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What is Part P
What is a Competent Person
Why should I use a Competent Person
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Electrical Safety


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Costs & requirements

Costs

You will be charged a fee on application to the scheme.  This fee covers the cost of your initial inspection and assessment for eligibility.  After this, you will be charged each year to cover the cost of your annual suveillance inspections.  These charges are listed in more detail in the Fee Sheet.

Requirements

There are certain criteria you are expected to meet in order to be eligible to register as a Competent Person.  All applicants must be successfully assessed against the following requirements before being registered with the scheme.  These requirements are to ensure that the electrical installation work you undertake is in compliance with the IEE Wiring Regulations BS 7671.  Full details of the scheme's requirements can be found in the Application Pack.

1. Site-based assessment

Before you can be registered you must undergo a site-based inspection of your work.  Once registered, you will be subject to annual site-based inspections to ensure that you continue to comply.  A minimum of two installations will be inspected and assessed for compliance with the Building Regulations and, in particular, BS 7671.

2. Personnel

Applicants must be able to nominate at least one person to be the firm's Qualified Supervisor.  This is the person who will have direct responsibility for the day-to-day safety, quality, technical standard and certification of the work.  The Qualified Supervisor must be qualified to a suitable level and will be assessed on competence.  Full details of the requirements can be found here.

3. The following requirements also need to be satisfied:

  • Technical reference documents - applicants should hold current editions of relevant documents (such as BS 7671 and the Memorandum of Guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations)
  • Instruments and test equipment - applicants must have sufficient suitable, accurate instruments for certification purposes
  • Health and Safety Policy - applicants are required to have a written Health and Safety Policy Statement in place
  • Insurance - applicants must hold Public Liability Insurance for a minimum of £2 million
  • Warranty - once registered, Competent Persons must provide their customers with information enabling them to purchase an insurance-backed warranty.  This information will be supplied to the firm by the relevant insurance company.
  • Documentation - applicants are expected to demonstrate that they carry out inspection, testing and certification as required by BS 7671
  • Complaints management - once registered, Competent Persons are required to keep a complaints log in which they should record any complaints and indicate any subsequent actions to be taken to remedy the situation
  • Contracts - once registered, Competent Persons are expected to make use of written contracts describing, for example, work to be carried out, start and end dates and the price to be charged (click here for an example contract).

Applicants are advised to refer to Scheme Document SD018: Dwellings for further detail on the above requirements. A Self-Assessment Guide is also available to help firms check themselves against the specified criteria and identify and address any gaps before the assessment takes place.

If you require any further advice or information, please call 0870 609 6093.