Part p poser

[ianphilip007]

hi all

have a quick question that i cant seem to find the answer too,

How long do we, under part P have to keep copies of our completed test certificates? I have been told its 3 Years but does anyone know where this information is located ? as i cant find it anywhere in the Part P document or online. Many thanks

 

[spark 68]

I think my assessor said 5 years minimum.

 

[ianphilip007]

are you with elecsa currntly spark ??

have my assessment in august think i might just ask him first lol before he gets chance to ask me as i cant find the answer anywhere .

 

[topquark]

Part P doesn't specify how long. The keeping a copy bit is implied by stating that you must give the person ordering the work a copy of the cert. I'm with ELECSA and they stipulate 5 years to keep them. I've started to keep mine on soft copy (a scan of the original).

 

[spark 68]

are you with elecsa currntly spark ??

have my assessment in august think i might just ask him first lol before he gets chance to ask me as i cant find the answer anywhere .

Yes, into my third year with them (Elecsa).

Just as an aside I would keep all copies of certs regardless of the three or five year rule, as this is what is basically covering your backside.
Bearing in mind on domestic the max next inspection is ten years, and you could still be called to account this far down the line, and all we know that the DIYers like to play after we have gone.

 

[Octopus]

You need to keep your business records for 7 years for HMRC, so I'd say it would make sense to keep them for that long.

 

[spark 68]

. I'm with ELECSA and they stipulate 5 years to keep them. I've started to keep mine on soft copy (a scan of the original).

Same as me then TQ , as this is exactly what I do by keeping scans and backing them up to removable media from time to time.

 

[topquark]

I've started filing all of mine now in folders named after postcode-date-sequence. I keep a copy of the invoice on PDF as well.

It's a bit of a pain though as I don't take the scanner out on jobs so have to copy them later, which for a simple cert means delaying giving it to the customer. I always tell them not to pay the bill until the get the cert though.

 

[ianphilip007]

thanks guys all your comments make sense, many thnaks

 

[Richard Burns]

Page 192 in the electricians guide to the building regs A4: certification and reporting: hold copies for three years.
This information is from the EAS guide to the technical competence of installers.

 

[MKS]

Just file them away, you just never know when you might need them! Time limits are just guidelines, a common sense approach is always best! I keep both a hard and computer back up of all my certs, accounts et al, you just never honestly know when you might need them even when one has been superseded!! Rabbiting on now lol

 

[KFH]

Topquark, Take a camera and photograph the certs, file the photos on your computer and or print them out. Then you can get paid quicker.

 

[topquark]

Topquark, Take a camera and photograph the certs, file the photos on your computer and or print them out. Then you can get paid quicker.

A good point, I could use my phone(s)! With a scanner it's idiot proof (WHICH IT NEEDS TO BE!).

 

[ianphilip007]

Page 192 in the electricians guide to the building regs A4: certification and reporting: hold copies for three years.
This information is from the EAS guide to the technical competence of installers.

thanks very much just what i was looking for

 

[Amp David]

All mine are in PDF format so will be keeping them till I give it all up.