It's like electricity

[undyingking]

Am I right in thinking that there's a recent law / regulation saying that electrical work in your house now has to be done by a proper electrician?

If so, and it wasn't just a bad dream, does anybody know what it covers? -- presumably you're still allowed to change a plug yourself, but eg. I want to remove two ceiling spotlights and replace them with pendant fittings, could I still do that?

Comments

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

I don't know the law but I would assume this only covers actual wiring work (and things like attaching/replacing fuse boxes and meters) rather than changing fittings. British laws are strange, though...

[floralaetifica.livejournal.com]

It's something to do with certificates. Your wiring has to have a certificate, and only qualified electricians can issue them. But that's all I can remember, I'm afraid, I don't know how big a job has to be before it counts.

[floralaetifica.livejournal.com]

http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/environment/building-control/news/2004/november/home-electrical-safety.en;jsessionid=aipEpxloCABg

Although it's pretty vague.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that! -- mm, it is, although "Minor work such as replacing a socket outlet will only have to be done safely and in accordance with the manufacturers instructions, provided it is not in a sensitive location such as a kitchen" gives me hope.

[fractalgeek.livejournal.com]

halcyonpoodle was on the committee that brought them in.... Known as "Section P" in the trade

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

I guess that must be someone I know IRL through freeforming, but I can't work out who...

[fractalgeek.livejournal.com]

Possibly - she was at the Big weekend game, "Tombstone", and the last Conception, but doesn't do as much as some.

[queenortart.livejournal.com]

I think the last time she did an epic game was Irons in the Fire

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

That's going back a bit! We ought to run that again some time, fun game.

(We are planning to run Air Today, Gone Tomorrow at the upcoming Epicon, if you're keen to reprise your trolley dolly role? ;-)

[queenortart.livejournal.com]

"Tea, coffee, coffee, tea?"

swoosh...

"In the event of an emergency depressurisation..."

Ooooh I enjoyed that!

[dr-bob.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that any changes that change the wiring of the ring mains or lighting (new lights, sockets etc) requires a certified electrician. Changing a plug/socket should be fine, and I suspect that replacing pendant fittings is also fine. It may depend on the level of electrical complexity involved in changing a spot into a pendant. But if you do it yourself, is anyone going to know?

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

It may depend on the level of electrical complexity involved in changing a spot into a pendant. But if you do it yourself, is anyone going to know?

Mm, I'm assuming that the wiring in the ceiling is basically the same and it's just a matter of applying a bit of connector block or something.

But if you do it yourself, is anyone going to know?

A fair point! Although if I electrocute myself I guess they'll be able to say "told you so!"

[hendybear.livejournal.com]

"is any one going to know?"

Depends on what you are doing since the introdution of the regs the wiring colour code has been changed and som eof it has a date stamp on it. ( of course if you happend to have bought a 100m real of each size just prior to the change....ahem shuffles feet)

But more to the point the actual Cat P regs can be found here

http://planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADP_2006.pdf

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Excellent, thanks!

[smallbeasts.livejournal.com]

It's a new section of the building regulations. According to the FAQ, your change is too minor to be "notifiable", so you don't have to inform building control.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

"Replacing the cable for a single circuit only, where damaged, for example, by fire, rodent or impact"

*giggles*
Wow, that has to be really frequent if they include it in this list...

[smallbeasts.livejournal.com]

When we replaced our kitchen, we found that Jerry (we had the same mouse for so long we gave him a name) had been living behind the oven. During his short life he chewed almost completely through the insulation on the electric oven power cable. Just a few more nibbles, and boom!

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

What is it in electrical insulation that attracts rodents? It's hardly nutritious, quite inert. Maybe the chewing texture is interesting or they use the nibbled off bit for nesting?

[al-fruitbat.livejournal.com]

Our pet rabbit when I was small managed to chew through the power cables of three major appliances. Each time we assumed she'd been lucky and got the earth wire first, but maybe they can sense electrical current pulsing near their lips, and can decide when and where to chew to minimise the risk to themselves, only getting a slight tingly frisson - a bit like a human would eat a curry?

Oh, and since rabbits are lagomorphs and not rodents, it's possible it's just an 'all animals' thing.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

In Swiatzerland and other such places they have a big problem with pine martens chewing hoses, leads etc in cars, to the extent that you're required to insure against it. So mustelids are in on the act as well!

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Ah, cool, looking at that list I don't think I would trust my own competence to go any further than those sorts of things anyway...