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What Is Part P? — Electrical Safety Regulations
A plain-English guide to Part P of the Building Regulations: notifiable electrical work, competent person schemes, and compliance in England and Wales.
Definition
Part P (Approved Document P: Electrical Safety - Dwellings) is the section of the Building Regulations for England and Wales that governs electrical installation work in domestic properties. Introduced in 2005, it requires that electrical work is designed, installed, inspected, and tested to ensure safety, and that certain types of work are notified to the local Building Control body.
When Is It Used?
Part P applies to all electrical installation work in dwellings, including houses, flats, and shared amenity areas. The regulations are particularly important when installing new circuits, fitting a new consumer unit, carrying out work in kitchens and bathrooms, or adding outdoor electrical installations. The technical standard referenced by Part P is BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations, currently 18th Edition with Amendment 2).
Key Facts
- Part P was introduced on 1 January 2005 and last updated in 2013
- Notifiable work must be done by a Part P registered electrician or notified to Building Control
- An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) must be issued for all new circuits
- A Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC) covers small non-notifiable additions
- Consumer unit replacement has been notifiable since January 2016 (Amendment 3 to AD P)
- All consumer units in domestic premises must be enclosed in a non-combustible material (metal)
- Registered competent persons can self-certify without Building Control involvement
- Building Control notification fees typically range from £250 to £500
Related Calculators
Use the Cable Sizing Calculator to determine correct cable sizes for circuits, or the Lighting Circuit Calculator for domestic lighting designs. See also the BS 7671 glossary entry for the technical standard.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Following amendments made by SI 2012/3119 (effective 6 April 2013), notifiable work is limited to three categories: (1) installing a new circuit; (2) replacing a consumer unit or distribution board; (3) work in a special location (only bathrooms and shower rooms, swimming pools, or saunas — kitchens and outdoor areas are NO LONGER special locations). Non-notifiable work includes replacing sockets, switches and light fittings on existing circuits; adding sockets or spurs to existing circuits outside special locations; and like-for-like work in any location. Outdoor work, garden lighting and outbuilding supplies on an existing circuit are NOT notifiable — but installing a new circuit for them is.
Yes, homeowners can legally carry out electrical work in their own home, but notifiable work must either be done by a registered competent person (Part P scheme member) or you must notify Building Control before starting and pay for inspection. Non-notifiable minor works like replacing a socket or light switch can be done without notification, provided the work complies with BS 7671.
The main competent person schemes are NICEIC (Domestic Installer scheme), NAPIT, ELECSA, Stroma, and BRE. Electricians registered with these schemes can self-certify their work and issue Electrical Installation Certificates and Building Regulations Compliance Certificates without involving Building Control, saving the homeowner inspection fees.
Non-compliant work can cause problems when selling the property, as solicitors will request electrical certificates. The local authority can require you to have the work inspected and brought up to standard, or in extreme cases, to have it removed. There is no time limit on enforcement. Regularisation through Building Control is possible but involves retrospective inspection and fees.
Part P applies to England and Wales only. Scotland has its own electrical safety requirements under the Building (Scotland) Regulations, and Northern Ireland has Part P (NI). The technical standard (BS 7671) is the same across the UK, but the certification and notification requirements differ.
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Last updated: March 2026
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