Part P blues

When I complete a job where Building Control is involved, I am only being asked for a completed installation certificate. This does not need to be of any particular type, in fact a copy of the certificate from the regs book is quite acceptable.

I was told that, as long as someone has signed the certificate (the content being largely irrelevant), they are absolved of all responsibility. There are no checks as to the competence of the signatory – or even if they’re an electrician, never mind a qualified Part P registered one.

The Part P registration of completed jobs done on line sends an electronic notification to the council building control office and a paper certificate to the householder. The inspector has no interest in this paper certificate and no match is made by the council inspector between the electronic notification and the job.

I am related to a building inspector with Dudley Council and during heated conversations I am told that the building inspectorate has no time to enforce the regulations. Problems with the electrical works will be the responsibility of the person who signed the certificate.

I recently quoted a local insurance repair firm for the reinstatement of electrical fittings following its repairs and was told that it had been advised by both the council and the Health and Safety Executive that, as long as a person was considered competent by them (in this case the plasterer), no further notification or certification was required.

This situation completely removes the need to be Part P approved in the Wolverhampton and Dudley area.

My apprentice’s training officer told me his organisation has now stopped running Part P courses due to lack of interest, even though they were very popular when the legislation was first implemented.