Part P

Heating bloke · Nov 22, 2009

Hello all. Hope someone can answer this question which must have been posed before:

I'm a heating engineer with over 30 years experience. Obviously in all that time I've done quite a bit of associated electrical work. Not just fault-finding on electric boilers, but also providing electrical supplies for boilers and system controls. Nowadays, however, I stick to fault-finding only.

I recently carried out some work for a guy who turns out to own a burglar alarm distribution company. He was impressed by my standard of workmanship and general electrical knowledge. He has offered me a rather lucrative part-time job installing alarms (his company would give customers my phone number when they buy an alarm kit). However, there's a 'but'. I had an email from him on Friday asking for me to be Part P registered. Now, the only mains electrical work required in installing these alarms is providing a fused spur for the power supply - everything else being 24 volt. Do I really need to be Part P registered to provide a fused spur? I have read conflicting advice on this on the internet. I need a definitive answer that is accurate. I have read some sites that talk of serious money to be registered, and I don't want to devote any time to considering this offer if that is true.

All answers greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

Guest123 · Nov 22, 2009

Hi there.

Depending on where it is then yes and no.

Check out the link below for guidance.

http://www.elecsa.co.uk/downloads/TableofNotifiableWork.pdf

Cheers

Heating bloke · Nov 23, 2009

Lenny, many thanks for that. So it looks like I would have to register then. Fitting the spur in the hall would be okay, but not in a kitchen! The system seems to be a mess, and it would make sense to either abandon the idea of Part P or tighten it up to include everything - so no one can be confused.

Would Elecsa be the best organisation to take the 'course' with?

Cheers.

patricklondon · Nov 23, 2009

the course you want is the Eal Domestic Installers qualification. this can be done at your local college either 1day if you know all the relevant building regs or x number of weeks 10 or 12 ish (this is not compulsory but an easy way to prove competant). many differing opinions about who's best to register with but niceic is generally thought to be the one that is more often recognised and sometimes people, companies etc ask for it specifically. others say eca is most user friendly for the spark

Had8Lives · Nov 28, 2009

I think the bloke who offered you the job is taking the **** a little. I would be asking if his company is Part P registered. If not he should at least pay the registration fee. It's worth speaking to a ELECSA regarding a Defined Scope assesment as appossed to a Full Scope one.

Heating bloke · Nov 29, 2009

Well, it is annoying - mainly because I'm not an idiot and can quite safely install a spur. I've never made any sort of electrical mistake in all my career*, mainly because I very much respect electricity and concentrate whenever doing any electrical work - yet I've made a few plumbing mistakes! (always learning). I really am caught on the fence at the moment and don't know what to do. At my age I don't want to start taking courses and exams, god knows we have enough of that within our trade.

*Exception: When I was 17 I put a plug on the end of a 6kWh shower and plugged it in to a socket. I even remember having trouble getting the cable to fit in the plug. The guy called me back because the circuit fuse kept blowing. I still cringe whenever I think of it, but then I've heard stories of young blokes doing car brakes and having bits left over. Oh, the stupidity of youth!