Do I need to be qualified to install lighting? (or anything)

[Sparking]

I am planning on installing some lighting that consists of two IP56 rated mains powered bulkhead lights at the front of my house (fixed to the external brick) and a PIR operated mains powered floodlight at the rear. All will be installed with fresh cable runs in Kopex, switches and a new RCD in the mains box. The plan is to also install the same at my mums house. Now I am not a qualified electrician and never have been, a few years ago I installed my shower and a couple of others for other people and did not have any issues. In fact two of my (possibly hooky) installations have been checked over by electricians whilst doing other jobs and both were happy with my work and only had a couple of pointers and minor advice in the "I would have done it like this" category which was greatly received. I am not pretending to be an expert but do I need to be qualified to do work on my own property? Everyone I have done any work for in the past has been a home owner so no council property or commercial work and not for money either just cos I can. But I have been reading more recently about 17th edition and part P etc so I do not want to get myself in to a world of poop or invalidate my or anyone else's house insurance but some of these courses range from a £10 book to a £4000 course which seems like a pretty big jump from a bit of home DIY.

 

[telectrix]

from what you are saying you are planning to do, the external lights are not subject to notification under part p, so there is no problem with you installing them on your own house. however, to be perfectly clear, the fitting of a RCD is probably notifiable as you are altering the characteristics of the circuit/s.

 

[solo2771]

Hi The work you have mentioned is Notifiable but that does not mean you can't do it but it would have to be tested and certified and by the time you finished you would probably be as well to pay a part p electrician to do it.
Personally I think the view is that electrics as gas are too dangerous for diy'ers (not before time really)
Paul

 

[Deleted member 9648]

It will only be notifyable if you are running a new circuit back to the DB,if you use an existing circuit it will not be notifyable....There is no requirement for fixed equipment outdoors to be RCD protected,so unless there is another reason to provide an RCD,no need....If you alter the CU by installing an RCD that would be notifyable.

 

[mayfair]

Lived out of UK for long time, but is there such a thing as part P electrician and is it relavent ....sorry to be ignorant

Hi The work you have mentioned is Notifiable but that does not mean you can't do it but it would have to be tested and certified and by the time you finished you would probably be as well to pay a part p electrician to do it.
Personally I think the view is that electrics as gas are too dangerous for diy'ers (not before time really)
Paul

 

[ezzzekiel]

considering you have been fitting showers etc for a while without any electrical knowledge then i take it no proper test equipment is owned or understood. so to dampen your spirits i would say no you shouldnt be touching anything electrical, do you have any understanding of earthing arrangements, main bonding, Zs values, cable ratings derating factors rcd trip times the list is endless and although the work may look pretty and work when you switch it on none of this confirms the safety of the installation and for that of the persons occupying the property.

when will people leave electrical work to electricians, which is what Partp was all about - unfortunately it went the wrong way and opened the floodgates for poorly trained short course wonders to start meddling and make matters worsethan they already were.

 

[mayfair]

All the above remarks are vaild and i in no way disagree with ezzzekiel, but maybe there are peps out there that are skint and trying to do a bit for themselves, Think maybe electricians and other trades have through greed have made peps think twice about calling pro's in ....Just a thought

considering you have been fitting showers etc for a while without any electrical knowledge then i take it no proper test equipment is owned or understood. so to dampen your spirits i would say no you shouldnt be touching anything electrical, do you have any understanding of earthing arrangements, main bonding, Zs values, cable ratings derating factors rcd trip times the list is endless and although the work may look pretty and work when you switch it on none of this confirms the safety of the installation and for that of the persons occupying the property.

when will people leave electrical work to electricians, which is what Partp was all about - unfortunately it went the wrong way and opened the floodgates for poorly trained short course wonders to start meddling and make matters worsethan they already were.

 

[mechelec]

All the above remarks are vaild and i in no way disagree with ezzzekiel, but maybe there are peps out there that are skint and trying to do a bit for themselves, Think maybe electricians and other trades have through greed have made peps think twice about calling pro's in ....Just a thought

I take it you did not come on here to make friends then??
A lot of guys on here are struggling to keep their heads above water and running legitimate businesses with ever increasing overheads and less and less income. It is not about tradesmen being greedy it is about a fair wage for a fair days pay and for many 5 years of training.

 

[mayfair]

Same old story .......................I give up , Its just not worth trying to push the point anymore.

 

[GrannySmiff]

I think the whole DIY thing is a bit of a grey area, but I believe that you can do it if it is your own house, don't see who can stop you. If it all goes wrong you just will have invalid insurance possibly.

Your choice.

 

[telectrix]

I think the whole DIY thing is a bit of a grey area, but I believe that you can do it if it is your own house, don't see who can stop you. If it all goes wrong you just will have invalid insurance possibly.

Your choice.

as long as he's got medical insurance and life cover.............

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Personally I think there are plenty of DIYers out there capable of installing a couple of lights safely,equally there are plenty who are'nt but still will...it's their choice. The OP is not asking how to do it,but whether he is allowed to do it.
The points been made on here before.....there are plenty of electricians who step outside of their trade to save a few quid...plumbing?mechanics?...I bet most of us have done something we are not qualified to do.
The point ezzzekiel made about DIYers not testing,knowing about bonding etc is very valid....but when I started 30yrs ago about the only test was switch on and see if it works!...the old megger only came out if it went bang!....bonding?...what was that?..If it was a new job you did it,but not if you were just adding a few lights or sockets.Disconnection times?....there were two options,coarse or close protection...a fuse or an MCB...you put it in,if there was a fault it blew,end of....I dont recall any more deaths or shocks then than now.
There is an overkill of checking and testing to the Nth degree now.Someone who knows what they are doing can do a perfectly safe install of a couple of outside lights without carrying out all those tests and inspections that we are burdened with now.
All of which I have just typed is total testicles....but sometimes...just sometimes I wish it was still 30yrs ago.

 

[ezzzekiel]

All the above remarks are vaild and i in no way disagree with ezzzekiel, but maybe there are peps out there that are skint and trying to do a bit for themselves

I agree with your point, if i need any work doing i tend to do it myself no matter what however there are limitations, a big difference between adding lights compared to splitting tails for sub board to feed showers in a special location.
Have seen far too many near misses (burnt out connections etc) you should always know when you need to call in some one.

 

[mayfair]

So Maybe he thinks he's within his limitations we dont really know so we cant really comment. impo

I agree with your point, if i need any work doing i tend to do it myself no matter what however there are limitations, a big difference between adding lights compared to splitting tails for sub board to feed showers in a special location.
Have seen far too many near misses (burnt out connections etc) you should always know when you need to call in some one.

 

[ezzzekiel]

assuming he has the correct test instruments and also knows how to use them then Partp aside yes he probably is within his limitations - yet i somewhat doubt it.