What is PART P?

The Building Act 1984 in section(1)1 made provisions that regulations maybe made for various purposes. This meant that rather than going to parliment each time additions were needed, the Secretary of State can approve documents. Approved Document P: Electrical safety - 2006 edition is one of these documents, and is commonly referred to as Part P.

Prior to the introduction of Part P, anyone could install electrical equipment into a dwelling. The IEE did have regulations in place in the form of BS 7671, but these were not statutory and were often ignored by some installers (including DIYers). Part P does not limit who can install electrical equipment but does require that certain work will require prior notification to a building control body. There is an exception and that is where the installer is registered with an electrical self-certification scheme.