47p2's Garage

[notorious]

I'll need to add extra lights in my garage + add a 3 or 4 electrical outlets.

Can I do it myself? (thinking about house insurance)

[47p2]

Nothing to stop you doing it yourself as long as you know what you are doing.

[David's8]

yes you can but I believe that it has to be checked out by a qualified electrician. I would suggest that you do a bit of reading first so that anything you do yourself complies with the regulations.

http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=60746

http://www.diyfixit.co.uk/safety-and...gulations.html

http://www.esc.org.uk/industry/industry-guidance/

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by David's8

yes you can but I believe that it has to be checked out by a qualified electrician.

Don't think so, you just need to be "competent".

The problems may come were you to try and sell the place as a buyer (or their very picky representative) might ask to see the relevant certificates.
If they don't exist a full electrical survey may be required before issuing them.

[David's8]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Don't think so, you just need to be "competent".

The problems may come were you to try and sell the place as a buyer (or their very picky representative) might ask to see the relevant certificates.
If they don't exist a full electical survey may be required before issuing them.

Its the certification of any changes that I was meaning. If its obvious that extensions to circuits have been carried out i.e. that it is not original work by the builders, then a certificate may well be required by someone conducting a survey. And a DIYer, no matter how competent, cannot issue the certificate.

And a "competent" DIYer would be expected to have complied with, the requirements of the 17th Edition of the IEEE Regs.

[notorious]

I have read through DavisS8's links and I understand if I want to change/add a fixed cable that is 'notifyable' work, which is essentially a synonym of nightmare, because it involves applying, getting approvals, inviting someone to the house to check the work and then getting all the paperwork/certificates.

If I don't do that insurance is essentially invalid and house is non-sellable.

Idiotic system.

[Architex_mA8tey]

Originally Posted by notorious

I have read through DavisS8's links and I understand if I want to change/add a fixed cable that is 'notifyable' work, which is essentially a synonym of nightmare, because it involves applying, getting approvals, inviting someone to the house to check the work and then getting all the paperwork/certificates.

If I don't do that insurance is essentially invalid and house is non-sellable.

Idiotic system.

I would agree with David that any electrical work even retrofitting to existing now falls under notifiable work under building regs. It doesn't mean you can't do it yourself but it does make it cheaper to get an "approved installer" to fit the required lights or sockets so that they can certify it at the point of fitting and issue you with paperwork to prove that all is to standards.

[notorious]

If I'm going to plaster/drywall/tile walls of garage how on earth they will know that there were some modifications to electrical system, i.e. extended a line and added another outlet?

I assume there is no central database with construction documentation for every house. Also, houses are sold without electrical schema of how it was originally built, so there is no baseline to compare with. If they created such a strict rule how the rule is enforced?

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by notorious

If they created such a strict rule how the rule is enforced?

With great difficulty.

Though there is the "old" and "new" cable colouring to give a few clues.....

[IT]

Having been through a whole rewire of my house, it was quite eye opening as to what was lurking to be honest.

Over the years, and owners, 1 electrical short cut turns into 2, turns into 3 and you assume you are simply extending a circuit which is in itself completely safe and up to standard, with a working earth and fused correctly. Thats how I thought my house was before I pulled it all out and found several fires waiting to happen.

If it seems like a quick and easy job, it probably is, and for a pukka sparky it'll be quick and easy too so not too expensive.

There was a time I would have happily run some cable myself, but given our huge dependence now electrical gadgets, and pulling more and more current from the grid I sleep sound at night knowing everything is 100%.

If you did the work yourself, the reality is that it would be very difficult to tell, until the next time someone tries to alter something, or it goes wrong.