When you hear building regulations, you might suspect that such a thing couldn’t possibly apply to either your professional rewiring or DIY job. Surely building control is for big extension projects?
However, since 2005 all electrical work in UK homes must meet a set of requirements set out by building regulations - aka, standards the Government has set for all dwellings.
What work needs approval?
You’ll need to get building control approval if you are carrying out any of the following projects…
- Installing a new circuit - even if its low voltage
- Replacing a consumer unit, like a fusebox
- Altering or adding to an existing circuit in a special location, such as a room containing a bath, shower, or swimming pool.
For the final point, you’ll only need approval from your council if your circuit alterations are in the space surrounding a bath or shower. However, if your home has a swimming pool or sauna, any electrical work in that room has to be flagged.
It’s worth noting, that it’s against the law for a homeowner or landlord not to be able to prove that their home meets building regulations. As a criminal offense, your local authority has the right to remove or alter any work within your home that does not meet the Government’s standards.
