Approved Document P: Electrical safety – Dwellings (2013 edition) – Building Regulations 2010 England
Approved Document P provides guidance for complying with Requirement P1 of the Building Regulations 2010. Issued by HM Government for use in England, the 2013 edition took effect on 6 April 2013, replacing the 2006 edition. This document also applies to excepted energy buildings in Wales as defined in the Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) (No. 2) Order 2009. The statutory guidance focuses on the design and installation of electrical installations to protect persons from fire or injury during operation, maintenance, or alteration.
The scope of Part P includes low voltage and extra-low voltage electrical installations in or attached to dwellings, in common parts of buildings serving dwellings (excluding power supplies to lifts), and in associated gardens or outbuildings. It specifically references BS 7671:2008 incorporating Amendment No 1:2011 (the IET Wiring Regulations 17th Edition) as the primary technical standard. The document defines the boundaries between notifiable work—which requires formal certification—and non-notifiable work, such as minor repairs or additions outside of special locations like bathrooms or sauna rooms.
The following sections outline the technical requirements, legal notification duties, and the various certification routes available to installers, including self-certification by registered competent persons and third-party certification.
Requirement P1: Design and installation
Requirement P1 stipulates that reasonable provision must be made in the design and installation of electrical installations to protect persons from fire or injury. The Secretary of State considers these requirements met if installations satisfy the following conditions:
- They afford appropriate protection against mechanical and thermal damage.
- They do not present electric shock and fire hazards to people.
Installations should follow BS 7671 and installers must provide sufficient information for safe operation. This information includes:
- Electrical installation certificates or reports describing the work.
- Permanent labels on earth connections, bonds, consumer units, and residual current devices (RCDs).
- Operating instructions and logbooks.
Scope and Application of Part P
Part P applies to electrical installations in dwelling-houses, flats, and their associated environments. This includes:
- Common access areas of blocks of flats, such as corridors and staircases.
- Shared amenities like laundries, kitchens, and gymnasiums.
- Outbuildings such as sheds, detached garages, and domestic greenhouses.
- Business premises connected to the same meter as a dwelling, such as shops below flats.
The regulations do not apply to business premises with separate metering or power supplies for lifts in blocks of flats. Note that buildings generally exempt from building regulations, such as porches or conservatories, are not exempt from Part P if they share an electricity supply with a dwelling.
Notifiable and Non-notifiable Work
Regulation 12(6A) defines notifiable work, which requires a building notice or deposit of full plans unless certified by a registered person. Notifiable work consists of:
- Installation of a new circuit.
- Replacement of a consumer unit.
- Any addition or alteration to existing circuits in a special location.
A special location is defined as the space surrounding a bath tub or shower head, extending horizontally to 0.6m and vertically to 2.25m from finished floor level, or a room containing a swimming pool or sauna heater. Work that is not notifiable includes:
- Additions and alterations to existing installations outside special locations.
- Replacements, repairs, and maintenance in any location.
- Installing fixed equipment like a built-in cooker or garage door, provided a new circuit is not required.
Certification, Inspection and Testing
For notifiable work, one of three procedures must be used to certify compliance with the Building Regulations:
- Self-certification by a registered competent person: The installer completes a BS 7671 certificate and their registration body issues a Building Regulations compliance certificate to the occupier within 30 days.
- Third-party certification by a registered third-party certifier: An installer who is not a registered competent person must notify the certifier within 5 days of completion for inspection and testing.
- Certification by a building control body: The installer must notify the local authority or approved inspector before work begins.
Non-notifiable work should still be designed, installed, inspected, and tested in accordance with BS 7671. Local authorities may take enforcement action if non-notifiable work is found to be unsafe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is defined as a special location for electrical work?
A special location includes rooms with a swimming pool or sauna heater, and the space within 0.6m horizontally and 2.25m vertically from a bath tub or shower head.
Is replacing a consumer unit notifiable work?
Yes, the replacement of a consumer unit is defined as notifiable work under Regulation 12(6A) of the Building Regulations.
Must I upgrade an existing electrical installation when adding a new circuit?
No, there is no obligation to upgrade the existing installation unless the new work adversely affects the safety of the existing installation or the existing state prevents the new work from being operated safely.
What is the recommended height for socket-outlets in new dwellings?
In accordance with Part M, socket-outlets and switches for lighting should generally be positioned between 450mm and 1200mm from the finished floor level.
What standard must electrical installations comply with?
Installations should be designed and installed in accordance with BS 7671:2008 incorporating Amendment No 1:2011.
How long does a registered competent person have to issue a compliance certificate?
The installer or their registration body must give a copy of the Building Regulations compliance certificate to the occupier within 30 days of the work being completed.
Does Part P apply to electrical work in garden sheds?
Yes, electrical installations in outbuildings such as sheds, detached garages, and domestic greenhouses are within the scope of Part P.
Can I use a third-party certifier for notifiable work?
Yes, an installer who is not a registered competent person may appoint a registered third-party certifier to inspect and test the work, provided they notify them within 5 days of completion.
