Notifying building control.

[fatboyslim]

Evening all,

Just a quick question, I am an electrical maintenance engineer and have 18th edition, inspection and testing and so on, so I get asked regularly by friends and family to carry out any electrical work they need. I only carry out minor work as I am not in a CPS, so cannot self-certify.

However, if I were to undertake notifiable work is the responsibility on myself to notify building control or the homeowner?

I would like to earn a little extra on the weekends but obviously, I don't have enough work to warrant joining a scheme. So for example, if a neighbour wants a new circuit for an outside shed and I issue an EIC and inform them to notify building control of the work undertaken would this eliminate the responsibility from me?

Any advice would be fantastic.

Cheers.

 

[SparkySy]

@Rockingit
Totally agree with they have no clue what they need!
I went and did a job last year that was all on and working but an absolute mess and dangerous on some circuits! The customer needed a cert to get the building passed off.
The spark involved had got paid and done a runner and had clearly no intention of issuing a cert.
I told the customer the best I could do was issue a EICR for the installation and rectification of all the issues. He agreed.
Work was done cert issued.
LABC were adamant that a Part P cert was needed and an EIC.
Who has even heard of a Part P cert!
The customer's architect got involved and suddenly all was fine with an EICR.

 

[LukeD]

Councils..... tend to only show a interest if its a "cash earner " for them .Barnet near me , must have more ex staff who worked in the building side or unemployment dept that have a few millions worth of property .... Here and abroad. 30 years ago there was almost a price list of what needed to be given to get what ever you wanted .

 

[Simon47]

My local building control has replied to my email stating that the Fee is £400 as they need to send a sparky in a CPS to sign the work off.

You made the mistakes of a) asking the wrong question, and b) asking it at all.
If you ask them, then of course they'll gold plate their interpretation of what they think the rules should be.
Anecdotally, it seems the best approach is to simply notify and then send in an EIC with all the numbers filled in.
At my last house I was planning a CU change and put in notice. The inspector asked about certification and I just said I'd be providing an EIC with a full set of test results. He thought for a moment and just said "OK". From their PoV the main thing is having a bit of paper with someone's signature on it to take any blame.
Elsewhere (don't recall if here or DIYnot) someone had a similar conversation but BC insisted on a third party (scam member) certificate. His response was something along the lines of "I'm level 6 qualified, if you're going to have to get someone level 7 qualified if my level 6 isn't good enough for you" - and BC very quickly backed down.

With a completely different hat on, I've also had the same thing - if you ask first then they'll give you the C.Y.A. response and insist on the equivalent of scam membership etc., but if you just send the relevant documents then they'll accept them.