In need of reassurance after turning down private work because i can't 'Sign it off'

Sam Lapham · Oct 8, 2013

Hello,

Just need a bit of advise, I am a qualified apprentice served electrician, after a friend has just asked me to look at wiring in and altering some new lights within his bathroom, the work would of been easy enough to do but I informed them that the work was notifiable and that I was not able to do so unless going through building control direct at a cost! Just seems a pain in the --- that I know i can do the job safely and can test the installation after but just because I am not part of a governing body myself i cannot do the work! What would happen if I did carry out the work and they wanted to sell the house (Which they do) and a sparky just carried out a PIR??
Thanks

Richard Burns · Oct 9, 2013

Re: In need of reassurance after turning down private work because i can't 'Sign it o

This is all part of the joys of being an electrician, loads of pointlessly wasted money on legal requirements.
If you want to deliberately break the law to the detriment of your friend and the risk to your reputation that is your choice but not normally something a decent person would do.

Check very carefully if the work is notifiable, if the lights are just being altered / added to and the lights are outside of the bathroom zones then it is not notifiable.

Other than that you could try calling you local building control and letting them know that you are a qualified electrician and that you will be providing a EIC for the work after full inspection and testing and see if they will accept this without cost (or perhaps for a minimal cost). If they will then you have complied with the requirements.

Failing that register with self certification scheme (not a governing body) and use this work as your assessment (along with a larger scale job).

GMES · Oct 9, 2013

Re: In need of reassurance after turning down private work because i can't 'Sign it o

Richard as pretty much covered it for you, and like he said check that it is in actual fact notifiable, because a lot of part p as been watered down following the changes earlier this year. also although part p schemes are not very popular they are a means to an end. Just pay your cash with elecsa as an example think it's about 350.00 + vat for year, which cant be hard to make that amount back on a decent job and your off and running, you then can feel more confident knowing your doing things by the book.....Simples.

Sam Lapham · Oct 9, 2013

Re: In need of reassurance after turning down private work because i can't 'Sign it o

Yeahh thanks lads! Think its going to be one of them situations where its better to recommend a good electrician who can sign it off! More hassle then its worth otherwise for a few extra pints

Thomas123 · Oct 9, 2013

Re: In need of reassurance after turning down private work because i can't 'Sign it o

If he expects it done for a pint say you can't do it, if he pays decent no one will know

Rockingit · Oct 9, 2013

Re: In need of reassurance after turning down private work because i can't 'Sign it o

All I'm going to say on the matter is that I do an awful lot of EICR's on houses up for sale where there is no certificate available, and I've yet to see a solicitor not sell the place afterwards.

Oh, and you don't need to be a member of a scam to do a Periodic, either.

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