What is Notifiable Work?

Some domestic electrical work has to be notified to the Local Building Control department. This either takes place prior to the commencement of work by notifying them directly, or members of a Competent Person Scheme (CPS) can notify them after the work is completed.

Why are A.N. Electrical Unable to Offer Notifiable Work?

Currently, A.N. electrical is not a CPS member (although this may change in the future). As a result, we would have to pass the responsibility and costs of notification onto our customers. We understand this is undesirable to our clients, so choose to avoid taking on notifiable work. If you wish to pursue completing notifiable work with us, please feel free to contact us for a discussion.

Notifying Building Control Directly

If the electrical work is notifiable, it is the Owner/Landlord's responsibility to notify Building Control prior to the work commencing. Doing so comes at a cost to the customer, and requires building control to inspect the work throughout the course of its completion. This can become quite costly and cause delays in the work starting and being completed.

The cost varies depending on the specific council and what work is being completed. Prices can range from £50 - £650, with typical costs falling between £200 - £400.

As a result of the above, this is generally undesirable to both the customer and contractor.

Notifying through a Competent Person Scheme (CPS)

Electricians can become a member of a Competent Person Scheme (NAPIT, NICEIC, etc.), allowing them to notify building control on behalf of the client. This can take place after the work has been completed, and incurs no extra schedule delays as building control is not required to inspect the work.

To become a member of a CPS, electricians pay an annual subscription fee and undergo annual assessments to ensure they are competent to assess their own notifiable work.

As a result of this, notifiable work can be completed at minimal cost to the customer, as the contractor absorbs the cost as part of their Business Costs. This is a much more desirable outcome for the customer and contractor.

However, there is no requirement for an electrician to be a CPS member. Some electricians may chose not to become CPS members as they avoid taking on notifiable work.

What Electrical Work is Notifiable?

The following information is copied directly from Approved Document P of the Building Regulations 2010 for use in Wales;

Table 1 Work that need not be notified to building control bodies

Table 2 Special locations and installations (a)

Additional notes

Tables 1 and 2 above give the general rules for determining whether or not electrical installation work is notifiable. The rules are based on the risk of fire and injury and what is practicable. The following notes provide additional guidance and specific examples:

(a) Notifiable jobs include new circuits back to the consumer unit, and extensions to circuits in kitchens and special locations (bathrooms, etc) and associated with special installations (garden lighting and power installations, etc).

(b) Replacement, repair and maintenance jobs are generally not notifiable, even if carried out in a kitchen or special location or associated with a special installation.

(d) In large bathrooms, the location containing a bath or shower is defined by the walls of the bathroom.

(e) Conservatories and attached garages are not special locations. Work in them is therefore not notifiable unless it involves the installation of a new circuit or the extension of a circuit in a kitchen or special location or associated with a special installation.

(f) Detached garages and sheds are not special locations. Work within them is notifiable only if it involves new outdoor wiring.

(g) Outdoor lighting and power installations are special installations. Any new work in, for example, the garden or that involves crossing the garden is notifiable.

(h) The installation of fixed equipment is within the scope of Part P, even where the final connection is by a 13A plug and socket. However, work is notifiable only if it involves fixed wiring and the installation of a new circuit or the extension of a circuit in a kitchen or special location or associated with a special installation.

(i) The installation of equipment attached to the outside wall of a house (for example security lighting, air conditioning equipment and radon fans) is not notifiable provided that there are no exposed outdoor connections and the work does not involve the installation of a new circuit or the extension of a circuit in a kitchen or special location or associated with a special installation.

(j) The installation of a socket outlet on an external wall is notifiable, since the socket outlet is an outdoor connector that could be connected to cables that cross the garden and requires RCD protection.

(k) The installation of prefabricated, “modular” systems (for example kitchen lighting systems and armoured garden cabling) linked by plug and socket connectors is not notifiable, provided that products are CE-marked and that any final connections in kitchens and special locations are made to existing connection units or points (possibly a 13A socket outlet).

(l) Work to connect an electric gate or garage door to an existing isolator is not notifiable, but installation of the circuit up to the isolator is notifiable.

(m) The fitting and replacement of cookers and electric showers is not notifiable unless a new circuit is needed.

(n) New central heating control wiring installations are notifiable even where work in kitchens and bathrooms is avoided.

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