These days it seems more and more people are working from home, or spending more time working from home, myself included. Due to this, this leads to an increase in people looking to find extra space in the home or garden.
There are many websites that give really great advice and information on working from home. There are also many companies that supply and install garden office studios. I have researched this and unfortunately on both types of websites there seems to be very few giving detailed information about the electrical regulations and building regulations when installing power and lighting to this type of garden building in england and wales. As an electrician myself, this blog is intended to help with information and guide you in the right direction on the electrical regulations / part p and the law about installing new power and lighting in the garden.
In 2005 the government introduced Part P of the building regulations. For more information on Part P please visit My Local Electricians page on What is Part P ?
Installing power to a garden office comes under the scope of Part P and this means that the electrical installation needs to be certified. Also under Part P the person or company carrying out the electrical work are the only people who can certificate these works on a self-certify basis. If they are not part of a governing body for Part P then you must inform your local building control department at your local council where they will be able to help you with what you need to do.
So please do remember, If you are thinking of having a garden office installed do make sure that the company or person installing the electrical supply is registered with an electrical governing body to ensure that the works are carried out safely and correctly, Insuring your piece of mind and not breaking the law!
To find out if a company or person belongs to an electrical governing body and can Part P self-certify, visit a list of providers HERE
Comments
3 comments postedIf your using SWA cable, remember to use a SACS tool to strip down the cable.
Its safer,more accurate and less effort.
You can get one by visiting www.mylocalelectricalsupplies.co.uk or www.dimart.co.uk
It's worth checking with your electrician how deep a trench is needed. For example under flower beds and drives you might need to dig deeper. They will expect to turn up and just drop the cable in and not have did a trench
Great advice Andy. As an electrician myself, if I were called to give an estimate for this type of work I personally would talk to the customer and discuss the best place / places to run the cable. I would also give the customer the option on if they would like us to dig the hole, If this of course was the best option as there are of course other options of running armoured cable other than just burying it, or if they would like to dig the hole. I would always be more than happy for the customer to arrange this lol!