part P Building Regulations Part P 2
Under Part P, which of the following minor works can a non-registered person carry out without notification to Building Control?