Question about Who can do what and minor works certs

There are two overlapping concepts here: compliance with BS 7671 ("the electrical regs") and compliance with part P of the building regs. The former aren't statutory although some statutes require or encourage compliance; part P is statutory.


For work to comply with BS 7671, it has to do all the things covered by its 500 pages of rules; one of those rules being to issue an electrical installation certificate or minor works cert as appropriate. Where there isn't a statutory requirement to follow BS 7671, a cert therefore doesn't have to be issued - think of a DIYer adding an extra socket. However, for a paid professional doing electrical work, not issuing a cert is very poor form. There is also the issue of understanding the things required in the certificate. For example, Zdb: if the person doing the work hasn't got equipment suitable for measuring Zdb and/or doesn't understand what Zdb is or what implications it has for safety, then maybe they shouldn't be doing safety-related work?


Note also that anyone can fill out a certificate; the only condition is that they have to sign at the bottom declaring they are competent to have done the work - which could later land them in hot water if this declaration was patently false.


Then there are situations where BS 7671 is required. The two main ones are: rented accommodation: the landlord has to ensure that the installation complies with  BS 7671 at all times while it has a tenant. The other is notifiable works under Part P of the building regs - this is basically anything involving a new circuit or CU, or anywhere reachable / touchable by a person in a bath or shower. Where it is notifiable, the Local Authority will want either the work carried out by a member of self-certification scheme; certified by an approved 3rd party verifier (you pay the verifier), or checked by the LA themselves (you pay the LA and they send out someone, probably an electrician). The LA will want the work done to BS 7671 and will want a copy of the cert.

There are two overlapping concepts here: compliance with BS 7671 ("the electrical regs") and compliance with part P of the building regs. The former aren't statutory although some statutes require or encourage compliance; part P is statutory.


For work to comply with BS 7671, it has to do all the things covered by its 500 pages of rules; one of those rules being to issue an electrical installation certificate or minor works cert as appropriate. Where there isn't a statutory requirement to follow BS 7671, a cert therefore doesn't have to be issued - think of a DIYer adding an extra socket. However, for a paid professional doing electrical work, not issuing a cert is very poor form. There is also the issue of understanding the things required in the certificate. For example, Zdb: if the person doing the work hasn't got equipment suitable for measuring Zdb and/or doesn't understand what Zdb is or what implications it has for safety, then maybe they shouldn't be doing safety-related work?


Note also that anyone can fill out a certificate; the only condition is that they have to sign at the bottom declaring they are competent to have done the work - which could later land them in hot water if this declaration was patently false.


Then there are situations where BS 7671 is required. The two main ones are: rented accommodation: the landlord has to ensure that the installation complies with  BS 7671 at all times while it has a tenant. The other is notifiable works under Part P of the building regs - this is basically anything involving a new circuit or CU, or anywhere reachable / touchable by a person in a bath or shower. Where it is notifiable, the Local Authority will want either the work carried out by a member of self-certification scheme; certified by an approved 3rd party verifier (you pay the verifier), or checked by the LA themselves (you pay the LA and they send out someone, probably an electrician). The LA will want the work done to BS 7671 and will want a copy of the cert.