Content from Industry Experts
Don’t be caught out, be compliant as those practising electrics in domestic dwellings without part p registration will now be ILLEGAL!
As a report is published recommending the retention and improvement for the Part P Building Regulations, Chloe Bennett from Trade Skills 4U asks are you competent?
Since its introduction in 2005, the Part P Building Regulations have played a very important role in ensuring maximum safety for the homeowner and building contractors. However due to the length and cost of procedures involved with the regulations, our government proposed to reduce the 1,000 page National Planning Policy Framework (NPFF) to a concise 50 page document without jeopardising the safety requirements.
Unfortunately this attempt to revise the Part P scheme and lessen the burden for installers would most certainly endanger those associated with the implementation. In an attempt to support the system and schemes associated with becoming a competent person, the electrical industry built a portfolio of evidence to prove that reduction in costs and time would directly have a negative effect on the safety and quality regulation of the schemes.
The Part P qualification and schemes associated with the building regulations for electrical safety play an important part in minimalizing ‘rogue traders’ and help to reduce the injury and fatality rate associated with electrical works. The Part P building regulations is the only legal framework in England which protects the consumer from unsafe electrical work in the home and is vitally important considered that every week in the UK, one person dies from an electrical accident and well over a quarter of a million (350,000,000) are seriously injured every year.
In support of the retention of Part P, a report by the Communities and Local Government (CLG) Select Committee on cutting red tape in the Building Regulations has recommended that Part P Regulations be conserved.
Clive Betts, chair of the CLG Committee, said: "We could only support deregulation if there was clear evidence that safety standards would not suffer, but such evidence has not been provided by the government."
The report also suggested that all electrical equipment sold by ‘DIY’ stores should have clearly printed labels on the devices warning that it is illegal for unregistered persons to undertake electrical work without check by a competent person. This should help raise public awareness of the dangers of working with electrical devices and installation if you are not qualified to do so.
This report is a great success for the electrical industry and will stand as a first step into ensuring that there is no compromise on safety. The Committee's report on Part P will feed into the government’s on-going review of the Building Regulations for England. Reports like these highlight the importance of gaining the correct training in order to become competent in all areas of electrical safety and other installations. Trade Skills 4U offer Part P Courses and other core electrical qualifications to help new entrants and existing contractors get and stay qualified. For more information on their offering visit www.tradeskills4u.co.uk.
The government consultation will close on 27 April 2012, with any deregulatory changes coming into force in April 2013. Any amendments with a regulatory impact will take effect in October 2013.