Signing off electrics

[SBMS]

Father in law is a retired electrician (retired last year) so no longer able to self certify. Was considering him doing the electrics on our self build. I know that another electrician can sign it off on their behalf (which is frowned upon). Is there a mechanism where building control will sign off the electrics without the need for self certification?

[SteamyTea]

Would it not be easier and cheaper just to pay your Father's fees (assuming he still has the testing equipment).

Or does he have a mate that can check and sign off?

 

[SBMS]

3 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

Would it not be easier and cheaper just to pay your Father's fees (assuming he still has the testing equipment).

Or does he have a mate that can check and sign off?

 

It’s a possibility, I just wondered if there’s a possibility for BC to sign off.. if you were competent enough to do it yourself for example but weren’t able to self certify can BCO sign off?

[Conor]

BCO never asked us for any certs relating to electrics, other than PV.

[SBMS]

4 minutes ago, Conor said:

BCO never asked us for any certs relating to electrics, other than PV.

I wondered whether BCO would accept a third party EICR post completion, if they did ask?

[Onoff]

You need to talk to your particular LA / look on their website. It does vary in how they do things.

 

If your FiL is not a member of a competent persons scheme you will still likely end up paying the full fee. Even if he is qualified and competent as in has the necessary training, qualifications and experience he needs to be in one of the schemes to make it plain sailing.

 

In my case they would accept my electrical qualifications, even then my Part P qualification, my schedules of tests etc. Still wanted to send out someone they sub electrical inspections out to. The fee would have been the same as if I'd had none of the above. They did not, at the time have their own in house electrically qualified building inspectors. Thus they subbed to the council's favoured leccy contractor and gave them a building inspector's badge for the day. I have a long email from them on it somewhere from the then head of building control who I knew from a previous life.

 

My LA's fee page, see D19:

 

https://www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/info/20069135/building_control/439/building_control_fees/4

[SBMS]

7 minutes ago, Onoff said:

You need to talk to your particular LA / look on their website. It does vary in how they do things.

 

If your FiL is not a member of a competent persons scheme you will still likely end up paying the full fee. Even if he is qualified and competent as in has the necessary training, qualifications and experience he needs to be in one of the schemes to make it plain sailing.

 

In my case they would accept my electrical qualifications, even then my Part P qualification, my schedules of tests etc. Still wanted to send out someone they sub electrical inspections out to. The fee would have been the same as if I'd had none of the above. They did not, at the time have their own in house electrically qualified building inspectors. Thus they subbed to the council's favoured leccy contractor and gave them a building inspector's badge for the day. I have a long email from them on it somewhere from the then head of building control who I knew from a previous life.

 

My LA's fee page, see D19:

 

https://www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/info/20069135/building_control/439/building_control_fees/4

Thanks! So it sounds like there is a mechanism for them to inspect. We will be using a private BC so will need to check with them 

[nod]

BC won’t sign off electrics Main reason being is it’s unlikely any of them would be qualified to do this 

Your father can easily do the whole job Then get another electrician to come in at the end to do the testing and sign off BC will ask you for a test certificate at the end 

[SBMS]

1 minute ago, nod said:

BC won’t sign off electrics Main reason being is it’s unlikely any of them would be qualified to do this 

Your father can easily do the whole job Then get another electrician to come in at the end to do the testing and sign off BC will ask you for a test certificate at the end 

I’ve often heard Sparky’s don’t like signing off others work - could this cause an issue finding someone or could we just get an EICR report from a third party as sign off?

[dpmiller]

1 hour ago, Conor said:

BCO never asked us for any certs relating to electrics, other than PV.

No requirement for electrical signoff in NI.

[Oz07]

Not sure how much faith I'd have in any bc dept having a qualified person to check an elec installation. Last time I used them to sign off replacement windows they came and used their machine testing for the soft coat glass on the outside. As above of they did offer this service at all surely it would be subbed out and likely expensive. 

[Onoff]

1 minute ago, SBMS said:

I’ve often heard Sparky’s don’t like signing off others work - could this cause an issue finding someone or could we just get an EICR report from a third party as sign off?

 

What some (most?) sparks baulk at with "signing off" other people's work is they generally won't have a clue as to your FiL's competency. Has he run the cables you can't see properly, are they of the right current carrying capacity throughout, has he tested properly or even fudged the written results. Are his terminations done properly etc.

 

It's to do with 3rd party liability. They can do an EICR but an Electrical Installation Certificate can be a different matter. However as money talks I guarantee you'll find somebody who'll sign it off. 

 

I'd be surprised if he hasn't got a mate still in the trade who knows his work and is a scheme member. Some people take that route 😉

[Onoff]

3 minutes ago, Oz07 said:

Not sure how much faith I'd have in any bc dept having a qualified person to check an elec installation. Last time I used them to sign off replacement windows they came and used their machine testing for the soft coat glass on the outside. As above of they did offer this service at all surely it would be subbed out and likely expensive. 

 

This is why SDC employed external scheme members to act as council inspectors for electrical work. They didn't have the in house expertise. There were major ructions when Part P came in. Officious inspectors, used to measuring footings with a yard stick inspecting electrical work. Folk having a small extension and the inspector insisting the extension along with all the house sockets and switches be put at the new heights & that it was "the law". 

[SBMS]

16 minutes ago, Onoff said:

 

This is why SDC employed external scheme members to act as council inspectors for electrical work. They didn't have the in house expertise. There were major ructions when Part P came in. Officious inspectors, used to measuring footings with a yard stick inspecting electrical work. Folk having a small extension and the inspector insisting the extension along with all the house sockets and switches be put at the new heights & that it was "the law". 

Thanks @Onoff. He probably does have a mate, just wanted to make it as frictionless as possible. And if I can pay a few hundred quid to get it inspected by the BC at the end that’s nice and easy?

[Onoff]

23 minutes ago, SBMS said:

Thanks @Onoff. He probably does have a mate, just wanted to make it as frictionless as possible. And if I can pay a few hundred quid to get it inspected by the BC at the end that’s nice and easy?

 

First thing check your LA's site. Then find one of his mates who'll know what the crack is locally. Preferably a practising, scheme member sparks. Some are happy for you to do all the hard graft, chasing cables and back boxes in then they'll make the final connections. Some will just come in chasing the £ and give you a cert with only a cursory inspection. 

[Gone West]

I did all the circuit design, and first and second fix at my last place. My son in law's mate was Part P qualified and checked my work at each stage and signed it off. Cost a few hundred quid.

[SteamyTea]

3 hours ago, Gone West said:

My son in law's mate was Part P qualified and checked my work at each stage and signed it off. Cost a few hundred quid.

Cost me about £600 to do my Part P.

Some areas with skill shortages offer it for less.

I would have had to join a professional body, get hold of the testing equipment to do a proper install, but if you are a 'handy' person , then we'll worth looking at it as a possibility.

You can then use your own installation as your competence evidence.

Then, on free Saturdays, start charging people £400 to fix a light.