Updating the kitchen and bathroom
Many homeowners focus their attention on
renovating functional rooms such as the
kitchen or the bathroom, as they often have
a high return on investment when done
properly. If this is the case, then be prepared
to take extra precautions.
Water and electricity are a dangerous mix,
so when it comes to installing any electrical
circuits or items, check that you are
compliant with safety standards.
Comply before you complete
Not all renovations require planning
permission but they will almost certainly be
subject to building regulations.
Some electrical work may need to comply
with Part P of the Building Regulations.
If you don’t secure approval, your property
could be at risk and could make it hard to
sell further down the line.
The following are examples of the type of
work that is notifiable:
• The installation of a new circuit
• The replacement of a consumer unit
• Any addition or alternation to existing
circuits in a high risk location
Upgrading dated electrics
If you are fully renovating a property that
is older than 25 to 30 years old, you might
want to consider undertaking a full or
partial rewire. Undertaking a rewire will
mean all cabling throughout the property
is bought up to date, which also helps
to futureproof the home. Upgrading the
electrics means you can add extra power
points to a room, such as plug sockets
with USB ports built in, or even set it up for
smart home technology.
A full require can be avoided providing
the existing cabling is sound and able to
carry any additional loads. It also may be
possible to upgrade it by adding a modern
consumer unit and upgrading the earthing
and bonding.
A job shared is a job halved
Any jobs that require Building Regulation
approval should be carried out by a
registered electrician. Choosing an NICEIC
or ELECSA registered contractor not only
ensures a safe job, but they also arrange
the Building Regulations compliance
certificate for you. Registered electricians
are assessed on a regular basis to ensure
high standards and their work is checked
against the IET Wiring Regulations, as well
as other standards.
All NICEIC and ELECSA registered
businesses are covered by the Platinum
Promise – a promise that covers you
against all non-compliant installation work.
Should any work carried out by one of our
contractor be found not to comply with
regulations, we can instruct the contractor
to return and complete the work to the
required standard.
If in doubt, it is always advisable to seek
the help of a registered electrician, such as
those registered with the NICEIC or ELECSA,
who will be able to make sure all work is
done safety and to required standards.
www.elecsa.co.uk
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