Electrical Safety in the Home: What You Need to Know

What the Law Says

Electrical installation in the UK is regulated differently, depending on
where you live. In England and Wales, it is governed by Part P
of the Building Regulations. The Building Standards system
is used in Scotland while Northern Ireland has no
specific regulations in place.

Part P

Part P of the building regulations means that anyone who is carrying out electrical installation or rewiring work must make sure that the work is implemented safely and offers protection from electrical shocks, fires and causes of injury.

The Government updated Part P for England and Wales in 2013, removing some outdoor and kitchen work from the list of work that is notifiable. This means it can be carried out as a DIY project without any official approval or signing off. Having said that, homeowners in England, Wales, and Scotland should always check with local authorities prior to embarking on any electrical projects. The local authorities will know whether the scheduled work is notifiable or not.

Notifiable Work

Work that is notifiable must be either completed by a registered electrician or signed off on by an approved third-party organisation after a thorough inspection. Failing to have notifiable work completed in this manner is illegal and it could subject homeowners to significant penalties. Other than some minor jobs, all work must be carried out by a registered electrician.

Employing a Registered Electrician

If you are a home owner, using a registered electrician to carry out electrical work in your property will mean that the job will be completed safely and comply with all relevant regulations. You’ll receive an Electrical Installation Certificate and a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate to demonstrate that the work is safe and meets all legal requirements.

What the Risks Are

The risks associated with carrying out electrical work are significant. First is the risk of serious injury or death resulting from accidents that occur during the installation process. As an example, a homeowner may not realise the importance of turning off power to the main fuse box prior to installing a new line. Failing to do so could result in electrocution.

Second, improperly installed electrical work has the potential of causing serious problems in the future. Those problems include electrical fires, short-circuiting, damaged appliances and electronics, damaged fuse boxes, and electrocution. It only takes one mistake to cause serious trouble.

What to Look For

There are certain things homeowners and tenants can look for if they suspect electrical problems in their homes. Some of the more obvious signs include frayed cords, overloaded sockets, and poorly wired cords. However, there are more subtle things to consider; things that may suggest you might have an electrical problem where it cannot be seen.

Your home is wired in such a way that each separate line has a fuse that connects it to the main power within the consumer unit. The fuse is designed to trip in the event the line is overloaded. Tripping fuses should be a rare occurrence if everything in your home is as it should be. If you are routinely tripping fuses – i.e., several times a month – you should have your home checked by a registered electrician.

Also, pay attention to scorch marks on sockets as well as sockets and plugs that get hot. Both are signs of a potential short-circuit or line overload.

If you are buying or renting a property that has been extended, rewired or significantly refurbished recently, you should ask to see the relevant certificates to make sure all any electrical work has been carried out safely.

Electrical safety in the home should never be ignored. Always be safe with electricity in order to avoid devastating injuries, loss of life, and loss of property.