Electrical safety in the home
What is it?

• From 1 January 2005 all electrical work in dwellings is required to comply with Part P requirements and be carried out by persons who are competent to do the work.
• Small jobs such as replacing a socket outlet or a light switch on an existing circuit will not need to be notified to a building control body (although there will be some exceptions for high risk areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, gardens and special locations).
• All work that involves adding a new circuit or work within a special location will need to be either notified to building control, who will then inspect the work, or carried out by a competent person who is registered with the Part P Self-Certification Scheme.
• Persons registered with Part P Self-Certification Schemes will be qualified contractors with the ability to thoroughly check a circuit for safety. They are required to issue an Electrical Installation certificate that complies with Building Regulation requirements.

Who requires Part P?

Part P is aimed at personnel/businesses who regularly carry out electrical work in support of their main trade. This mainly consists of kitchen fitters, plumbers, carpenters and builders, but also extends to anyone carrying out electrical work in the home.

What if I don’t have Part P?

If you are not registered as a Part P approved person then all work needs to be notified to the local building control officer, who will inspect your work, or appoint a qualified agent to carry out the inspection.  In practice this option is going to be both time consuming and costly as the average costs vary from £100 - £380 per inspection.

Where can I get training?

Builder Training Centres Ltd is an Approved Centre to deliver the Part P VRQ Level 2 Qualification (Certificate for Domestic Electrical Installers).  We are able to provide a one day course for qualified electricians, a two day or four day foundation course for students who have little or no previous experience, or tradesmen who have not previously undertaken this type of work, which includes an assessment for suitability to attend the five day (or 4 day splitter weekend) qualification. The 5 day or 4 day splitter course is also suitable for tradesmen who are not qualified electricians, but carry out electrical work in support of their specialist trade on a regular basis. We also offer a two day Foundation course on Inspection and Testing for anyone wishing to learn, or refresh themselves of, these particular skills.  This can also be followed up with the City & Guilds /EAL 17th Edition (2382) qualification course.

Which course do I need?

If you are NOT able to do the following unaided then we suggest you attend the 2 day foundation course (£195.00) or 4 day foundation course (£380.00)

13A Ring circuit, 3 Plate ceiling rose lighting circuit, 2 Way lighting, Spur, Consumer Unit, Outside light, Earth bonding

All foundation courses are attendance and completion only and do not involve any exams, but will include an assessment for suitability to progress on to Part P and/or 17th Edition course

If you ARE able to do the above tasks unaided, but NOT able to do the following unaided then you will need to attend the 5 day (or splitter weekend) Part P course (VRQ Level 2 Domestic Installers Certificate)  (£750.00 or £705.00 if you have already attended the 2 day or 4 day Foundation course).

Identify the different Earthing systems (TNS, TT & TNC-S), Continuity testing of CPC’s, Continuity testing Phase & Neutral, Ring circuit continuity, R1 + R2 calculations, Insulation resistance, Earth fault loop impedance (Zs & Ze), Polarity, PFC (Prospective fault current) and RCD Tests.

The 5 day/splitter weekend course consists of 16 multiple choice internal exams, 1 multiple choice computer based external exam and 12 practical assessments.

If you ARE able to do all the above unaided then you may only need to attend the 1 day Building Regulations exam (£100.00) (This exam is included in the 5 day/splitter weekend Part P course)

You are not required to demonstrate practical ability on the 1 day course but will be when applying for the Domestic Installers Scheme with one of the five bodies.

PART P (5 day/splitter weekend)

VRQ Level 2 Domestic Installers Certificate

This five day (or splitter weekend) course is aimed at personnel/businesses who regularly carry out electrical work in support of their main trade.  This mainly consists of kitchen fitters, plumbers, carpenters and builders, but also extends to anyone carrying out electrical work in the home.
 
Course Content includes:

Installation of Ring circuit
Installation of Radial Circuit
Installation 3 plate ceiling rose circuit
Connect up consumer unit
Installation of 2 way and intermediate switching
Initial Testing procedures
Initial completion of test certificate
How electric gets from the Supply transformer to home
Prospective Fault current
Different types of supply (TNS, TNC-S, TT)
Earthing and Bonding
BS7671 Edition and On-Site Guide requirements
Review of test questions
Completion of test certificates
Inspection and Testing including:
Fault finding
Bonding
Continuity of CPC's
Ring Circuit
Continuity of conductors (R1 + R2)
Insulation Resistance
Polarity
Prospective Fault Current
Earth Fault Loop Impedance (ZS & ZE)
RCD Testing
Review of issued course material on Regulations
Question and Answer session

Internal Exam (16 papers)
Computer Exam (20 questions)
Practical assessment interview

Essential book list

BS7671 On Site Guide ISBN 0-86341-374-9
IEE Electricans Guide to the Building Regulations ISBN 0-86341-463-X

Both the above books are required for both the course and the examination.  Both books can be purchased from The Builder Training Centre.

Pre-requisites

Experience of installing a 13A ring circuit, 3 plate ceiling rose lighting circuit, 2 way lighting, intermediate switching, spur, outside light, earth bonding and wiring a consumer unit.

PRICES & COURSE TIMES
Weekday 9.00 am TO 4.30 pm
Weekend 8.30 am TO 4.00 pm
£750.00 incl VAT (or £705.00 incl VAT for previous electrical students - please see price list)