Part P

What is Part P?

The government believes that by making electrical safety a legal requirement, accidents will decline and the standard of electrical installation will improve. On average faulty electrics causes an average of 10 deaths, 750 serious injuries and 12 fires a year.

From 1 January 2005, it is a legal requirement for electricians, kitchen, bathroom and gas installers, and all other trades involved in carrying out domestic electrical installation work in dwellings and connected gardens, greenhouses and outbuildings to comply with the new electrical safety law - entitled Part P - of the Building Regulations.

What is the purpose of Part P?

The law is expected to raise the competence of electrical installers and significantly reduce the risk of death, injuries and fires caused by defective electrical installations. Under the new law homeowners are still able to replace light switches and sockets on an existing circuit (except for in kitchens and bathrooms). An electrician registered with a government-approved scheme must undertake all other work.