Understanding of Part P

[matdom]

Hi guys,

I've been 'umming and Arring' about joining a Part P 'Scheme' for a while....I currently do very little work that would involve me using it, But obviously it's a good advert as the public see it as some sort of safety net, instead of the rip-off I think it really is.
All the jobs I get are small and with the changes regarding what is notifiable work (April 2013) it seems even less appealing.

I just wanted some other views on it really....

As it stands (and the way I read it) you only need to notify if..

Installing a new circuit
CU change
Installing anything in bathroom zones (swimming pool/sauna)
Circuits to out-buildings etc
complete rewire

You don't need to notify for almost all maintenance type tasks (swapping like for like), fixed garden lighting from existing circuit, anything outside of bathroom zones.

the above makes up all of my domestic work (most of my work is industrial)

Are there any other benefits to registering..... As it stands I can see Part P dissapearing all together eventually.

Any dodgey work I've come across seems to be the result of incompetent people, and those sorts of people probably don't bother with Part P at all, I think their work would be crap whether it was in a bathroom or a bedroom.

 

[telectrix]

don'r bother. join the revolt. ban the bloodsucking scams.

 

[Richard Burns]

Installing a new circuit
CU change
Installing anything in bathroom zones (swimming pool/sauna)

You can ignore these last two as they are covered in the ones above.
(new) Circuits to out-buildings etc
complete rewire

From a legal point of view if you are doing any of the above work in a domestic residence then notification to BC must be done.
From the practical point of view no one enforces this regulation unless something goes badly wrong and if confirmation of the quality of work done is required after one year then an EICR is almost always accepted as a fallback.
There is no leeway from local councils to make it easier for competent persons to directly notify at low / no cost
All of which is a distinct encouragement not to notify or join a scheme.

You have to assess your own acceptable level of legal compliance and apply that to your business.

 

[matdom]

I wouldn't carry out any work that was notifiable if I wan't in a position to self certify. But I can see why people would, Like you just stated, No one ever gets in to trouble for it....Not that I've ever heard of anyway.

That's why the whole thing just seems pointless!

 

[Sparky Ninja]

It sounds like you have a realistic understanding of the whole mess.

Only additional advice I could say would be to check with some of your local potential clients - landlords, local authorities etc. They may have their own stupid policy stating that they only offer to tender the work to NICEIC registered companies.

If this isn't in your interest then I wouldn't bother either.