Building Regulations Part P: Notifiable Electrical Work, Competent Person Schemes, and Self-Certification for UK Electricians

Building Regulations Part P has governed domestic electrical work in England since 2005. For UK electricians, it defines which work requires notification to Building Control, how self-certification works through competent person schemes, and what the legal consequences are of non-compliant installations. This guide covers the current requirements, the scope of Part P, scheme membership, and practical compliance for everyday domestic electrical work.

1. What Is Part P?

Part P of the Building Regulations (England) — "Electrical Safety in Dwellings" — requires that domestic electrical work is designed and installed to protect persons and property from fire and injury. It applies to all electrical installations in dwellings, including houses, flats, and associated outbuildings and garden structures.

The current edition is the Building Regulations 2010 (as amended), with Part P Approved Document P (2013 edition) providing the practical guidance. The underpinning wiring standard remains BS 7671:2018 (the 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations), including Amendment 2:2022.

Geographic scope: Part P applies only in England. Wales has equivalent requirements under its own Building Regulations. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate systems — Scottish Building Standards Technical Handbook Domestic, Section 4 (Safety). This guide focuses on England.

2. Notifiable vs Non-Notifiable Work

The most important practical distinction for electricians is whether a job is "notifiable" (requiring Building Control involvement or self-certification through a competent person scheme) or "non-notifiable" (work that can be carried out and self-certified without notification).

Non-Notifiable Work

The following domestic electrical work does not require notification to Building Control:

• Adding a socket outlet, switch, or light fitting to an existing circuit (not in a kitchen or bathroom)
• Replacing or repairing existing accessories (sockets, switches, ceiling roses) like for like
• Installing or upgrading earthing and bonding connections
• Replacing a consumer unit where no new circuits are added (note: replacing a consumer unit to a metal enclosure 18th Edition board is non-notifiable as routine replacement, but the work must still comply with BS 7671)
• Installing telephone wiring, data cabling, doorbell systems, and similar extra-low voltage work
• Installing SELV lighting below 50V (e.g., 12V LED garden lighting from a transformer)
• Adding accessories or extending an existing circuit in a garden, outbuilding, or detached garage (where the extension is not a new circuit from the main board)

Notifiable Work

The following domestic work IS notifiable:

• Installing a new circuit in a dwelling (including a new circuit to serve a socket, lighting point, or dedicated appliance)
• Adding a circuit to a kitchen — kitchens are a higher-risk location, so even adding to an existing circuit is notifiable if it involves new wiring to the kitchen
• Work in a bathroom or shower room — any new wiring in a bathroom, toilet, or shower room is notifiable (including adding a downlight, shaver socket, or extractor fan circuit)
• Installing outdoor wiring — new circuits in gardens, to outbuildings, external sockets, or lighting columns
• Installing a consumer unit — replacing an existing consumer unit counts as notifiable work in England
• Connecting a generator or other source of electricity
• Installing a solar PV system — additionally requires MCS certification for any Feed-in Tariff or Smart Export Guarantee application
• Installing an EV charging point — additionally requires OZEV compliance. See our EV Charging Installation Guide

3. How to Comply with Part P

There are two routes to compliance for notifiable work:

Route 1: Self-Certification via a Competent Person Scheme

An electrician who is a registered member of a government-approved competent person scheme can self-certify their work. This means they notify the local authority Building Control on behalf of the homeowner and issue a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate (sometimes called a Part P Certificate) without needing a Building Control inspection.

This is the route used by the vast majority of qualified electricians in England. It is faster, cheaper, and avoids the need for local authority Building Control involvement.

Route 2: Building Control Application

A non-registered person can carry out notifiable electrical work, but they must:

1. Submit a Building Regulations application to the local authority Building Control (or an approved inspector) before starting work
2. Pay the applicable fee (typically £100–£200 for minor electrical work)
3. Have the completed work inspected and tested by a competent person (e.g., a scheme member or approved inspector's engineer)
4. Obtain Building Control approval and a Completion Certificate

This route is rarely used in practice. DIY homeowners who carry out notifiable work and are not scheme members must use this route.

4. Competent Person Schemes

Government-approved competent person schemes allow registered electricians to self-certify Part P notifiable work. The main schemes for domestic electrical work are:

NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting)

The largest electrical contracting assessment body in the UK. NICEIC offers the Domestic Installer scheme (for domestic-only work) and the Approved Contractor scheme (full domestic and commercial). Members must pass an initial assessment of technical competence, quality management, and hold a minimum of Level 3 NVQ or equivalent qualifications. Ongoing assessment through periodic site inspections.

NAPIT (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers)

Government-approved scheme accepting members who can demonstrate technical competence. NAPIT's Domestic Electrical Installer membership covers Part P self-certification. Also operates schemes for heating, ventilation, and renewable energy.

ELECSA

Part of NICEIC Group, offering the Domestic Electrical Competent Person scheme. Widely accepted and equivalent in standing to NICEIC Domestic Installer.

STROMA Certification

Smaller scheme covering domestic electrical, renewable energy, and related trades. Government-approved for Part P self-certification.

BSI (British Standards Institution)

Operates a competent person scheme under the Kitemark scheme framework, less commonly used for domestic electrical but government-approved.

What Scheme Membership Provides

• Authority to self-certify Part P notifiable work without Building Control application
• Online notification portal access — notify Building Control electronically within 30 days of completion
• Provision of Building Regulations Compliance Certificates (Part P certificates) to customers
• Scheme logo for marketing and customer confidence
• Access to technical helplines and scheme updates

5. The Notification Process

When a registered electrician completes notifiable Part P work, the process is:

1. Complete the installation to BS 7671 and test and inspect it
2. Issue an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) or Minor Works Certificate, signed by the designer, installer, and inspector
3. Notify Building Control via the competent person scheme's online portal within 30 days of completion (the scheme does this on the electrician's behalf)
4. Issue the Part P Compliance Certificate to the homeowner — this is the homeowner's legal proof of compliant installation
5. The scheme notifies the local authority, and the work is registered on the local authority's records

The Part P Compliance Certificate is important for property transactions. Solicitors routinely request evidence of Part P compliance for notifiable electrical work when a property is sold. Missing certificates can delay or complicate property sales.

6. BS 7671 — The Technical Standard

Part P compliance requires that the electrical installation is designed and installed in accordance with BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations). The current edition is the 18th Edition (BS 7671:2018), with Amendment 2:2022 in force from January 2022.

Key 18th Edition requirements relevant to domestic work:

• Consumer units must have metal enclosures (Reg 421.1.201) — plastic consumer units are no longer acceptable in new installations or replacements
• RCD protection: all socket outlets up to 32A must have RCD protection unless labelled and not for general use. See our RCDs and RCBOs Guide
• Arc fault detection (AFDD): Amendment 2:2022 provides guidance on AFDD for higher-risk locations, though not yet mandatory for all circuits
• Cable sizing: cables must be correctly sized for their load, installation method, and grouping correction factors. See our Cable Sizing Guide
• Earthing and bonding: all incoming metallic services (water, gas, oil, structural steel) require main protective bonding. See our Earth Bonding Guide

7. Kitchen Electrical Requirements

Kitchens are a higher-risk area due to the combination of water and electrical appliances. Key requirements:

• All socket outlets in kitchens (and areas adjacent to a sink) must have RCD protection
• Any new circuit to a kitchen is notifiable, even if extending an existing ring or radial
• Dedicated circuits are required for high-load appliances: cooker (typically 45A or 32A radial), dishwasher, washing machine, fridge-freezer (ring or radial)
• Induction hobs require a dedicated 32A or 40A circuit
• No socket outlets within 300mm of a sink

8. Bathroom Electrical Requirements

Bathrooms are divided into zones (Zone 0, 1, 2) under BS 7671 and the IP rating requirements for luminaires and accessories in each zone. All new electrical work in bathrooms is notifiable.

Key rules:

• Zone 0 (inside bath or shower): IPX7 minimum. Only SELV at max 12V AC permitted
• Zone 1 (above bath/shower to 2.25m): IPX4 minimum (IPX5 if jet-spray cleaning is expected). SELV, or RCD-protected 230V circuits for showers, ventilation fans, heat lamps. No switches with the exception of pull-cord
• Zone 2 (up to 600mm from bath rim or shower enclosure): IPX4 minimum. RCD protection required for all circuits
• Outside zones (rest of bathroom): shaver sockets (BS EN 61558-2-5 isolating transformer type) permitted. No general socket outlets. Pull-cord switches or switches positioned outside the room
• Main and supplementary bonding required to all metal pipes, exposed metal parts, and sanitary ware where required

See our Bathroom Electrical Requirements Guide and IP Ratings Guide for full detail.

9. Inspection and Testing

Before issuing an EIC or Minor Works Certificate, all notifiable work must be inspected and tested to BS 7671 Chapter 61–65. Required tests vary by circuit type but typically include:

• Continuity of protective conductors (including ring final circuit continuity test)
• Insulation resistance (line-to-line and line-to-earth, minimum 1MΩ)
• Polarity verification
• Earth fault loop impedance (Zs measurement to verify prospective fault current exceeds disconnection current for the protective device)
• RCD operating time (test button and timed trip test at rated operating current)
• Prospective fault current check at the origin

See our Electrical Installation Testing Guide for full test procedures.

10. Consumer Unit Replacement Under Part P

Consumer unit replacement is one of the most commonly carried out notifiable Part P jobs. Key points:

• All consumer units must now have metal enclosures to reduce fire risk (Reg 421.1.201)
• When replacing a consumer unit, the opportunity should be taken to upgrade protection: install RCBOs (individual RCD+MCB per circuit) rather than split-load boards where budget allows
• SPDs (Surge Protection Devices): Amendment 2:2022 requires consideration of SPD protection for new installations and significant modifications. See our SPD and AFDD Guide
• Label all circuits clearly in the consumer unit
• Issue a full EIC on completion of consumer unit replacement

See our Consumer Unit Replacement Guide for the full procedure.

11. Penalties for Non-Compliance

Carrying out notifiable Part P work without notification or competent person scheme membership can result in:

• Retrospective Building Control application and inspection costs — if work is discovered during a property sale, the homeowner may need to pay for an inspection and potentially have the work redone
• Difficulty selling the property — solicitors require Part P certificates for notifiable work. Without them, the buyer's solicitor may require an indemnity insurance policy or proof of inspection
• Insurance implications — home insurance may be invalidated if an electrical fire occurs and the installation was not Part P compliant
• Local authority enforcement action — local authorities can serve an enforcement notice requiring remediation of non-compliant work

12. Part P for Electricians: Practical Takeaways

• Join a competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA) before undertaking notifiable domestic electrical work
• Explain to customers what is and isn't notifiable before quoting
• Always issue EIC or Minor Works Certificate for all work, notifiable or not
• Notify within 30 days using the scheme portal — late notification can attract administration fees from the scheme
• Issue the Part P Compliance Certificate to the homeowner and advise them to keep it with the property's paperwork
• For replacement consumer units: always issue an EIC (not Minor Works) as a new installation certificate is required

Related Guides

• Consumer Unit Replacement: 18th Edition, RCBO vs RCD
• RCDs and RCBOs: Types, Regulations, and How to Choose
• Electrical Installation Testing: Continuity, Insulation Resistance, and Loop Impedance
• EICR Explained: Electrical Installation Condition Reports
• Cable Sizing and Current Carrying Capacity
• Bathroom Renovation Electrical Requirements: Zoning, Earth Bonding, and Part P
• Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) and AFDDs
• Electrical First Fix: A Practical Guide for Electricians