At risk of Part P becoming something of a bore, note that the ODPM's office has issued some minor amendments already:
http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_buildreg/documents/page/odpm_breg_033693.p df The main changes can be summarized as follows.
Various exterior constructions:
“Regulation 9 is amended so that the requirements of Part P apply to electrical installations in any greenhouse, small detached building, conservatory, porch,
covered yard or way, and car port open on at least two sides.”
Definition of what constitutes a kitchen:
“Kitchen is defined in the Building Regulations as ‘a room or part of a room
which contains a sink and food preparation facilities’.
As a guide only, in open plan areas the zone of a kitchen may be considered to
extend from the edge of the sink to a distance of 3m or to a nearer dividing wall.”
And some revisions to the tables of exempt works:
For Table 1 on page 8, substitute:
Table 1: Work that need not be notified to building control bodies
Work consisting of:
Replacing any electrical fitting including socket-outlets, control switches and ceiling roses
Replacing the cable for a single circuit only, where damaged, for example, by fire, rodent or impact (a)
Re-fixing or replacing the enclosures of existing installation components (b)
Providing mechanical protection to existing fixed installations (c)
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Work that is not in a kitchen or special location and does not involve a special installation (d) and consists of:
Adding lighting points (light fittings and switches) to an existing circuit (e)
Adding socket-outlets and fused spurs to an existing ring or radial circuit (e)
Installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding (f)
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Work not in a special location on:
Telephone or extra-low voltage wiring and equipment for the purposes of communications, information technology, signalling, control and similar purposes
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Notes
(a) On condition that the replacement cable has the same current carrying capacity, follows the same route and does not serve more than one sub-circuit through a distribution board.
(b) If the circuit’s protective measures are unaffected.
(c) If the circuit’s protective measures and current-carrying capacity of conductors are unaffected by increased thermal insulation.
(d) Special locations and installations are listed in Table 2.
(e) Only if the existing circuit protective device is suitable and provides protection for the modified circuit, and other relevant safety provisions are satisfactory.
(f) Such work shall comply with other applicable legislation, such as the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations.
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For Table 2 on page 8, substitute:
Table 2: Special locations and installations (a)
Special locations:
Locations containing a bath tub or shower basin
Swimming pools or paddling pools
Hot air saunas)
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Special installations:
Electric floor or ceiling heating systems
Garden lighting or power installations
Solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems
Small scale generators such as microCHP units
Extra-low voltage lighting installations, other than pre-assembled, CE-marked lighting sets
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Notes
(a) See IEE Guidance Note 7 which gives more guidance on achieving safe installations where risks to people are greater.
[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 01-05-2005).]
