General

2.1 All electrical installation work carried out in a dwelling is subject to requirement P1, and should comply with the design and installation guidance in Section 1. Section 2 sets out:

a. the types of building and electrical installation that are within the scope of Part P

b. the types of electrical work that are notifiable and must be certified as complying with the Building Regulations.

Certification procedures are set out in Section 3.

Scope

2.2 Part P applies to electrical installations:

a. in a dwelling-house or flat, and to parts of the installation that are:

(i) outside the dwelling – for example fixed lighting and air conditioning units attached to outside walls, photovoltaic panels on roofs, and fixed lighting and pond pumps in gardens

(ii) in outbuildings such as sheds, detached garages and domestic greenhouses.

b. in the common access areas of blocks of flats such as corridors and staircases

c. in shared amenities of blocks of flats such as laundries, kitchens and gymnasiums

d. in business premises (other than agricultural buildings) connected to the same meter as the electrical installation in a dwelling – for example shops and public houses below flats.

2.3 Part P does not apply to electrical installations:

a. in business premises in the same building as a dwelling but with separate metering

b. that supply the power for lifts in blocks of flats (but Part P does apply to lift installations in single dwellings).

NOTE: Schedule 2 to the Building Regulations identifies buildings – for example unoccupied, agricultural, temporary and small detached buildings – that are generally exempt from the requirements of the Regulations. However, conservatories, porches, domestic greenhouses, garages and sheds that share their electricity with a dwelling are not exempt from Part P (by virtue of regulation 9(3)) and must comply with its requirements.

2.4 The scope of Part P is illustrated in Diagram 1.

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Diagram 1 Scope of Part P

Notifiable work

2.5 Electrical installation work that is notifiable is set out in regulation 12(6A).

12.—(6A) A person intending to carry out building work in relation to which Part P of Schedule 1 imposes a requirement is required to give a building notice or deposit full plans where the work consists of—

(a) the installation of a new circuit;

(b) the replacement of a consumer unit; or

(c) any addition or alteration to existing circuits in a special location.

—(9) In this regulation “special location” means—

(a) within a room containing a bath or shower, the space surrounding a bath tap or shower head, where the space extends—

(i) vertically from the finished floor level to—

(aa) a height of 2.25 metres; or

(bb) the position of the shower head where it is attached to a wall or ceiling at a point higher than 2.25 metres from that level; and

(ii) horizontally—

(aa) where there is a bath tub or shower tray, from the edge of the bath tub or shower tray to a distance of 0.6 metres; or

(bb) where there is no bath tub or shower tray, from the centre point of the shower head where it is attached to the wall or ceiling to a distance of 1.2 metres; or

(b) a room containing a swimming pool or sauna heater.

2.6 Diagram 2 illustrates the space around a bath tub or shower tray (a special location) within which minor additions and alterations to existing circuits, as well as the installation of new circuits, are

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Diagram 2 Notifiable work in room containing a bath or shower

Non-notifiable work

2.7 Regulation 12(6A) sets out electrical installation work that is notifiable. All other electrical installation work is not notifiable – namely additions and alterations to existing installations outside special locations, and replacements, repairs and maintenance anywhere.

2.8 Installing fixed electrical equipment is within the scope of Part P, even if the final connection is by a standard 13A plug and socket, but is notifiable only if it involves work set out in regulation 12(6A). For example:

a. installing a built-in cooker is not notifiable work unless a new cooker circuit is needed

b. connecting an electric gate or garage door to an existing isolator switch is not notifiable work, but installing a new circuit from the consumer unit to the isolator is notifiable.

2.9 Installing prefabricated, modular wiring (for example for kitchen lighting systems) linked by plug and socket connectors is also within the scope of Part P, but again is notifiable only if it involves work set out in regulation 12(6A).

Section 2: Application of part P