Handyman and Electrical Work

[Scotty_Ian]

I recently started up my own handyman business and wondered what I am allowed to do in terms of electrical work in customers houses. The sort of thing I am talking about is changing mains sockets, light fittings, light switches, extending existing ring mains... I know that for work in bathrooms and kitchens the work has to be checked out by a registered sparky. I feel I am pretty competant and safe when it comes to electrical work, having been an electrical / electronic tradesman in the forces and done loads of DIY work on my own house.

Would I have to provide a Minor Works Certificate for any electrical work I did?

Thanks for any info.

 

[peterhyper]

This smells like a wind up like the "variation in prices thread" =

I did wonder, but at least he isn't saying he is a doctor living on a private estate.

 

[Christopher Bernard]

If you can never get it how do you know you like it.

Because they stopped selling it in most places not long ago, but all good things come to an end they say.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Got an on-going one at the moment, a neighbours brother is a 'handyman good with electrics' and wired a small extension. Half of the sockets ceased to operate just after Christmas. I found it wasn't a ring and never had been, and to get at least part of it going as a temp converted two tested legs to 2x 20a radials. Two weeks later half of one of the radials stopped working, found neutral broken somewhere over the ceiling under a flat roof. Not trusting any of it I disconnected the lot and washed my hands of it, they are currently waiting for bruv to return from abroad and fix it.
Good luck with that.

 

[MDJ]

I recently started up my own handyman business and wondered what I am allowed to do in terms of electrical work in customers houses. The sort of thing I am talking about is changing mains sockets, light fittings, light switches, extending existing ring mains... I know that for work in bathrooms and kitchens the work has to be checked out by a registered sparky. I feel I am pretty competant and safe when it comes to electrical work, having been an electrical / electronic tradesman in the forces and done loads of DIY work on my own house.

Would I have to provide a Minor Works Certificate for any electrical work I did?

Thanks for any info.

Does your liability insurance cover any Electrical work you carry out?
Do you have access to a multi function tester?
Do you know what certificates are required for the different types of work you are considering doing?
Have you got access to an on site guide or 17th Edition regs book?
have you got any Electrical qualifications?
Do you understand what Equipotential bonding is?
do you know what a TNS, TNCS, TT or PME system is?

lots to think about fella.

 

[Risteard]

Do you have access to a multi function tester?

Or other appropriate test equipment! Not everyone has to use an MFT!

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Or other appropriate test equipment! Not everyone has to use an MFT!

'Appropriate' to many means a neon screwdriver and a socket and see thingy.

 

[Risteard]

'Appropriate' to many means a neon screwdriver and a socket and see thingy.

Indeed. That's why I wrote "appropriate" rather than "what you believe to be appropriate"!

 

[buzzlightyear]

Popcorn on standby

a bag of MMs and bag of Doritos.

 

[Scotty_Ian]

Do you have any test equipment? A copy of BS 7671 AMD3?

EDIT: Part P doesn't apply in Scotland

Just read and understood 7671. I have a multimeter and a socket tester that checks polarity earth and some other stuff

 

[Octopus]

Oh dear

 

[Rpa07]

I thought I was good enough years before I did my training that has now, with 3 years of experience, made me at the lower end of the competence ladder.
Looking at the DIY work I did in my own house, I was delusional thinking that it was to a standard required.
I say to you that you may think you can be ‘jack of all trades’ but you can’t be master of all so stick to the ones you are good at and call in the trades that you’re not so hot on, they will give you the work back, favour for favour.
Please listen to the members on here.

 

[Christopher Bernard]

It has to be a wind up

 

[Strima]

Just read and understood 7671.

You're better than me then, the last course I did was all about BS7671 and that was an NVQ level 4 yet I still don't understand the book...

 

[Des 56]

Just read and understood 7671. I have a multimeter and a socket tester that checks polarity earth and some other stuff

Thats Bs

 

[Pete999]

Just read and understood 7671. I have a multimeter and a socket tester that checks polarity earth and some other stuff

You just read and understood BS7671 Crikey that's good going