Notifiable work

michaelsf90 · Jul 31, 2021

I'm a fully qualified electrician but I've always worked for companies. Currently a maintenance electrician at a hospital. I've done domestic in the past and I know outside work is notifiable. I ran some twin and earth to the back of the house and then outside I have a wiska box. Out of that is 4mm swa to my shed with a small wylex consumer unit in. Out of that is 3 circuits. One for shed lighting. One for a socket in the shed and one is a 2.5mm swa that goes to the back of the garden to 2 ip rated fused spurs that feed my pump and filter for the pond. Now this may seem a silly question but do I need to install an earth rod for the consumer unit in the shed. Also i clearly did it myself so should I get someone to test it? It's all fed off a 32A rcbo in the consumer unit in the house on it's own circuit

timhoward · Jul 31, 2021

Work outside isn't notifiable per se. But installing a new circuit is notifiable.
So if the whole thing is a new circuit then yes it's notifiable. If it originated from an existing circuit it isn't notifiable. (subject to the the new CU in the shed not being notifiable in it' own right- I think part P only mentions replacing a CU - happy to be corrected)

Anyway....
You don't automatically need an earth rod at shed. There is no harm in having one.
If there's anything in the shed that needs bonding (e.g. outside tap, steel structure or walls) then it can be easier to convert to TT at the shed than getting the required 10mm csa earthing out there to support the bonding. (assuming your house is TNCS)

There is nothing to prevent you testing it and filling out a certificate. You haven't mentioned length of cables and it would be good to confirm Zs at shed and final circuits are within limits.

But regarding notification to building control, according to the letter of the rules, for someone else to test and notify it they should really already be involved to approve the design and inspect first fix. What happens in reality may be different!

michaelsf90 · Jul 31, 2021

The shed is all wood. The 4mm armored is 3 core and I've put an earth link from the banjo and armorings on all armored ends. On the 2.5mm radial to the back of the garden as well. I will fill my own test certificate out. Do you think someone would test it and issue me a proper certificate so it is all legit. To be fair my whole house could do with being tested. I've added a few new circuits. Burglar alarm on its own supply. Outside power. Utility room which is a small extension on the side was pieced into the downstairs ring so I made that into its own ring. I have no end to end on earth on the downstairs ring so I need to correct that and the shower is 6mm cable. Ran in thermal insulation in the cavity and it's a 9.5kw shower. Obviously I need to address the issues and the shower one majorly. The bathroom is being done next year so I will run a 10mm in. I'm just wondering what route to take. Up the cavity is easiest but with the insulation in the cavity it's a tricky one. My other option is to go under the floor to a boxing in in the corner of the kitchen where pipes go up. Cold and hot feed. I'd clip the cable away from the pipes. I know both arent the best but other than that its major destruction to walls etc. The earthing to the house is tns

DefyG · Jul 31, 2021

michaelsf90 said:
major destruction to walls

Hardly call a small chase from ceiling to shower or even floor to shower - major destruction'!
Chasing is the best option as you say the bathroom is 'being done' and a mini grinder or wall chaser would do a neat job.

DefyG · Jul 31, 2021

Downloading copy of the Building Reg Part P should tell you everything you need.

https://assets.publishing.service.g...achment_data/file/441872/BR_PDF_AD_P_2013.pdf

HappyHippyDad · Jul 31, 2021

Gosh, you do go off on a tangent! I couldn't keep up ?

It's very unlikely that anyone will sign off your work and notify it. However, if you plan to fill out the correct certificate (EIC) and all the work is done correctly, then when the electrician comes to carry out the report for the whole house that will be part of it. You'll have an EICR (report) stating that all the work is safe and I doubt anyone will ever question why the work wasn't notified. This shouldn't happen and makes a bit of a mockery of the registration scheme that most of belong to, but it should give you some peace of mind, even though you shouldn't have done it.

timhoward · Jul 31, 2021

As per another thread on here, once the work is done it's too late as the only options for the person testing it are pretending they did the whole job, or pretending they approved the design and inspected first fix and using the third party certification route.

My suggestion for any future work is to find someone that does 3rd party certification in your area. For a relatively small fee they will agree the work, inspect first fix, test at the end, and certificate and notify to building control if required (a new shower circuit is notifiable). If you're working as a professional sparks then the arrangement suits both of you - you save money on scheme registration, and they get a bit of income for very little effort.

As above, the reality is no one will know when you did you the work to date, no one will ever ask for a building control certificate, and if you ever sell the house an EICR will be accepted by the next purchaser.

As someone who pays for scheme membership it' is slightly frustrating that a lot of work goes on that isn't handled as BS671 (in terms of certification) and building control would require, but it's a fact of life.
At least in your case you are a qualified professional sparks working in your own house.

Dustydazzler · Aug 1, 2021

If a tree falls in a forest and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound…

(this is my philosophy when it comes to people doing wiring in their own home)

HappyHippyDad · Aug 1, 2021

Dustydazzler said:
If a tree falls in a forest and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound…

(this is my philosophy when it comes to people doing wiring in their own home)

I've given you a like for that one Dusty, as I think I like it, but I'm not sure. I'll have to work out if the tree makes a sound first!

pc1966 · Aug 1, 2021

If you can offer evidence of the electrical skill and test capability to do it (which it seems your usual job gives you) it might be worth a call to building control as they might be willing to accept your own minor works certification without a fee for some independent inspection.

You can get paper forms from various places, or even sign up for a low-cost electronic service like these folks to generate professional looking certificates:

electraform

www.electraform.co.uk

Fitzy · Aug 1, 2021

There’s a guy around my area, that is with any CPS, it he still does ‘notifiable’ work, but goes back a week later and carry’s out a full EICR for the customer, he’s been doing this for years and the LABC have never said a word about him or done anything.

pc1966 · Aug 1, 2021

Fitzy said:
There’s a guy around my area, that is with any CPS, it he still does ‘notifiable’ work, but goes back a week later and carry’s out a full EICR for the customer, he’s been doing this for years and the LABC have never said a word about him or done anything.

That is taking the pi55 somewhat!

It is one thing in the OP's case to be doing work in your own home with adequate electrical knowledge and so self-certifying, another completely to be avoiding the normal practice of meeting the same regs as all other domestic sparks are expected to follow.

Still, one can hope he is not a builder or plumber by trade...

Robson689 · Aug 1, 2021

Fitzy said:
There’s a guy around my area, that is with any CPS, it he still does ‘notifiable’ work, but goes back a week later and carry’s out a full EICR for the customer, he’s been doing this for years and the LABC have never said a word about him or done anything.

Part P compliance is the homeowners responsibility not the electrician

michaelsf90 · Aug 2, 2021

Your right I have gone off onto a different subject. The problem being where the consumer unit is it's like not a flat wallpaper so I couldn't chase it and match it. Also the room above has fitted wardrobes on that wall. Now I'm not the best with domestic due to mainly doing commercial and industrial but would I get away with this being a cable safe zone. In the gap between the stairs and the kitchen door casing?

Simon47 · Aug 10, 2021

pc1966 said:
If you can offer evidence of the electrical skill and test capability to do it (which it seems your usual job gives you) it might be worth a call to building control as they might be willing to accept your own minor works certification without a fee for some independent inspection.

Don't bother asking, they will likely run out their standard of wanting someone who's a scam...err scheme member. From their PoV it's the easiest way to have someone else to blame if the certificate they accept turns out not to be all it claims - i.e. it's the easiest way to cover their backside.
In practice, if you offer them a professional looking certificate then they may well just accept it. Just don't ask them first and give them an excuse to turn you down.

pc1966 said:
You can get paper forms from various places, or even sign up for a low-cost electronic service like these folks to generate professional looking certificates:

There's a set of PDF forms on here :

Updates: new happysteve editable PDF forms (18th Edition)

Happy New Year everyone! :) Not that I leave things to the last minute or anything, but... ;) For those like me who don't use software to fill out their EICs, EICRs and MEIWCs (or write them out by hand), I'm pleased to present updates to my fillable/editable PDF forms, now pretty much...

www.electriciansforums.net

brianmoooore · Aug 11, 2021

Simon47 said:
From their PoV it's the easiest way to have someone else to blame if the certificate they accept turns out not to be all it claims - i.e. it's the easiest way to cover their backside.

And that, in a nutshell, is the whole point of Part P. Nothing to do with standards. Nothing to do with safety.
All just to get a name and signature on a bit of paper, so there's someone to blame when things go t*ts up.

Notifiable work

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