This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Scope of Part P (extra-low voltage)

I'm trying to understand the scope of Part P as at the extra low voltage end of things it seems a bit contentious. Below is an extract from Approved Part P and it includes extra-low voltage. That raises some questions:

  1. Would 48V DC be in the scope of Part P as extra-low voltage appears to have no bottom end, just a top end at 50V AC and 120V DC? As an example, installing house wide lighting 'through the fabric of the building' run with a plug in 48V supply (plugged into a socket outlet).
  2. Lots of people are retrofitting under unit lights into their kitchens which are 12V. They have a plug in transformer, but in many cases the wires are then routed 'through the fabric of the building'. Why isn't this in the scope of Part P if a house wide extra-low voltage lighting system would be?

The second case could arguably be an 'electrical installation' too as although it is plugged in to an outlet, the wires and lights are fixed.

Is it that both of these would be in the scope of Part P, but if both plugged in to existing outlets, they wouldn't be notifiable? If that's the case, in theory they could also both have wired in transformers spurred off an existing circuit as that would only be notifiable if it's an 'addition or alteration to existing circuits in a special location' which if it didn't include a bathroom it wouldn't be. Am I understanding that right?

There's a bit of a can of worms here, but LEDs are becoming so efficient that house wide extra-low voltage systems may start to become more of a thing.

Parents
  • Why was Part P written with appendixes with things such as information on outdated electrical installation practices, which are basically tutorials for DIYers?

  • Come on Andy, what is wrong with everyone having access to information, including the electricians? Do you want to be licensed, as in some other countries? Two thirds of the current workforce would be unable to pass the exams to get the licence! Closed shops were an evil idea, they reduced employment. We are now getting the same problem but the mechanism is via completely useless "training" for just about everything, but the excuse is always "Health and safety"! Are there accident statistics to support your argument? No....

Reply
  • Come on Andy, what is wrong with everyone having access to information, including the electricians? Do you want to be licensed, as in some other countries? Two thirds of the current workforce would be unable to pass the exams to get the licence! Closed shops were an evil idea, they reduced employment. We are now getting the same problem but the mechanism is via completely useless "training" for just about everything, but the excuse is always "Health and safety"! Are there accident statistics to support your argument? No....

Children
No Data