CSG News

All electricians have a duty to make reasonable provisions in the design and fitting of electrical installations in order to protect persons operating, maintaining or altering the installations from fire or injury. To that effect, safe working practices and management of electrical supply and products is governed by industry standards and statutory regulations.

Additionally, various Competent Persons Schemes (ECA, SELECT and NICEIC) educate, assess and certify contractors’ compliance with Building Regulations in order to monitor and maintain the highest professional quality and standards. Before taking on any work or stepping onto a building site, contractors who undertake electrical work must be considered competent under one of the available schemes. They must have a complete and proficient understanding of electrical fittings and know how to avoid injuries and fires in a dwelling.

Part P of the Building Regulations

The document contains guidance on electrical safety in dwellings, including detailed information about the design, installation, inspection and testing of any electrical work performed within a dwelling. The current edition explains the provision of information and specifies when notification of work is required and is explained.

IET Wiring Regulations, 18 th Edition, BS 7671:2018

This is the principal British Standard which covers safe design, installation and testing of electrical installations in the UK. Its 18 th edition contains updates recognising technological progress (e.g. technical data), and the need for energy efficiency, and will come into force on 1 st January 2019. The new version encourages the use of advanced equipment and the possible increase in the role of electricians in the architectural design process in order to create more secure, sustainable installations.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (HSR25)

These regulations impose a duty of care on employers to manage their electrical systems and products so as not to cause death or injury to others. They set out rules and give technical and legal guidance to all duty holders, particularly engineers involved in the design, construction, operation or maintenance of electrical systems, technicians and their managers.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations

WEEE lays out relevant solutions, such as the recovery, reuse and recycling of products and components in order to reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment incinerated or sent to landfill sites. WEEE Regulations affect mainly manufacturers and retailers, however anyone handling electrical goods is responsible for the recovery and recycling of redundant electrical products.

In addition to multiple guidelines, processes and procedures, professional electricians will also need to comply with Health and Safety standards, Employment Legislation, and offer an insured warranty. The more rules you know and follow, the better you are geared up for a building site.