New building regulations aimed at curbing the unacceptable number of deaths, injuries and house fires caused by faulty electrical installations, came into force on 1st January.

The new rules affect anyone considering electrical work in the home, including DIY enthusiasts. Failure to comply could lead to householders being required to bring the work up to standard and may make it more difficult to sell their homes.

Minor jobs like replacing sockets and light switches in low risk areas will not be affected. However anyone thinking of, for example, carrying out electrical work in kitchens, bathrooms or outdoors or adding new circuits to any part of their house will have to get building control involved. The alternative is to get the work carried out by a suitably qualified electrician.

The key question for householders is who will be carrying out the work. If it is themselves, a friend or relative then they will have to notify the local authority building control department unless only minor work is involved. An alternative is to employ someone who is registered with a ‘competent person’ scheme.

The ODPM leaflet ‘New rules for electrical safety in the home’, explains the options and how to go about finding a ‘competent person’ in your area in a clear, easy to read style. You can view it online now at the ODPM website and hard copies are be available from local authorities and competent person scheme operators.

The changes bring England and Wales further into line with Scotland where Building Regulations already address electrical safety issues.