Part P building regulations explained
Part P of the Building Regulations covers electrical safety in dwellings in England and Wales. Certain work — broadly, installing a new circuit, replacing a consumer unit, or work in 'special locations' like a room with a bath or shower — is 'notifiable' and must either be done by a registered competent person (such as a NAPIT-registered electrician) who self-certifies it, or be signed off by building control. Smaller jobs like swapping a socket usually aren't notifiable.
What Part P is
Part P is the section of the Building Regulations dealing with electrical safety in homes. Its aim is simple: electrical work in dwellings should be designed and installed so it doesn't cause fire or injury. It applies in England and Wales (Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own equivalents).
'Notifiable' work
Some work has to be notified to building control. Broadly, that includes installing a new circuit, replacing or relocating a consumer unit, and certain work in special locations such as bathrooms. The simplest route is to use a registered electrician who can self-certify the work and notify it on your behalf — no separate building-control application needed.
Non-notifiable work
Like-for-like repairs and minor jobs — replacing a socket, switch or light fitting on an existing circuit, for example — generally aren't notifiable. They still have to meet the standard (BS 7671), but they don't need notifying.
Why it matters
Notifiable work done without certification can cause problems when you sell or insure, and may have to be inspected retrospectively. Using a registered electrician means the paperwork is handled correctly and you get a compliance certificate for your records. The exact scope can vary, so if in doubt, check with a registered electrician before starting.
Do I need building control for a new socket?
Adding a socket to an existing circuit is generally non-notifiable (outside special locations), so it doesn't need building control — but it still has to be done to standard. A new circuit or a consumer-unit change is a different matter and is notifiable.
What counts as a special location?
Rooms containing a bath or shower are the common example, where the proximity of water raises the risk. Electrical work in those areas is treated more strictly under Part P.
How does a registered electrician make it simpler?
A registered competent person (like a NAPIT-registered electrician) can self-certify notifiable work and notify building control for you, then issue a compliance certificate — avoiding a separate, chargeable building-control application.