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With regards to Part P, what is a ‘Competent Person'?
A Competent Person is a firm that has been independently assessed and certificated by an approved Competent Person Scheme as competent to self-certify that its work complies with the Building Regulations
What are the benefits of becoming a Competent Person?
Competent Persons save on the time and trouble associated with the submitting of building notices to, and having their work inspected by, Building Control and, as a consequence, do not incur building notice and inspection fees.
A 'Competent Person' is a firm that has been judged to be sufficiently competent to self-certify that its work complies with the Building Regulations. A Competent Person must be registered with a scheme that has been approved the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). Schemes authorised by the ODPM are listed on its website (http://www.odpm.gov.uk/).
A Competent Person is not required to notify a building control body of its proposals to carry out electrical installation work before it begins.
However, at completion of the work, a Competent Person must certify that it complies with the Building Regulations by supplying the relevant building control body a Building Regulations completion certificate, and to the person ordering the work a duly completed Electrical Installation Certificate. While compliance with the Building Regulations is compulsory, registration with a Competent Person Scheme is not. Firms carrying out work covered by the Building Regulations may choose to join a scheme if they judge membership to be beneficial. Alternatively, they may choose to continue to use a building control body.
If a firm wishes to become a Competent Person it must first be vetted to ensure it meets the conditions of registration, including the required levels of competence. In the case of Part P schemes, the ODPM has issued guidelines concerning the minimum standard of technical competence required:
Part P schemes should ensure that electrical work in dwellings is designed, installed, inspected and tested to the standard required by BS7671; applicants should be assessed to be able to work to these standards; this assessment should be carried out as required in the Electrotechnical Assessment Scheme (see, IEE website for the EAS), or equivalent.
On April 6th 2013 a new edition of the Part P regulations were published. A copy can be downloaded from the Planning Portal site. You can view a copy of the document by opening this link which pops up a window.
The aim of the changes incorporated in this new edition are to:
- reduce the range of electrical installation work that is notifiable.
- allow installers who are not a registered competent person to use a competent person to certify work as an alternative to using building control.
- change the technical guidance throughout so it now refers to BS7671:2008 incorporating Amendment No 1:2011
There is also the intention that by the end of 2013 a register of competent persons will be compiled. The current system of competent remains a bit unclear and disorganised. Electacourse will keep this page up to date as more information emerges. You may also wish to refer to the news pages on NICEIC
What qualifications do I need for Part P?
If you already hold City & Guilds 2382 BS 7671:2008 17th Edition IET Wiring Regulations and City & Guilds 2391, 2394 or 2395 Inspection, Testing & Certification of Electrical Installations course, you are advised to complete Unit 1: Applicable Building Regulations of the Domestic Installer Scheme (This modules relates to , CDM Regulations and HSG141).
If you hold City & Guilds 2382 BS 7671:2008 17th Edition IET Wiring Regulations only, then there are 2 different paths with could be taken:
- The City & Guilds 2391 Inspection, Testing & Certification of Electrical Installations course (or the new 2394/95 courses), or,
- The EAL Domestic Installer Scheme. This is a modular electrical qualification incorporating 17 units. This can lead to a VRO qualification titled Domestic Electrical Installer.
If you currently hold no formal electrical qualifications, then once again you have several options available to you:
- The EAL Domestic Installer Scheme. This is a modular electrical qualification incorporating 17 units. This will include an overview of the 16th. Edition Wiring Regulations and Inspection and Testing, leading to a VRO qualification entitled Domestic Electrical Installer, or,
- City & Guilds 2382 BS7671 : 2008 17th. Edition IET Wiring Regulations and City & Guilds 2391 Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical Installations course and maybe the ½ day unit 1: Applicable Building Regulations of the Domestic Installer Scheme.
Summary
The actual criteria to become enlisted on the Domestic Installer register is not very clear at present, however it seems that either City & Guilds 2382 17th Edition Course Wiring Regulations or the EAL Domestic Installer qualification will meet the entry requirements to the scheme, along with an on site assessment of your Inspection and Testing competence. If you feel you are working correctly and understand the inspection and testing principles and practices, then you may gain entry using this route.
However, perhaps the best way to demonstrate competence on Inspection and Testing is to have completed the City & Guilds 2391 (or 2394/95) Inspection and Testing. This is also backed up by the fact that should you wish to become a full contractor member of one of the bodies, you will be required to successfully complete City & Guilds 2391 (or 2394/95).
It seems clear that the City and Guilds route is the preferred route of many Electricians.
Part P of the Building Regulations requires that::
"Reasonable provision shall be made in the design, installation, inspection and testing of electrical installations in order to protect persons from fire or injury." and "Sufficient information shall be provided so that persons wishing to operate, maintain or alter an electrical installation can do so with reasonable care."
What is Part P and how does it affect Electricians?
Part P has been introduced in order to reduce the number of deaths, injuries and fires caused by faulty electrical installations and to make life harder for incompetent tradesmen to leave electrical installations in an unsafe condition.
Does it apply to me?
If your firm carries out electrical installation work in dwellings in England and Wales, almost certainly yes.
What should Electrical Contractors do?
Electrical contractors that want to avoid the complications and costs of using Building Control should consider becoming a ‘Competent Person'.
Now Available from Electacourse - updated in line with the change in regulations April 6th 2013
Part P - Domestic Installer Exam Simulator
Practice similar exam questions to those you are likely to encounter when taking a Domestic Installer course
or many of the electrical courses that are available when considering
obtaining registration to a Competent Person Scheme.
With over hundreds of questions and answers chosen at random
this Part P exam practice simulator will provide Invaluable practice for your actual exams.
Part P Domestic Installer Exam Simulator