Posted By russell calderwood Colleagues Do you have any thoughts as to the IMPACT the enactment of Part 'P' "Electrical Safety" will have upon us? My initial thoughts see this as an electrical nightmare for individuals, and the LAs, to take forward as from the 1/1/5 !!!!! I am all for enhanced safety, but I believe this piece of legislation is a step, if not a leap, too far - - with major cost implications for all and sundry; will increase the number of electrical 'cowboys' looking to make a quick buck by scaring people into 'altering'

their electrical wiring for no good reason[**], & from another viewpoint people will see this as an imposition & be reticent to update their electrics - with the result that there will be more 'failures / fires' [***]; it will become a administrative, if not a legal, nightmare; will lead to enhanced house sale costs; and where do we find all these correctly accredited electricians with a good understanding of the 16th edition ?!!!!! And ps: what stats / cost benefit appraisal justifies part 'P' imposition ? !!! * unfortunately, I can envisage that many cowboy 'altered' electrics will become a major liability through shortcuts, loss of earthing, etc! ** accepted quite a few pre-war households need their wiring renewed - but that is for Government to carryout a advertising campaign, not implement a 'huge regulatory club'! *** currently, electrical fires in households are generally due to kitchen appliances being left on overnight to take advantage of cheap electricity ! I can visualise these Regulations giving 'safety' a bad name - the papers are going to have a 'field' day, especially JC !, - your observations would be most appreciated. Russell

Posted By George Wedgwood I believe these Regs will slowly lead to better standards of wiring - initially for new builds and then for rewires and additions. Like CORGI, wiring will be more openly discussed and perhaps some of the dreadful examples of 'professional' rewire jobs might become better, though that will only happen if rewires become better regulated by LAs. At present, some gas manufacturers will not sell Joe public any spares if not CORGI registered and likewise for electrical equipment, the same might eventually be observed. However, B&Q are now selling gas installation bits for DIYers to install so I am sure this will not stop as long as the demand is there! I don't see DIYers going out and getting CORGI or NICEIC accreditation to do their house up! So yes, there is a bit of big brother in this lot but what would you do as a Politician to reduce house fires? At least having the Regs gives us the Standard we need so that at least some can follow it. Perhaps DIYers could go through a simple accreditation to become 'approved'! G.

Posted By Mike Miller Any improvement that brings greater safety in any industry is welcome. However all this because some politicians daughter was electrocuted. Whilst I sympathise with her I feel that this was a knee jerk reaction brought about by someone who was in a fortunate position to bring about change. Which brings me to my point? If baroness Scotland’s Husband was killed on a building site, would this bring in the corporate killing statute any quicker? After all an average of 70 persons are killed in construction every year. Just a thought! Mike