Electrical certification for house?

[B1gSte]

Hi there. I have just joined this forum to ask a few questions if that's ok.

I have read that any electrical work undertaken in my house must be certified and that this certification would be needed when selling my house.

The thing is, when I bought the house there was no mention of any such certification provided with it.

I recently went into my loft and noticed a couple of dodgy looking cables.

One looks like the 4 core stuff used in 2 way lighting but only has a blue and a yellow connected together with one of those "chocolate block" type connectors. I can't see where it goes as most of the loft space is boarded.

I also noticed that a junction box has been used for the down lights in the bathroom and there is a "spare" wire in it that I can't fathom out the purpose of.

There is a twin and earth supply (in black and red), a black and red to each down lighter, a black and red switch wire to the ceiling switch and then another cable of which only the red is connected to the live in and the black is connected to an otherwise unused terminal in the junction box.
I also not that not one of the earth conductors has been terminated.
Is this likely to be due to the type of fitting?
Surely the Earth terminations should still meet in the junction box?

So to my next query..
How do I know what Tom, Dick and Harry has wired the house and how is it ever traceable as to proving who did it and whether they were competent?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks,
Steve.

 

[B1gSte]

There are clear regulations about what you can and can't do electrically and who is competent to do so. However, as far as I'm aware it's still very much buyer beware re wiring much like the depth of the structural survey that will be done as a requirement for the lender. Very few houses will meet current regulations as the regs are updated all the time and are not retrospective and it doesn't necessarily mean they are dangerous. So in answer to your question, yes, if you don't get the wiring checked before purchase it's very easy to buy a lash up. If you did identify work that needed doing you may want to factor that into the purchase negotiations. If you are selling and you have concerns, at least for your own safety get it checked to ensure there is nothing dangerous.

Thanks Alan.

 

[Toneyz]

From your 1st post apart from the cables in connection block you are asking how things have been wired,just because something looks messy does not make it unsafe saying that I think you need a good electrical installation condition report and I'm sure that they can advise what needs to be done (you need to let them know also you need to know the outcome noted in your post.
Part P came into force Jan 2005 so any work under the part P at the time should have been notified inc c.unit. you should also have electrical certificates for work done before and after this date.As posted you need to see if they exist from any of the sceams a lot of these can be checked on line as well as through your local council building control. if there is a name on the sticker of the consumer unit you could contact them however electrical contractors will only hold on to coppies for a fixed length of time.

 

[Pete999]

It just makes me wonder what is the point in electricians having qualifications when some cowboy can just make a pigs ear of my wiring and ride off into the sunset. Does that mean that there is no real sure way of checking these things?
I mean, when I bought the house, there was no mention of certificates etc. I remember the vendor mentioning the new consumer unit and the additional sockets in the bedroom were "recent".

I agree make decent Sparks very angry, and that's being polite

 

[Pete999]

From your 1st post apart from the cables in connection block you are asking how things have been wired,just because something looks messy does not make it unsafe saying that I think you need a good electrical installation condition report and I'm sure that they can advise what needs to be done (you need to let them know also you need to know the outcome noted in your post.
Part P came into force Jan 2005 so any work under the part P at the time should have been notified inc c.unit. you should also have electrical certificates for work done before and after this date.As posted you need to see if they exist from any of the sceams a lot of these can be checked on line as well as through your local council building control. if there is a name on the sticker of the consumer unit you could contact them however electrical contractors will only hold on to coppies for a fixed length of time.

That should read SHOULD HOLD COPIES

 

[Midwest]

If any work has been notified by an electrician who is a member of the NICEIC can be checked here

NICEIC Online Certification: Notification Check - http://checkmynotification.com/

Only problem is its only NICEIC and elecsa but there are other schemes out there.

Lee couldn't get that NIC web page to function. Wasn't locating on addresses, for notifications (which I know have been recorded). I entered a cert number (Building Regs Compliance), and that wasn't found either.

Have you got it to work? Only mention it 'cos OP might come across the same, and come to the wrong conclusion.

PS They were Elecsa numbers, perhaps they have their own search page?

 

[Midwest]

Lee couldn't get that NIC web page to function. Wasn't locating on addresses, for notifications (which I know have been recorded). I entered a cert number (Building Regs Compliance), and that wasn't found either.

Have you got it to work? Only mention it 'cos OP might come across the same, and come to the wrong conclusion.

PS They were Elecsa numbers, perhaps they have their own search page?

Cancel that, seems the Elecsa (NIC) web site has technical issues this morning.

 

[B1gSte]

Well thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reply.
Here are the photos as promised...

The light fittings are connected to top left and top right terminal.
The cable coming in at the top from the left is the live and neutral.
The cable coming in at 9 o'clock is the ceiling switch.
I believe the cable at 6 o'clock is maybe the redundant switch wire which would have originally fed one of the lights when the bathroom and toilet were separate.
As can be seen, all of the Earth conductors have been snipped and there are no sleeves on any of the black switch wires.

The other photo shows the cable which has the taped up connector and disappears under the loft boards.

Thanks for looking.

View attachment 35247

View attachment 35248

 

[westward10]

Doesn't look good, the cpcs have been cut out which may mean some accessories or fittings are not earthed. I would say that has been like that for years from the look of it.