Part P of the building regulations scrapped!

electricalwires_teaser
Tuesday 30 December 2014 20.58 GMT

I am a fully qualified JIB Approved Electrician with 18 years experience. Since Part P of the building regulations was introduced I was suddenly not allowed to carry out certain works in a domestic property unless I paid a fee to a "Part P Scheme", however 5 day "part P" training course's sprung up and now bricklayers with no experience are doing the 5 day course and then carrying out electrical work in people's homes!

Who would knowingly have someone carry out electrical work in their home with only 5 days experiance? In order for me to gain my City & Guilds in electrical installations I had to go through a 4 YEAR intensive training program and once that was completed I took various other courses such as a 6 week C&G 2391 testing, inspection & certification, so how on earth can a 5 day course be adequate.

As all electricians know, we are always learning in this industry and you cannot learn the entire BS:7671 2008 IEE wiring regulations and gain the nessacesry experience required in 5 days flat. Nobody would let someone carry out a surgical operation on them with only 5 days experience, electrical work is no different. One example is a local kitchen fitter, he used to pay good local electricians to carry out the electrical work for him, and then arrived "Part P", he did a 5 day course and added to his van "House Rewires" just below "kitchen installations" Would you let a self tought kitchen fitter rewire your home if you knew the truth of his training? As he isn't even a qualified kitchen fitter let alone an electrician. I have refused to pay this stealth tax for Part P registration therefor I no longer carry out domestic works, I leave it to the bricklayers and kitchen fitters (their prices are always cheaper as they don't know what they are doing, you get what you pay for) Part P is a licence for unqualified inexperienced incompetent people to carry out and legally certify unsafe work.

I get inundated with "Part P" builders, plumbers, shoe menders plasterers, tilers, kitchen fitters, dress makers, computer programmers, shop owners ect….who did the 5 day part P course and now carrying out electrical work, phoning me and asking me the simplest of electrical questions on problems they have. I now advise them to go back to dress making and leave electrical work to the professionals. If I had a penny every time I saw someone in a DIY store holding a cooker switch and gazing at some door bell wire (as it's the cheapest cable) I wouldn't need to work.

Another example is, I had been asked by a letting agent to carry out a Periodic Inspection Report on a domestic property which was to be rented, the inspection failed due to having NO MAIN EARTH, this is enough to condemn the installation as it could be an electric shock risk, we all know that electricity can kill. To my amazement the owner told me he had it recently tested by his own Part P electrician who signed it off as safe. It was clearly evident that the Part P so called electrician had installed bonding to the mains gas and water service, but as he could not fit the new earths into the earth bar he disconnected the MAIN earth in order to connect his bonding cables, leaving the installation worse off than before he started.

Another example, A letting agent called me out to a property where a child had received an electric shock from a cable in the garden, when I arrived I was shown to the garden where I found an exposed live end of flex sticking out between the gaps in the patio where the children where playing, unbelivable I know. I completly removed the said cable and unsured it was made safe, I also advised them it to have the property fully Tested & Inspected as I had also noticed the shed was not RCD protected and there were numerous other dangers. I was stunned when I was informed they had only been in the property a couple of weeks and the property had been tested before they moved in. I aksed if I could see their paper work on the inspection and they showed me a peace of paper which showed it was a worthless made up inspection report a washing machine repair man had made up on his computer, all it had on it was the installation address a few tick boxes and his signature stating the installation was safe.

I informed the letting agent of my findings at the property and of the paper work I had been shown, I did my up most best to explain to the letting agent what this guy is doing and that the Certifiacte he produced was worthless and he had signed of a dangerous installation where a child had an electric shock due to his incompetance as safe but they did not seam to care as he was cheaper than everyone else and he was Part P registered. The numerous Part P schemes need to be scrapped as they do not work (there is nothing to stop joe bloggs popping to a DIY store, buying the wrong materials and carrying out the unsafe work himself – as its cheaper) and all electrical work to be only carried out by licenced JIB electricians.

You should not be able to even buy certain electrical items such as fuse boards ect without being registered with the JIB (Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Contracting Industry) and no more. I know of people who have had no training what so ever but they are working on building sites wiring new homes, shops ect… working for a registered company so they are getting away with it.

Why does this matter?


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61 Responses to Part P of the building regulations scrapped!

  1. Kevin Wharton says:

    Amen to that. Scrap the useless money making scam known as Part P of the Building Regulations ASAP.

    • simon fox says:

      yep mate, ive been in the industry practicing as an electrician for 27 years , re wiring, all domestic work, etc, always done a quality job, with happy customers to the regs, since part p ive had to turn new work down or pay the £2000 to do the part p, seems experience dosent count for much anymore, just paying money for paperwork and books, yet another of gordons beauracracy, scrap part p,

  2. Warren Keen says:

    I agree, it should be scrapped. I’m a fully qualified electrical electronics technician with 20 years of experience in industry, fitting 3 phase machinery and fault finding. After re-wiring my new extention I was told by Building Regs that even though I am highly qualified, i still need a certificate of compentence i.e Part P cert from an electrician or someone registered. this was going to cost me an extra £200 for the inspection. It’s all a con and the person who invented it should be thrown in jail!!!!!

  3. ET says:

    Whats wrong with enforcing the C&G qualifications. Part P was a bad Idea and should be put to bed.

  4. Barry freeman says:

    Please remove part p I am a sole trader with 40yrs experience who simply carnt afford this stupid policy also my customers don’t want this because of the extra expense its the big companies that like it as they see the small companies go bust and leave all the work for them thanks John Prescott I will soon be on the dole

    • Kevin Wharton says:

      Yes, same as me mate.
      I struggle every week to keep my head above water. Get shot of the parasite scam providors.

  5. tony smith says:

    I have 20 years of electrical experience I have done city and guilds 236 parts one and two, 4 year apprenticeship and other courses (6 week 2391 inspection and test) I can tell you now truthfully that Part P is a farce and anyone having it needs scrutinizing as they are more than likely cowboys if they have not done a 4 year apprenticeship??? Think about it for heavens sake.. I work for a firm now but if I choose to work for myself I wouldn’t pay the Part P tax and I would trade without it as its not worth the paper its printed on. I would urge all proper electricians to do the same as they wouldn’t be able to enforce it. Who ever came up with Part P should be thrown in gaol. Incidentally Part P came about because an MPs daughter got electrocuted by dodgy wiring. Yes dodgy wiring carried out by a dodgy builder or kitchen fitter so they should enforce the law by allowing only electricians to carry out work not by introducing yet another tax on electricians. This country is going to pot by design and by greed. Don’t pay part P there is no point

  6. Steve Miller says:

    i have 38yrs experience and all C&G qualifications and am an ECA Approved Contractor Part P is a complete con and has caused so many of us to lose domestic work since its release, even the painter on a big job was starting this Part p and had the cheek to call himself an electrician and thought he could tell me what my job was its wrong and should be scrapped as the old saying goes a little knowledge is dangerous

  7. DC says:

    I agree with the above. However there are other issues as well from a non-qualified but intelligent sensible DIYer. My daughter has a 50’s house with botched electrics from previous owners. We have had qualified electricians look at it and they say they can’t put right or improve obvious faults and can only rewire the whole house. My daughter is very poor and can’t afford the astronomical quotes and required disruption. The result is I repair the dangerous elements (e.g wires that were joined with insulation tape etc) probably to part P standard but certainly to a much safer level.
    As far as I’m concerned my first priority is to make it safe, regulations or not.

    • SM says:

      This is an argument for improving the survey process when buying a house, to include an electrical safety inspection, not for retaining part P. The type of person who joins cables with insulating tape is not aware of any regulations at all, probably does’nt know anything about part P and isn’t likely to consult a flow chart on the dclg website to see whether he is allowed to do a particular job or not!. Scrap part P and improve the survey process, that way deterioration and accidental damage is checked at house sale time, as well as any dodgy work.

    • Warren says:

      The problem is, your not trained enough to know what your doing, hence the reason Part P of the building Regs was introduced in the first place. The taped joints were also not put there by qualified electrician. If safety is your real concern then pay for a safe service!

      • DC says:

        I think you are taking a big leap there from what I said Warren. You cannot judge my competence in doing a job properly or not because I have not got Part P certification. My father was an expert qualified electrician and taught me how to do what i did safely. This was a temporary measure to make things safe which I would do every time. Yes, I will have a qualified electrician re-wire the house as soon as funds are available but unless they are prepared to do it for nothing it cannot be instantly, which making safe by me can be!!

  8. Neil Haynes, MIET, EngTech. says:

    No scheme can make a person carry out work correct and proper. Scrap part P and have in its place a system which tracks down anyone who does not comply with BS7671 and punish them adequatley. This includes them being up to date with current qualifications like 17th edition regs and amendments plus completeing the appropriate paperwork-certification. Example of why part P is a joke, stopping a qualified electrician from installing a socket outlet in a kichen or a shower in a bathroom or a new distribution board is wrong.

  9. Ben Tufnell says:

    I’m 23 and have been doing electrical work for 5 years or so.
    I have completed an Electrotechnical Advanced apprenticeship including; City & Guilds 2330 Levels 2 & 3 ( Certificate in Electrotechnical Technology), City & Guilds 2356 NVQ level 3 in Electrotechnical Services, The AM2 Test.
    I have a JIB/CSCS cards.
    It took my 3 and a half years to do all that and now I find out that any Tom, Dick or Harry can just do a 5 day course and can actually carry out work that I, by law, can not do. Seriously?
    I am trying to start my own company but there is just no way I can afford such ridiculous prices for something that’s not even worth the paper its printed on.
    Makes me wonder why I even bother trying.

  10. I feel I should have saved all my money and all the years experience and studying at college and just did the five day course. Cheaper and quicker! Joking asside… STOP Part P ITS KIILING US! Everyone with Part P should have to re apply and study the correct way to do what we do

  11. IanLeonard(JIB Registered electrician). says:

    Totally agree with all the comments posted.
    I went to a house last year where a kitchen had been fitted by homebase. They had fitted a new DB and renewed the supply to the garage. I was asked to rewire the lighting circuits as they were unearthed 1960,s installation customer wanted to fit new metal cased light fittings.What I found on commencing this work was that the new DB was insecure in its mountings,the front cover was insecure,the mcbs for the sockets and cooker were 40amp instead of 32.The lighting circuit in the garage had inadequate protection basically spured of the back of the socket and relying on a 20amp mcb for protection. I asked the lady for the paperwork, for this previous work it comprised of a page from a duplicate invoice book with a mobile no for the fitters labour no name or address shown. And the certification for both the gas and electrical work carried out comprised of a piece of home base headed notepaper with some tick boxes. Electrical work compliant to PartP standards tick Yes or No. Gas installation compliant to Gas Safe standards tick yes or no etc. Absolutely no evidence that formal testing had been carried out.! I feel that electricians should be trained properly in the inspection and test process and made to sit C&G inspection+testing exam.Part P deos not ensure that electrical work is carried out correctly it is just a license to print money!

  12. George says:

    I think part p should stay with a but and that is: were an electrician can prove his competence by means of training undertaken, recognized qualification and by this i mean the relevant C&G Certificates or underwent a full electrical apprenticeship or ultimately you have a jib statues that we all know as real sparks & to coin an old phrase it dose what it says on the card, and if anyone needs to prove your jib status they can just phone them up & give your Ni number

  13. George says:

    save Part P for the layman not the real electrician

  14. Richard says:

    I am a Part P electrician, and i can tell all of you now that it is not as easy as doing a five day course. We also have to do City & Guilds Inspection and testing. After doing both these courses we have to then register with NICEIC, Elecsa or equivalent who then inspect our work in which the customer would have to be happy with an UN-registered electrician to do the work needed. The NICEIC would then inspect our work every year at random. If we fail to meet there standards (which are generally higher than BS7671) we would no longer be able to register with the NICEIC or equivalent, meaning no work.
    I am a competent electrician, not that you guys would call me that. I am 26 years old and have had a change of career, I have worked under various other electricians in the past and i can happily say there is nothing electrical i do not understand, there is no way on earth i would be able to afford the full apprenticeship and this with additional courses in the future i will only get better.
    As for shoddy workmanship, i have seen work done by fully qualified, time serving electricians doing unthinkably bad work. Some even potentially dangerous. There is no guarantee that even a fully qualified electrician will do a good job, abiding to the regulations. Qualifications do not always make a good tradesmen!
    As for those electricians out there that think us Part P electricians are stealing domestic work, this is the most unfair statement i have ever heard. This is down to the businessmen that you should be as an electrician running your own small business, being competitive, building relations with customers and expanding using your good work as advertisement for your businesses.
    Part P is not there to scrutinize you fully qualified electricians, it is there to enforce that all electricians are keeping there BS7671 qualifications up to date combined with there work regulated to standard, and those that do not update there knowledge are then not able to be Part P, disqualifying them from doing domestic work.
    I strive my best to be a good electrician and have a very good client base, all of which are happy customers and always recommend my good work to others. I have worked on larger projects with other fully qualified electricians, who admire my hard work and knowledge.
    Two of My NICEIC inspectors have also said that the vast majority of people failing there inspections are often time served electricians who are working to outdated standards. And has also told me that some of the best electricians they have seen have derived from us part qualified electrician!
    Please think before posting a whole load of rubbish!!!!!

    • TONY says:

      WHAT RUBBISH LESS QUALIFIED ELECTRICIANS ARE BETTER THAN FULLY QUALIFIED JIB ELECTRICIANS. THAT LIKE SAYING 2 IS MORE THAN 10 WHAT AN IGNORANT IDIOT P.S. I AM PART P REGISTERED AND THE ONLY THING THAT CONCERNED THEM ON MY INSPECTION WAS WEATHER I HAD A RUBBISH LICENCE THEY DIDN’T EVEN LOOK AT MY WORK

  15. Richard says:

    And as for you electricians who have been serving for 15 years and above, how on earth can you not afford a few thousand pounds to get PartP??? You must be doing something very very wrong indeed!!!
    Part P will certainly help you get more business, and is also making the market better for us.
    You guys that are fully qualified time served electricians have a huge advantage over us part qualified electricians.

  16. I dont belive this, this was clearly written by someone who doesn’t not know Part P.

    I have recently (Feb 2012) paid 2k to sit a domestic electricians course, PAT testing, Part P, 17th edition Wiring reg’s and all. It took me 5 weeks the course was crammed packed and my head almost fell of at the end but I passed and with high scores.

    It covers everything, I agree the schemes afterwards are still a bit pricey, but NICEIC is the brand and this will bring business your way. I believe it’s all about raising standards, and I think its a good idea. I’m currently doing my own place out, a full rewire, CU fitted, extending and in some cases splitting RM (ring mains) to bring it all up to 17th edition standards. I planning on having a child with my partner soon so I want it all safe as can be, Currently working full time in IT (Information technology) if I can start a business then I will, and it’s my aspiration to be self employed, and employ others.

    Those of you who are knocking this are just, if I may, scared of change. Yes it does cost but any electrician in my opinion worthy of their salt should be making 40-50k p.a. should £450.00 pa dent your income, really?

    I don’t know anyone who will know the whole of the reg’s of the top of their head, that ridiculous, in my opinion, its all in the reg’s for referral that’s why they wrote the book and the OSG (On Site Guide) it has all of your voltage drop’s, cable used and MET sizes + Bonding conductors in there if your new/hazy, plus much much more.

    Testing & Inspecting is the next for me as I only covered the basics in the course, and just saved to buy an installation meter, but TBH, Ive had my fluke out and it ain’t rocket science. I’m soon also looking at the new replacement for the C&G 2391 + 2392.

    So yes its another spend but it’ll be worth it to get estate agency (although I could do it now) work and further myself.

    C’mon ladz don’t fight it it’ll give you a headache, things change all the time, I know it annoying, but just go with the flow.it is for the better and in my opinion Progress.

    Good luck to you all…

    • John says:

      Mark Hardacre.

      I was in the game 20 years. Your comments are the most Naive I’ve seen to date.

      • Nathan Hillman TMIET says:

        Now Now gentelmen, Part P,
        Part P is a document that has been introduced to the building regulations in a domestic enviroment, You register with a governing body so that you dont have to pay the council extra money when doing works, my local council reigate and banstead charges around £285 for a standard job eg to change a socket in a kitchen etc and X amount on large install’s according to the cost of the job, this is when you are not part P.

        Yes it costs money to join a governing body but if you do the maths it does work out cheaper, that is if you are a busy sparks with a good rep. If its not cheaper and you only do a few jobs a year then it may be cheaper to notify building control and pay there fee’s.

        Unfortunately Part P is here, just like gas safe, fensa and yes next there will probably be a Regulation for grass cutting with shears.

        The Part P course is to fill you in with the reguirments of Part P building regulations, area’s that are not covered by the BS 7671, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE THIS COURSE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING, YOU DONT NEED 2391 TEST AND INSPECTION IF YOU CAN PROVE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING, YOU JUST HAVE TO PROVE YOU KNOW IT BY SHOWING A REGISTERED BODY LIKE THE NICEIC, NAPIT ETC.

        The thing I dont like is that you can get the 2391, Part P quite easily now and if you have this then it is assumed that you know what you are doing, UMMM and trust me, if you think you can learn what you need to know in 4, 5, 6, 3, 1 week then think again, sitting behind a desk reading a book and then working on a little test rig is not learning the job, its like starting to drive, one step at a time. Its a shame they dont still teach you what a type 4 is, and you try finding a Max Zs in the new 7671 for one, most people think that a C50 is obsulete and rated to 50 amps. They should also teach how to lift a floor board up in college, the amount of times ive seen a new sparks try it with a circular saw set to full blade, Ka ching pisssssss.

        I have been a sparks for 18 years and I am now a FWT engineer of 5 years and I carry out EICR on a large number of different establishments including 6 savoy place the building next to the savoy hotel. (look it up) Trust me I have seen things that even you old boy sparks would be ashamed of. lead sheath main tails laying on floors, exposed VIR feeding sub DB’s, ferrow magnetic effects on MICC/Singles, busbar isolator’s wired the wronge way, 2.5mm on 63 amp MCB’s, no eletcrical seperation on TT installation’s the list is too long!!!!!!
        I have tested installations put in by extremly large companys to find loose mid conductors at the install main switch, 110 v DB’s with 1 line in a solid link beside a 3 pole main switch, and these companys have approved contractor under there belts and X amount of other credentials.

        EVERY SPARKS/ELECTRICIAN SHOULD BE TIME SERVED, Electricity kills, look at poor Emma Shaw who had a fatal shock last year, 22 year old mum who left and 23 month old kid because some joker won the job and got his test and inspection certificate from a christmas cracker the year before.

        Doctors cant be a doctor in 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3 weeks if they did would you trust them with your life.

        The truth about part P is that its not there to scare sparkys into thinking that you cant do anything anymore, its there to ensure you have an understanding of what is required when installing the electrical installation in a domestic property. You can wire a house to an excellent standard in regards to the wire and DB you use but if you are damaging the buildings structure and wiring saftey services in the wrong places etc then you need to look at part P

        I do personally think that the update of reg’s, registration of part p etc should be included in one cost and renewed on a 5 yearly basis.
        3 and 1 years is too soon and yes it makes the gov’s rich so there is most definatley a scam going on some where.

        Im not part P because I generally work industrial and commerical but I would change a socket in my own house, I am not charging myself for it so why should I have to pay building control for it.

        I work for a company now and let them pay for it. But if I wanted to go back to house bashing and chasing my money then I would most def just go and get registered. You just need to add £50 per large job for your fee’s, certs etc and keep it real for loose little jobs and not go around ripping off old lady’s!!!!

        If you are installing any electric then you should have all the required tools and insurances already, so its not actually as expensive as you think, but would be cheaper if it was a 5 year rolling registration and the Gov’s would still make a tidy profit.

        well I thought you would all like to know that.

        Cheers Nathan H
        P.S yes I am a sparks, can you tell be my spelling!!

    • bert says:

      To Mr Mark Hardacre have a read of what N Hilman says below and see if any of it sounds familiar ? thought not, you are NOT a sparky you are a naïve IT geek who read a regs book and a few past exam papers and that can NEVER replace a time served apprentiship and real time experience, I’m sorry but you are stupid and making a mockery of our respected trade. p.s what is an installation meter? you big genius you

  17. P.S the course was 3 weeks in total, with a weeks plastering for corrective work, at the end, so 4 weeks it took me to do including PAT testing. . .

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  19. John says:

    I very strongly object to the prospect of being criminalised for doing work that I can competently do. I also strongly object to paying extra for the work to be done by someone else or have it approved.
    If I am not allowed to do the work then I wont pay to have it done: no materials or labour !
    Scrap Part P

  20. John says:

    Part P was put in place to make the scheme providers a lot of money and curb the cash in handers.

    It faild to curb the cash in handers!

  21. mike craig says:

    Part ‘P’ like most accreditation schemes is a rip-off. Nevertheless I share the view that most of those J.I.B. installers who complain about the cost of the course could well afford it. These ‘qualified’ sparks go on about the number of years it took for them to gain their status in a way that belies the cursory skills required. Anyone leaving school with good grades in GCSE sciences and maths could learn electrical installation in a few months, so long as they weren’t being used as a labourer / kettleboy.

  22. Michael Harvey says:

    Completely agreed with Mike Craig. Part P is a waste of time, it doesn’t stop cowboys or make you a good tradesperson, it just cost money that could be otherwise put to better uses. If you have half a brain, the electrical courses that are needed are not difficult. I have an electrical background but never did an electricians apprentiship, but i hold 2381, 2391 (which only took 4 days by the way ,not 6 weeks) and i am more than competent to carry out electrical work in domestic properties. I don’t deny, experience goes a long way, but don’t dismiss people just because take a different route to the same end.

    • Mark says:

      Michael,
      Whilst I agree with you in principle and am sure you are more than capable.
      I still think that your skills would be limited without going through a full apprenticeship.
      I have worked along side many electricians and you can always tell a time served apprentice.
      Their skill set is far broader, ranging from industrial to domestic. Dealing with motors, transformers etc, knowing about harmonics, power factor correctiion, induced loads, eddy currents, applying diversity, discrimination when installing fuses/mcbs. Even something as simple as working with micc cable.
      It is very easy to see why a lot of the old school boys are discruntled.
      There are many guys out there that have taken the shorter route and can only do domestic or small commercial. That’s not an electrician in my eyes. That’s semi skilled.
      A true electrician should be able to take on board an installation ranging from a house to a hotel or even a hospital and that includes being competent to design it, install it and finally test and inspect it and put his name to it..
      part P is and will always be a waste of time. I did the course and went through the process of gaining accreditation with one of the governing bodies. The lad they sent to assess me was barely out of short trousers, and knew hardly anything about the industry. I tied him up in knots poor kid.
      Another epic fail all round for this once great country

      • supersesful says:

        I was a labourer / mate with an industrial and commercial firm for 5 years, they wouldn’t put me through an apprenticeship. I then joined a domestic firm as an improver for more money and they wouldn’t allow me the time off. Eventually I paid myself through the 2381 (a week), 2391 (a week) and 17th update (a day). I passed them all first time and set up on my own, currently going well for 6 years. I have a total of 13 years experience but no formal apprenticeship, yet I’m fully familiar and competent with regards to all you have mentioned. This is due to actually enjoying my job wanting and seeking out the background knowledge rather than trying to just get the qualification. On the other hand, the apprentice I was given at the domestic firm is now a JIB registered sparky and is utterly useless. He was mollycoddled through his entire apprenticeship, other than his AM2, which he failed twice. The firm made me help him with his portfolio on their time, as they did with all their lads. I’ve worked with 3 of them since they’ve qualified, all JIB registered and they are clueless. One of them told me, after failing the 2391 he thinks the 2391, that its not necessary and a waste of time.

        Experience attitude and aptitude are the important factors, I will happily chew the fat with any sparky and hold my own.

        BTW Part P is so badly run it would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic. We aren’t far away from the term ‘domestic installer’ becoming a recognised trade.

  23. marc says:

    If they did decide to abolish part P i recon they should pay all the money back to all those sparkies that had to pay for doing/being forced to do this course. A group of Dick Turpins.

  24. T Hayward says:

    It is criminal that those of us that served apprenticeships and have college qualifications are deemed incompetent. Please scrap part P

  25. p.elias says:

    As a fully BS7671 qualified and JIB registered time served electrician with 32 years experience i partially agree with part p…..but ony for the non qualified, why should i pay to be told what i already know and have studied for ?

  26. Ian Giblett says:

    Nothing additional to say, Scrap part P!

  27. Warren says:

    Got all the badges, qualified electrician, inspector, designer, solar, all in all 22 C&G certs, Ltd Co, worked in Germany, Spain, Demark, all over the UK, London 2012 Olympics etc and I’m now ready to say good bye to the whole industry for good.

    Reasons – far too many clubs, no policing, no enforcement, no real unified standards, far too expensive to operate, being ripped off every year for a membership just to trade, too many find a, trust a, websites with cowboys, small jobs can’t be done without a customer thinking you are ripping them off due to regulation changes, too many changes to regs that require additional training costs, lack of consumer knowledge in regards to electrics (although they all know Gas Safe) and a difficultly to make any real profit.

    We can all earn a living but without profits, there’s no growth.

    Although I agree with the Part P principle for electrical safety this has only forced home owners to chose untrained DIYers rather than a higher priced (due to all the costs) qualified electricians. Safety gone and no prevention.

    I’m not a negative person but I’ve spent years in this industry and during my time it has just gone in a downward spiral. It’s a split industry with every man for himself and all the scheme’s are just pushing bigger divides between fellow sparks.

    For me it’s time to get out, not by choice but by the industry itself.

  28. Nathan Hillman TMIET says:

    Now Now gentelmen;

    Part P is a document that has been introduced to the building regulations in a domestic enviroment, You register with a governing body so that you dont have to pay the council extra money when doing works, my local council reigate and banstead charges around £285 for a standard job eg to change a socket in a kitchen etc and X amount on large install’s according to the cost of the job, this is when you are not part P.

    Yes it costs money to join a governing body but if you do the maths it does work out cheaper, that is if you are a busy sparks with a good rep. If its not cheaper and you only do a few jobs a year then it may be cheaper to notify building control and pay there fee’s.

    Unfortunately Part P is here, just like gas safe, fensa and yes next there will probably be a Regulation for grass cutting with shears.

    The Part P course is to fill you in with the reguirments of Part P building regulations, area’s that are not covered by the BS 7671, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE THIS COURSE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING, YOU DONT NEED 2391 TEST AND INSPECTION IF YOU CAN PROVE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING, YOU JUST HAVE TO PROVE YOU KNOW IT BY SHOWING A REGISTERED BODY LIKE THE NICEIC, NAPIT ETC.

    The thing I dont like is that you can get the 2391, Part P quite easily now and if you have this then it is assumed that you know what you are doing, UMMM and trust me, if you think you can learn what you need to know in 4, 5, 6, 3, 1 weeks then think again, sitting behind a desk reading a book and then working on a little test rig is not learning the job, its like starting to drive, one step at a time. Its a shame they dont still teach you what a type 4 is, and you try finding a Max Zs in the new BS 7671 for one, most people think that a C50 is obsulete and rated to 50 amps. They should also teach how to lift a floor board up in college, the amount of times ive seen a new sparks try it with a circular saw set to full blade, Ka ching pisssssss.

    I have been a sparks for 18 years and I am now a FWT engineer of 5 years and I carry out EICR on a large number of different establishments including 6 savoy place, Trust me I have seen things that even you old boy sparks would be ashamed of. lead sheath main tails laying on floors, exposed VIR feeding sub DB’s, ferrow magnetic effects on MICC singles, busbar isolator’s wired the wronge way, 2.5mm on 63 amp MCB’s, no eletcrical seperation on TT installation’s the list is too long!!!!!!
    I have tested installations put in by extremly large companys to find loose mid conductors at the install’s main switch, 110 v DB’s with 1 line in a solid link beside a 3 pole main switch, and these companys have approved contractor under there belts and X amount of other credentials.

    EVERY SPARKS/ELECTRICIAN SHOULD BE TIME SERVED, Electricity kills, look at poor Emma Shaw who had a fatal shock last year, 22 year old mum who left and 23 month old kid because some joker won the job and got his test and inspection certificate from a christmas cracker the year before.

    Doctors cant be a doctor in 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3 weeks if they did would you trust them with your life.

    The truth about part P is that its not there to scare sparkys into thinking that you cant do anything anymore, its there to ensure you have an understanding of what is required when installing the electrical installation in a domestic property. You can wire a house to an excellent standard in regards to the wire and DB you use but if you are damaging the buildings structure and wiring saftey services in the wrong places etc then you need to look at part P

    I do personally think that the update of reg’s, registration of part p etc should be included in one cost and renewed on a 5 yearly basis.
    3 and 1 years is too soon and yes it makes the gov’s rich so there is most definatley a scam going on some where.

    Im not part P because I generally work industrial and commerical but I would change a socket in my own house, I am not charging myself for it so why should I have to pay building control for it.

    I work for a company now and let them pay for it. But if I wanted to go back to house bashing and chasing my money then I would most def just go and get registered. You just need to add £50 per large job for your fee’s, certs etc and keep it real for loose little jobs and not go around ripping off old lady’s!!!!

    If you are installing any electric then you should have all the required tools and insurances already, so its not actually as expensive as you think, but would be cheaper if it was a 5 year rolling registration and the Gov’s would still make a tidy profit.

    well I thought you would all like to know that.

    Cheers Nathan H
    P.S yes I am a sparks, can you tell be my spelling!!

  29. Trevor Hayward says:

    Scrap Part P as it currently stands. I served a 4 year apprenticeship and got City & Guilds but am now not even deemed a ‘Competent Person’ by local authority – surely it would be enough to allow people like myself to just sit the exam/be tested to prove I know the regulations, i.e. not have to line the pockets of the training companies.

    Everyone, Gas Safe plumbers too, that I talk to agree it would be fair to be tested when there are major changes to regulations – but not at great and unacceptable cost.

    I suggest that Part P encourages ‘Cowboy’ and ‘DIY’ due to costs be driven up unecessarily.

    • Nathan Hillman TMIET says:

      I quite agree, They should also kill VAT, that is what is finishing the small companys, This all boils down to the goverment and ways they can gain value added tax. VAT should stand for Vodka And Tonic, not company limos, £30,000 pay rises and 5 course christmas dinners.

  30. Jeff Moorhouse says:

    People , I feel that some comments are loosing the point . Part P is just one part of building regulations not electrical regulations . It was put in place to ensure that the building structure is not compromised by the installation of electrotechnical works . where people are getting it wrong is they seem to be putting forward an argument that you need “Part P to trade in domestic situations . This is not the case . What you require is COMPETENCE alligned with subscription to a government sponsored body such as NICEIC.
    You DO NOT need to take a part p course ,as long as you work in accordance with Part P ( which is a document you can download ) . I too have to say an apprentiship does not make you a skilled and knowledgeable electrician it gives you the theory .

  31. jon says:

    Hi all ,well as work is hard to find we all have to learn new things…im going on the part p course as i think its easy money being a electrician,and as im a roofer the winter days would be better spent in the warm and dry ..anyone know of a good course in essex? kind regards Jon

  32. Damian says:

    Get rid of the part p but enforce that all electricians should be monitored by a governing body and should have their 2391 as if you are not capable of passing this qualification in my eyes you shouldnt be doing the job!this should get rid of the people who arent conversant of the regs.

  33. h34thy says:

    I have 2330 level 3 certs, nvq level 3 cert and 17th edition cert, it took me nearly 4 years to qualify, but I remember 50% maybe 60% of the 2330 course was electronic formulae, resistors/capacitors in series/parallel blah blah….. My point being that the say 50% I’ve mentioned I have never used on site so that 50% was a waste of time doing. I want to start up on my own soon, I don’t have the 2391 cert and have searched the avenues of becoming a registered domestic installer plus heard some gossip about the 2391 course…. which is that 90% of people who take it fail it, now I know I have the compitence to go into a dwelling and undertake any electrical work put my way with the 7 years experience I have, so the option I have chose is to take the part p course, I don’t want to waste time and money on a course I’m not gona pass, I have read all the info on the nic eic website on part p and whatever work is completed under part p is inspected by an nic eic inspector or whoever your registered with, the cost of being part p registered with the nic eic is £400 pa now if I can get the work in throughout the year I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to afford that. So for me I say no don’t scrap part p but on applying for registration with a governed body such as nic, a certain amount of qualifications and proven experience should be shown. This for me is a much quick and easier way for me to get where I wanna be, I don’t agree with any Tom Dick or Harry going into someone’s home and messing with their electrics at all but as for scrapping part p I wouldn’t agree but maybe more rules and regulations should be applied.

  34. Holmes Lore says:

    Bad idea. I would rather have the builder with the Part P than one who does not.

  35. Stephen Biddle says:

    It is clear that Part P has failed so lets stop winging and do something. It is up for review now. I contancted my MP and he was very helpful.

    Write and vist your MP now and we can get this piece of nonsense dealt with.

  36. Stephen Biddle says:

    OK I have set up a Facebook page called

    Action for the reform of Part P

    Spreed the word we all need to get on with the job and remove this ineffective stealth tax

  37. I just cannot see the relevance of Part P.
    I regularly see work that has been carried out by so called Part P accredited electricians that is downright dangerous and when you call the scheme who they are registered with nothing happens.
    They will only act if it is the client who complains, but why would they complain when they wouldn’t know what was right or wrong being lay persons ?
    They will act upon a complaint from a person other than the client if you pay £799.00 + VAT for their time.
    This is ludicrous … any accredited scheme who receive a complaint should look into it further, especially when it is from another electrician, what are we paying for ??
    Scrap Part P it’s a joke

  38. GARY HARDIE says:

    Gary hardie says

    Im 55 years old have been a ships joiner[dockyard plymouth] for 40years and fitting kitchen for 10years. Im prod of the fact that i fit to a high standard ,but the trouble is the bones and joints are starting to go .and as any kitchen fitter will tell you theres a lot of lifting when fitting a kitchen.I been thinking [yes it hurt] electrical and gas work is a little easier on the back [thinking 10 years from know]
    and it pays better [spent about 8 grand on tools] You may disagree with me but i been around and i watch you gays [sorry guys] I can plaster but fxxk that for a game of solders. and honestly didn’t know that all you needed was part p . sparky kept putting me off now i know why sorry chaps but I’m going to give it a go .[ probably fail any ]

  39. GARY HARDIE says:

    im new to this typing business took me over an hour to write that. serve myself right for being an insomniac .just thought [know I’ve got a headache] if i said lets swop trades i wonder how many people would take me up on it . ps i really like doing this I’m fxxking hooked.

  40. julian lacey says:

    come and do some occupied council house rewires on a price, fitting kitchen’s is a few boxes in one room i’ve done all aspects of building from digging footings to cutting and pitching roofs,the one job gives me the worst back is electrical I did it for 30 years on all types of sites,if you’re good enough to be a proper sparks your good enough to get a decent job

  41. winfit says:

    Part P simply does not work.
    How and why anyone thinks that a competent person is deemed so by the judgement of a single job once a year ?
    I see works regularly carried out by electricians registered with Part P schemes who’s work is rubbish and sometimes downright dangerous.
    When you call the scheme to report your findings on one of their members they just say ” are you the customer” and when you reply no they then tell you that you have to pay £799.00 plus VAT for them to come out and inspect the work ?
    This is ludicrous as they are supposed to be the organisation that monitors the industry yet they turn a blind eye when it comes to them carrying out anything which would cost them time and money.
    If Part P is to remain then the schemes need to take action against their members when sub standard work has been reported to them.
    Part P is a money spinner for the scheme providers and nothing more… the quicker it is gotten rid of the better.

  42. electrician says:

    Part P is here to stay but as you are all aware some what relaxed. Accredited and non accredited self employed or employed we are conscious of the fact that Installations all over the uk have and will continue to be undertaken by the DIY . The accredited Bodies have always known this too, you cannot successfully monitor or police the Domestic Industry..
    They only advocate Electrical Safety in the Home and only recommend you the consumer to employ an accredited approved Electrician.
    So I was not surprised to see that Part P get the vote from the powers that be to get it relaxed. I feel for the Newley qualified Spark who may have payed many thousands to be associated with the Industry only to find out that Mr and Mrs DIY can now in theory I am understood Install legally denying you a large percentage of your income.
    I am sure it has been under review for a considerable time . It’s become a very competitive Industry to be associated with .
    The monopoly of the Industry stays with the accredited organisation
    I have to be honest they have failed in trying to compete with the apparently rogue trader so they now are encouraging them to use your competent status another revenue stream for the accredited organisations. If you can’t beat them get them to join you.
    Let’s see what the accredited groups come up with in the new year a new means of registration for the DIY and the Contractor?
    Part P definitely is the Marmite of all Building Regulations

    S/E campaigning for change regarding many issues relating to the Domestic Industry and it’s Governance.

  43. mare fresco says:

    I have recently had dealings with a builder and his Part P registered friend. The electrical work is unbelievable and needs to be redone. To extort money from me they withheld the Part P Certificate. Then I found out no work had been notified to ELECSA.

  44. Excellent insight into the viewpoint of a qualified electrician with years of experience!

  45. james scoynes says:

    I Think this is what all good qualified electrician think. Part P is only good for the brick layers, kitchen fitters and the organisations who take our money. The real sad thing about this, it will never change Money Talks.

  46. me says:

    i am training in part p because the little tykes keep trying to rip me off, i have no choice because of legislation but i too agree with what i read it is a joke, experienced builder and not happy with the way it is but what can any one do, you have to shut up and put up, do part be get regustered and carry on , sorry men thats the way it is, but i do agree with you all.

  47. Ted Talbot says:

    I purchased an oldish bungalow and wanted to replace the old fuse box with a modern consumer unit and have half a dozen 13amp power points lowered in my kitchen. I contacted Rated People to find an electrician. I knew nothing about Part P registration or NICEIC or ELECSA.

    I employed an electrician to whom Rated People sold my details. He said he was a time served electrician of some twenty years standing and that he was certified by NICEIC and even quoted his membership number. He installed a consumer unit and lowered some of the power points, then “discovered perished wiring” which needed replacing at an additional cost of £800 before he could issue any certificate in respect of his installation work. He showed me the wiring – which looked fine to me. I became suspicious and I decided to check him out on NICEIC. Of course, he wasn’t certified by them – or by ELECSA – they had never heard of him. His non-certification meant that he should have notified my local building control before installing the consumer unit so that they could check the safety of his work – which he hadn’t. In the process I discovered that Part P certification was an assurance to a customer like me that an electrician had reached a level of training in his profession and that he was updated regularly about new electrical installation requirements which ensured my safety. When I challenged the electrician about his non-certification with NICEIC and ELECSA he said that I had offended him and walked off the job leaving bared wires protruding from holes in my kitchen walls.

    Using my newly gained knowledge I found a local NICEIC certified electrician on their database and contacted him to come out and finish off the work the other electrician had left. When he came he was appalled at the live wires which appeared to have been prepared for pushing back into the holes in my walls for plastering over without any protection. The consumer unit was also unfit for purpose, not having the required two Residual Current Safely Devices – indeed there were none. In addition a cable entry into the consumer unit had been left open so that a child’s finger or a screwdriver could be inserted with possibly fatal result. The NICEIC certified electrician has since removed the defective installation and replaced it with a unit which meets modern safety requirements.

    I will in future always and only use a NICEIC or ELECSA certified electrician – someone who I am sure knows what he is doing and someone who is backed up and certified as being able to carry out my electrical work without putting my and my family’s lives at risk. It may be tedious for you guys, but it certifies that you are trained and up-to-date and someone I, your customer, can put my trust in.

  48. Chris Watts says:

    Our house has just been rewired by a part P registered firm, whereas previously I have done it myself having done house rewiring on a electrical engineering course. Now they did an excellent job, but not a single dodgy piece of work found by the electrician and carried out by the previous owner was covered by Part P. Every single problem was related to something that would be classified as permitted and non-notifiable work. So what’s the point of Part P but to make money if it doesn’t stop dangerous occurances?

  49. I think your all missing the point electricians have been making money for years hiding behind part P. Now any monkey with a screwdriver can take a course prices will come down its all done so the eastern block tradesmen can work here government is not stupid mark my words the heating industry will be next.

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