Part P Building Regulations
Notifiable vs non-notifiable work, compliance routes, special locations, and penalties
Approved Document P & Building Safety Act 2022
What is Part P?
Part P of the Building Regulations (England & Wales) requires that electrical installation work in dwellings is designed, installed, inspected, and tested to provide reasonable protection against fire and injury. It has been in force since 1 January 2005 and applies to all domestic fixed wiring — including outbuildings, gardens, and shared supplies within the property's curtilage.
Requirement P1: Safe design and installation • Requirement P2: Sufficient information for safe operation and maintenance
Notifiable vs Non-Notifiable Work
Since 2013, England has focused notification on high-risk work only. Wales retains broader requirements. All work must comply with BS 7671 regardless of notification status.
| Work Type | England | Wales | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New circuit (any location) | Notifiable | Notifiable | Includes radials and ring circuits |
| Consumer unit replacement | Notifiable | Notifiable | High-risk work at the origin |
| Work in bathroom/shower zones | Notifiable | Notifiable | Additions or alterations within zones 0–2 |
| Swimming pool / sauna room | Notifiable | Notifiable | Any electrical work in the entire room |
| Kitchen alterations to existing circuit | Non-notifiable | Notifiable | New circuits still notifiable in England |
| Outdoor lighting / power (existing circuit) | Non-notifiable | Notifiable | New outdoor circuits notifiable in both |
| Solar PV / battery storage | Notifiable (new circuit) | Always notifiable | EAS 2024 requires Level 3 qualifications |
| Adding socket to existing ring | Non-notifiable | Non-notifiable | Must still comply with BS 7671 |
| Like-for-like replacement of accessories | Non-notifiable | Non-notifiable | Switches, sockets, light fittings |
| Maintenance and repair | Non-notifiable | Non-notifiable | Including cable replacement on same route |
Quick Decision: Is My Work Notifiable? (England)
- 1. Are you installing a new circuit? → Notifiable
- 2. Are you replacing a consumer unit? → Notifiable
- 3. Are you working in bathroom zones, a swimming pool, or sauna room? → Notifiable
- 4. None of the above? → Non-notifiable (but must still comply with BS 7671)
Special Locations — Bathroom Zones
A bathroom is only a “special location” within the defined zones. Work outside these zones (in England) is non-notifiable.
| Zone | Description | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 0 | Interior of the bath tub or shower tray | Only 12 V SELV equipment (IPX7 minimum) |
| Zone 1 | Above Zone 0 to 2.25 m from floor level | IPX4 minimum. SELV or fixed equipment rated for the zone |
| Zone 2 | 0.6 m horizontally from Zone 1, up to 2.25 m | IPX4 minimum. Shaver sockets to BS EN 61558 permitted |
| Outside zones | Beyond 0.6 m from bath/shower edge, above 2.25 m | General rules apply. Not notifiable in England |
Routes to Compliance
Who: Registered electricians (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, etc.)
Process: Test → Issue BS 7671 certificate → Log with scheme provider → BRCC sent to homeowner
Cost: Included in scheme membership (most cost-effective)
Who: Non-registered installers or DIYers
Process: Submit Building Notice before work → Pay fee → Building Control inspections → Completion Certificate
Cost: £240–£740+ depending on local authority and scope
Who: Non-registered installer appoints a registered professional
Process: Certifier appointed before work → Oversees, inspects, and tests → Handles notification
Cost: Variable — certifier fees plus scheme notification
Competent Person Scheme Providers
| Scheme | Organisation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NICEIC | Certsure LLP | Largest UK scheme. Full-scope and Domestic Installer registrations |
| NAPIT | NAPIT Registration Ltd | Popular with independent contractors. Extensive technical resources |
| ELECSA | Certsure LLP | Part of Certsure group. Popular with smaller domestic installers |
| OFTEC | OFTEC | Multi-discipline — oil heating technicians with Part P scope |
| BESCA | Various | Used by HVAC/plumbing trades doing electrical work |
Penalties for Non-Compliance (Building Safety Act 2022)
| Offence | Penalty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Breach of Building Regulations | Unlimited fine | Previously capped at £5,000 |
| Serious contravention | Up to 2 years imprisonment | Building Safety Act 2022, s.35 |
| Enforcement period | 10-year liability | Extended from 1 year by BSA 2022, s.39 |
| Stop Notice | Immediate halt to work | Authorities can stop work without court order |
EAS 2024 — Qualification Deadline: 1 October 2026
CPS-registered electricians must hold Level 3 qualifications to certify these technologies. Grandfather rights based on experience alone are being eliminated:
- - EV charging points — EV equipment installation awards
- - Solar PV systems — Level 3 Solar PV installation qualification
- - Battery storage (EESS) — Energy storage system awards
- - Periodic inspection (EICR) — Level 3 Inspection & Testing (e.g. C&G 2391) + CPD
Scotland & Northern Ireland
Governed by Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, Standards 4.5/4.6.
English/Welsh CPS registrations do not grant self-certification rights in Scotland. Installers must be “Approved Certifiers” within the Scottish system.
Governed by Building Regulations (NI) 2000, Technical Booklet E.
References BS 7671 but does not currently have the same CPS self-certification infrastructure as England & Wales.
Impact When Selling a Property
Solicitors use the TA6 Property Information Form to check all electrical work done after 1 January 2005. Missing certificates can delay or derail a sale.
- - EIC/MEIWC confirms the work is safe (BS 7671 compliant)
- - BRCC (Building Regulations Compliance Certificate) confirms the work is legal
- - Without these, mortgage lenders may impose retentions or require an EICR
- - Sellers sometimes offer “Electrical Indemnity Insurance” — but this does not make unsafe work safe
Key Points
- - Part P applies to all dwellings in England & Wales, including outbuildings and gardens
- - All electrical work must comply with BS 7671 — even non-notifiable work
- - Three triggers for notification in England: new circuit, CU replacement, special location work
- - Wales has broader notification requirements — kitchens and outdoor work are notifiable
- - The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced 10-year liability and unlimited fines
- - Using a CPS-registered electrician is the simplest and cheapest compliance route