Lack of public awareness Part P

[baldsparkies]

Once again I find myself trying to explain the ifs, whats, and why's, regarding building control and part P to disbelieving members of the public. In this instance the guy said he wanted advice on a stripped out kitchen regarding lighting and power circuits. The main switch was off on the board with open ended cables hanging everywhere, said he was doing the wiring himself but decided to turn the power off cus his wife had a belt from the sockets

When I tried to explain it's not a DIY job and also an offence for him to do the work himself, he just said don't know what your talking about, I am not going to get ripped off paying someone to do it .

Anyway wondered if you guys have had similar experiances I feel that considering all the effort we make to join approved schemes issue completion certs sign the work off ect ect, the least the goverment and scheme providers can do is make joe public aware either by media the papers or brochures, that a legal obligation does exist. We have virtually been left with the short straw on this one

 

[ajelec10]

Totaly agree.

 

[ecclescake]

Once again I find myself trying to explain the ifs, whats, and why's, regarding building control and part P to disbelieving members of the public. In this instance the guy said he wanted advice on a stripped out kitchen regarding lighting and power circuits. The main switch was off on the board with open ended cables hanging everywhere, said he was doing the wiring himself but decided to turn the power off cus his wife had a belt from the sockets

When I tried to explain it's not a DIY job and also an offence for him to do the work himself, he just said don't know what your talking about, I am not going to get ripped off paying someone to do it .

Anyway wondered if you guys have had similar experiances I feel that considering all the effort we make to join approved schemes issue completion certs sign the work off ect ect, the least the goverment and scheme providers can do is make joe public aware either by media the papers or brochures, that a legal obligation does exist. We have virtually been left with the short straw on this one

This does not suprise me as I dont know the rules but i'm not a domestic spark. I've said for years that sparks should be licenced like canada, australia and new zealand.

 

[maddfridge]

hi there

just a passing thought, i would have thought it is not illegal for him to do the work if he was competent and had building control of the conucil look at it.

From the sound of it he is not but you can see a bodge job and a periodic inspection coming to save the pounds.
cheers

ps commmerical sparkie as well

 

[scotsparky]

This does not suprise me as I dont know the rules but i'm not a domestic spark. I've said for years that sparks should be licenced like canada, australia and new zealand.

In New zealand they are registered by the EWRB but that doesnt mean much as there is no schemes like JIb,NIC so companys take on 5 "semi skilled " and 1 spark as its cheeper. i saw a trainee wiring up main panels. There isnt a decent apprenticeship scheme either.

 

[LlandrilloSpark]

Its depressing, I was told at college by lecturers that there was "no law" saying that joe shmoe couldnt get a van and put "joe shmoe electrician" on it and go and do some wiring..however if things came unstuck and there were deaths/fire ect ect due to his shoddy work then the quals would prove his competance.....i think thats total rubbish myself, im a joiner by trade,i have to admit that i have done basics like lights ect in kitchens ive fitted, but when work dropped off i went to college, aged 36 to totally re-train, i now understand just how crucial it is to be properly trained ect ect and im really enjoying learning.. i despise the cowboys and DIY people who think that its just ab out joining a few cables together, but unfortunatly i cannot see how they can be stopped

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Its not just Part P. I think the whole electrical side of things is wooly, Part P has only served to safeguard a small part of the electrical work, but the regs leave far too many gray areas for contention. Im only just getting into the domestic side, but have been PAT testing for a while. Knocking on business to see if they want checks carried out and I get all sorts of excuses............what do I need that for, not interested, all my stuff is new etc. etc.....

As to Part P, I have crossed over from the consumer to the tradesman, and have debunked loads of myths in the process. Part P has been mis-sold to the public, is under regulated and too easy to simply by-pass either for the DIYer or cowboy. Other threads have mentioned 'shopping' illegal work to Local authorities, but sad to say due to their financial cuts they are under resoursed to deal with the legitimate applications to even start thinking about enforcing.

The only way I can see any sort of enforcement is restricting the sale of components required to carry out Major Works or set up an enforcement body similar to Corgi and Gas Safe. Yes it would create a black market in parts, but that would push those prices up making DIYers think twice about the job.

 

[kung]

Totally agree ! only sell to trade members (qualified etc) as said before i was at my local (Reading ) B & Q store and over heard a guy working on the electrical side telling a couple how to wire a shower in with no mention or part p etc or testing for that matter anyway by the time they left they could and will prob attempt changing their CU no tests/certs/quals/part p's etc etc dont some people care about right and wrong or does money come first ? its a total joke as said they should only be able to sell to trade ! annd if they do sell items that need a qualified/comp person to install it then they should charge inc fitting and give us the work !
heavier penalties for unqualified and cowboys they should have the same for everything in trades.
Regards
Kung.

 

[Spudnik]

I do agree with everyting that has been said, however, as much as i hate to be negative, it aint gonna happen.

It didnt with Corgi so it certainly wont with the electrical industry.

Fact of life im afraid.

 

[LlandrilloSpark]

Example:-

My mate, brainy lad, works in oil and gas, wanted a socket in his garage, this is how he did it:-

2.5mm Twin&Earth tapped off ceiling rose in house then fed externaly to the garage, 3" under the gravel without mechanical protection

2.5mm turns into 1.5mm at junction box in garage

1.5mm(!) feeds metal backbox(no bonding and all knockouts removed) and white pvc single socket front.

statments of his:-

live is live, the voltage is the same

enough said

 

[kung]

I do agree with everyting that has been said, however, as much as i hate to be negative, it aint gonna happen.

It didnt with Corgi so it certainly wont with the electrical industry.

Fact of life im afraid.

True Jason ! there again i suppose it works both ways if people wernt ripped off everywhere with anything you need and age didnt matter these big companies took older people on for training etc the unqualified diy'er etc might think twice before doing the work without all requirements as average cost is aprox £5k for domestic quals tools test gear joining gov body etc etc and if they think i can wire it no prob and safe as houses then the thought of paying anywhere near £5k is a joke to them so i suppose its part expence at fault.
I know its wrong and we all have to conform but also as said who police's it ? how many poeple have you heard of in court for electrical work in domestics ? none none or none ?

 

[Spudnik]

...... how many poeple have you heard of in court for electrical work in domestics ? none none or none ?

There have been a few, although most have been prosecuted for dangerous work and going round pretending to be registered.

There have also been successful cases of 'failure to notify'.

These are, however, few and far between.

 

[Guest123]

Hi Chaps.

Reading this thread reminded of a similar thread from a few weeks ago. There was one quote in particular which stood out for me,

"The only thing Part P has done is give credibility to cowboys"

Problem is nowt will get done about it. Bit of a catch 22 really.

 

[kung]

Your right there mate !