How far to go?

[sparrrrk]

Hi all,

Just after a bit of advice as I am not a domestic installer so don't know how far to go off the top of my head. I am an approved spark with 17th and 2391. However not joined to competent person scheme as I work for a company p.a.y.e.

A friend of a friend has asked if I could wire up his new man zone in the garden. This includes new SWA feed from house DB. One ring main plus lighting. Obviously this is notifiable but he doesn't want to get them involved as permission for his new garden structure was somewhat overlooked.

I want to help but my hands are tied not being part of a scheme. I also like sleeping at night so don't want to become liable. He is able to run cabling for ring/lighting/SWA.

How far can I go without become liable for the install. Any advice from guys would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Darkwood]

TBH - this is your mate, if your competent in your work and have experience in doing similar jobs then you shouldn't loose any sleep over the quality and safety of your work... your best to get it signed off by a 3rd party in your situation.

I sit in the camp where I feel why should I have to pay others to confirm what I know is perfectly safe and to standards but of course I cannot advise you to break any laws; can I

I don't do any domestic or commercial really so I'm not part of any scheme, the Irony here is I can run rings around the regulations, yet I cannot legally wire my house up without notification or a 3rd party to write my work off. I did wire my house and did I notify anyone - did I hell!

 

[marcspark]

High Sparrrk ) Looks like there is 3 ways you can do it.
1. Notify building control
2 Get a 3rd party (Part P park) to check and sign off your work
3. Join one of the schemes such as Stroma

I personally wouldn't trust a mate of a mate....as their quick to blame if something goes wrong...Another thing is...are you inured?
We live in a world where there's blame there's a claim..
I think 2 would be your best option )

 

[Hellmooth]

What darkwood said in reality, what marcspark said if you're that bothered!

 

[Dave OCD]

This is another good example of why 'Part P' and the red tape that encompasses it is badly flawed.
A competent sparks is worried about the implications of carrying out a simple installation for fear of recrimination.
Anyway I say just get on with it, but I would carry out the required tests to give peace of mind and fill out an installation certificate for your mate to file, also keep a copy.

 

[sparrrrk]

Thanks darkwood. I feel the same.I did mention to him to get it signed off from 3rd person but he seems to think that they'll obviously notify bbuilding control therefore defeating the object. i want to help him out because it won't take me long but don't want to become liable for the install. do you know if I am liable if I tell/show him how to do it and are in the vicinity to make sure he does it right. As therefore I technically did not do the work. Or am I treading on eggshells here

 

[sparrrrk]

Dave ocd,
I can do all appropriate tests and fill out install cert but then aren't I signing a legal document to say I've done the work and not notified hmmm

 

[Hellmooth]

Thanks darkwood. I feel the same.I did mention to him to get it signed off from 3rd person but he seems to think that they'll obviously notify bbuilding control therefore defeating the object. i want to help him out because it won't take me long but don't want to become liable for the install. do you know if I am liable if I tell/show him how to do it and are in the vicinity to make sure he does it right. As therefore I technically did not do the work. Or am I treading on eggshells here

i wouldn't worry about it, if it's a safe install and you're happy, just like any job it'll be fine! If building control ever found out then your mate would just have to say he doesn't know the name of the person who done the electrics, he was a cowboy who done a runner! And if anything went wrong safety wise and someone was injured then the worst that would happen was you'd be in trouble for not notifying!

 

[Hellmooth]

Don't sign the it lol

 

[Dave OCD]

Well in the circumstances mate it's very doubtful that the customer would show it to anyone else, it's more of a case of you proving the safety of the install with thorough testing, in reality if the job is done properly then what are the chances of any future serious repercussions ? Also doesn't the wording of Part P say something about being applicable to work done for financial gain or payment - something like that ? Of course you're doing this purely as a favour aren't you ?

 

[sparrrrk]

Like your attitude hellmooth but I am a born worrier. Don't want to be thinking to myself what if something goes wrong. do ya reckon I can just do all minor works like install d/s faceplates, downlights and switches as he has run in the circuit. Then advise him how to terminate both ends of swa/ring and lighting. Then affectively he is doing the notifiable stuff or am I talking bull. Please tell me if I am because this is not my usual field

 

[Hellmooth]

How's about you let him do the install while you watch on telling him what to do so you don't actually touch anything (wink wink) so you wouldn't be liable for anything, you didn't even touch a tool, but luckily he ended up with a perfectly safe install inspected and tested to BS 7671

 

[sparrrrk]

Thanks Dave. To be fair it is actually sort of a favour because he is a gas engineer so I said if anything went wrong with my central heating I'll be calling him

 

[sparrrrk]

Think that's the line I'll be going down hellmooth. I'll do the unnotifiable terminations Advise him on the rest and watch him do it. Then test. I wouldn't be so cautious but he isn't a friend he's more friend of a friend

 

[Dave OCD]

I think the current constraints we're all supposed to work under make most of us worriers to an extent, meanwhile 100s if not 1000s of unqualified chancers are out there doing cash in hand jobs, no testing, no paperwork and they don't have a care in the world.