The Government has announced that the addition of electrical safety to the Building Regulations could come into force as soon as spring 2004. The industry is now developing competence certification schemes.
Building regulations minister Phil Hope has said that new controls on electrical work in the home could become law as early as spring next year. The Government wants to curb the rising number of electrical accidents and fires in the home by bringing electrical safety within the scope of the Building Regulations for the first time.

"Making householders aware of the need to protect themselves and their families from incompetent workmanship is in line with our drive for better, safer communities in which to live and work," said Hope. "The new measures will also raise industry standards and contribute towards our aim of creating a better qualified workforce."

The proposals went out for public consultation in May 2002. Following wide agreement and a favourable regulatory impact assessment, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) is now urging bodies to apply to run a competence certification scheme that will allow contractors to self-certify their work. Bodies have until 15 October to come forward.

Following lobbying from the ECA and the NICEIC, the ODPM has clarified that any competence scheme must show that assessment is carried out as required by the Electrotechnical Assessment Scheme (EAS) or an equivalent scheme, and certifying bodies should be accredited to EN 45011.

The ECA, via BRE Certification, will be applying to run an EAS-based scheme. The NICEIC has already submitted its application, based on a version of its Approved Contractor scheme.

There is concern that contractors may leave it late to seek to register. Jim Speirs, NICEIC director general said: "Assessment will have to be dealt with on a first come, first served basis. It would be ill advised for contractors to wait until Part P comes into effect before applying for registration. The more commercially-aware contractors are starting now."

Stuart Burchell, head of external affairs at the ECA, warned: "There will be a wave of applicants, and figures of 30 000 have been talked about. If so, it will be quite a task to digest that demand."

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor