The legal requirements and best practice guidelines that every (domestic) electrician in the United Kingdom must follow are printed in Building Regulations: Approved Document P, 2013 (a.k.a. Part P). Part P ensures all new domestic electrical installations are safe and comply with BS7671.
Since 2005, the 22-page Part P document has detailed what electricians must do to ensure that all new and rewired electrical installations for “dwellings” (i.e., small-scale residential buildings) are safe for the occupants to use. It is illegal for homeowners, landlords, and local authorities to use or commission new electrical work that fails to meet building regulations.
As a professional and ethical electrician, your Part P compliance must always remain on point. Here’s how to understand and use Part P to avoid liabilities.
Where Can I Find Part P To Read?
Part P’s latest revision is available to download here (PDF).
Understanding, Referencing, And Applying Part P
All electricians working in UK dwellings must be conversant with Part P of the Building Regulations.
Part P gives domestic electricians guidance on:
- Compliance with other parts of the Building Regulations and BS7671.Jo
- When, where, and how Part P legally applies.
- Responsibilities for compliance.
- Electrical safety testing – when, where, and by whom.
- Legal certification and notification of completed electrical installations.
- BS7671 validation and applicability.
All legally binding sections of Part P are highlighted in green text on the Part P document.
Accreditation And Certification In Using Part P From PTT
If you want to get up to speed with Part P, get in touch with us here at Proactive Technical Training (PTT).
Our City and Guilds approved 2393-10 half-day course fully covers Part P’s regulatory framework, how it applies to you, building control agencies, and homeowners, and how to certify your Part P-compliant works.
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