Part P Notifiable Electrical Work (Part P) 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is an 'approved contractor' under Part P?
- A contractor registered with a government-approved Competent Person scheme for electrical work in dwellings, able to self-certify compliance with Part P (Correct answer)
- Any electrician with public liability insurance
- Any City & Guilds qualified electrician
- Any electrician who has passed a Part P exam
Correct answer: A contractor registered with a government-approved Competent Person scheme for electrical work in dwellings, able to self-certify compliance with Part P
An approved (or registered) contractor is one enrolled in an approved Competent Person scheme (e.g., NICEIC, NAPIT, STROMA) that allows them to self-certify Part P notifiable work without separately notifying Building Control.
Question 2: What happens if a homeowner carries out their own electrical work in a dwelling that is notifiable under Part P?
- They must notify their local authority Building Control before starting, who will arrange an inspection after completion; a fee is payable (Correct answer)
- They cannot do any electrical work themselves under any circumstances
- They must be supervised by a Gas Safe engineer
- No notification is required for DIY work
Correct answer: They must notify their local authority Building Control before starting, who will arrange an inspection after completion; a fee is payable
Homeowners can undertake their own notifiable electrical work but must notify their local authority Building Control department; Building Control then arranges a competent person or inspector to verify the work.
Question 3: What is the 'third party' notification route for Part P work carried out by an unregistered person?
- Notify the local authority Building Control before starting; an approved inspector or competent person verifies the work on completion (Correct answer)
- Notify the Energy Networks Association
- Notify the IET
- Notify the Health and Safety Executive
Correct answer: Notify the local authority Building Control before starting; an approved inspector or competent person verifies the work on completion
When work is done by an unregistered person, the local authority Building Control must be notified before work starts (or as soon as possible in an emergency); they arrange verification of the completed work.
Question 4: Which of the following organisations operates a Part P Competent Person scheme?
- NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting) (Correct answer)
- Gas Safe Register
- NHBC
- CIOB
Correct answer: NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting)
NICEIC is one of several government-approved bodies operating a Part P Competent Person scheme for electrical work in dwellings; others include NAPIT, ELECSA (now part of NICEIC) and STROMA.
Question 5: What work in a bathroom is always notifiable under Part P?
- Any addition or alteration to the electrical installation within a room containing a bath or shower (Correct answer)
- Only the installation of a new shower circuit
- Only the installation of a shaving socket
- Only the replacement of a light fitting
Correct answer: Any addition or alteration to the electrical installation within a room containing a bath or shower
Bathrooms are 'special locations' under Part P; any addition or alteration to the electrical installation in a room containing a bath or shower is notifiable work, regardless of the scale of the work.
Question 6: What is a 'special location' under Part P Building Regulations?
- A room or area with increased risk such as a bathroom, shower room, swimming pool, sauna, or outdoor electrical installation (Correct answer)
- Any room above ground floor level
- Any room with gas appliances
- Any room with more than 3 socket outlets
Correct answer: A room or area with increased risk such as a bathroom, shower room, swimming pool, sauna, or outdoor electrical installation
Special locations under Part P are those with a higher risk of electric shock or fire, including rooms containing a bath or shower, swimming pools, saunas, hot tubs, outdoor installations, and construction sites.
Part P Notifiable Electrical Work (Part P) 3
What is an 'approved contractor' under Part P?