Electrical safety in and around the home

Electrical safety in the home is of the utmost importance, although it is probably something that we give little thought to.

When you consider that about 6,700 fires are reported to have an electrical source each year, you can see how important electrical safety really is. This statistic includes fires started by faulty or inadequate wiring. Accidents involving electrical shock are also a cause of death and serious injury. Some 43 deaths and 2,900 serious injuries occur from electrical failures each year.

We tend to forget that cords, switches, outlets, and other equipment can wear out over time and that it’s important to check them regularly and, if necessary, have them replaced by a qualified electrician.

Many people are unaware that in January 2005 new Building Regulations came into force which if you are doing electrical work on your home or garden in England and Wales you must now follow. This is a new area for the Building Regulations and is called Part P (electrical safety). These provide clear guidelines on what kind of work you can do yourself and what needs to be done by a competent and qualified electrician. Please note that you may need to use a competent person to comply with building regulations.

The main things to keep in mind are:

It is important that any electrical work is performed only by persons with the knowledge, skill and experience necessary for the type of electrical work to be performed.

You should not attempt even the simplest electrical work if you are in any doubt about the task. You may have noticed that these days most appliances come with molded plugs already attached along with the appropriately rated fuse. This is to prevent the novice enthusiast from incorrectly wiring or rating the appliance and to help prevent cowboy installations. You’d be surprised how many people don’t know how to connect a plug correctly!

For the average DIYer, things get even more confusing starting in 2006, when a new wiring color scheme is introduced.

The colors of the live and neutral wires of electrical cables are changing from red to brown and from black to blue. This is now the same as the cables in the flexible cables of portable devices.

Effective March 31, 2006, all new wiring must be in the new colors.

Why have the rules been introduced? The main rule is to reduce the number of deaths, injuries and fires caused by faulty electrical installations. It also aims to make it difficult for ‘cowboy builders’ to leave electrical installations in unsafe conditions.

If you don’t follow the rules, you risk:

The electrical installation may not be safe.

You will not have a record of the work done.

You may have a hard time selling your home if you don’t have the correct electrical safety certificates.

There is the additional risk that the Building Control Department of your local council will insist that you correct the faulty work. Involving you with even more expenses.

It is important to know when to notify the council of any planned electrical work.

You will not need to report any repair, replacement and maintenance work to the Building Control Department of your local council. Any additional outlets, lighting points, or other alterations to existing circuits (except in a kitchen or bathroom, or outdoors).

However, you will need to tell them about almost all other jobs!
If you are unsure about this, ask your local contractor or the Building Control Officer of the Local Council.

Remember – do not try to save money by skimping on electrical installation work. It could end up costing you a lot more money in the long run, or even his life! Use a registered installer.

The benefits of using a registered installer are that the scheme members can handle all the new rules for you. They will be qualified to perform any electrical work. They will give you a certificate to confirm that your work follows the new rules.

You will not have to pay building monitoring fees.

In most cases, you will have the option of purchasing an insurance-backed warranty for the job.

In the unlikely event that a problem does arise, you will have access to a formal complaints procedure if you are not satisfied with the work.

If you need to find a competent person to do electrical work, the following organizations run registration or “competent person” schemes:

BRE certification

British Standards Institution (BSI)

ELECSA

The National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT)

NICICE Certification Services

These schemes are designed to ensure that registered tradesmen are fully qualified to carry out electrical work and provide a proper complaints procedure.

Remember – Always use an installer who is registered with a competent person scheme as mentioned above.

Article by Philip Ray
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While this article strives to contain up-to-date and accurate information, it can only be considered as a guide. The author would always recommend that you seek local independent professional advice.