Don’t Risk Your Home With DIY Electrics This Summer
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The British summer time is here, and across the UK homeowners everywhere are getting geared up for BBQ’s and garden parties. With guests arriving to while away the summer evenings with a glass of Pimms, thoughts turn to keeping the garden illuminated after dark and DIY enthusiasts may decide to turn their hand at installing some lanterns or fairy lights to frame their fencing. While we love the idea of creating atmospheric lighting to welcome visitors, we cannot stress enough the importance of employing a registered electrician to install and check your wiring before you flick that switch.
Why do I need an Electrician?
Outdoor fairy lights may seem harmless enough, but when they are powered by an extension lead from an extension lead attached to a plug socket in your home, you run the risk of causing an electrical fire. A power surge or blown fuse can result in utter devastation within your property, and a pretty string of lights is simply not worth the safety of your loved ones.
In 2005, the UK government enforced the Building Regulations for England and Wales, and this legislation clearly states that all fixed electrical installation work in homes must be carried out by a registered electrician. Also known as ‘Part P’, these regulations include any changes that are made to the existing electrical wiring and installations, and they are in effect to protect you and those in your home from receiving potentially fatal electric shocks or being the victims of electrical fires. The Building Regulations are not limited only to wiring and installation within your home, however, but they are in fact applicable to all electrical work carried out in your home, garden, garage, conservatory or outbuildings.
Not all electrical work must be reported to the local authorities for approval, but each and every electrical installation in and around your home must be undertaken by a Government approved Part-P electrician to maintain a safe environment. These electricians operate in strict accordance with the national UK safety standards and will give you a safety certificate to confirm that their work has been carried out, inspected and tested in line with these standards.
What are the benefits?
If you are looking to invest in garden lighting this summer, it is worth investing in some permanent fixtures and asking your local electrician to install them for you. Using an electrician may seem a costly expense, but they in fact offer you a peace of mind that is priceless. A registered electrical expert will handle every aspect of your electrical installation from handling building control charges to obtaining the correct building regulation certification. Furthermore, you as the customer are completely covered in the unlikely event that the work carried out should be found substandard against current legislation at a later date.
How do I find an Outdoor Electrician?
Any electrician with BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations will be capable and competent to undertake outdoor electrical work. Check with the national register of electricians online and in a few clicks, you can be on your way to finding a reputable electrician in your area today.
