Read up these posts to see my post above.

The MODS

Can you please delete the the reply to  poster facility as this is a pain in the backside. Just lists the posts in phonological order as this is the way I think is preferred by people I have spoken to? I know a few people are not participating now  in the forum because the less of ease of  operating from the old forum. 

Thanks

Hi John, I posted your question here engx.theiet.org/.../deleting-the-reply-to-poster-button perhaps members could ask the Mods in this thread the question "When?" As a sort of vote?

Sorry John,

I would  not normally bother but this is an important point and an error that is often made.

It is not as simple as you suggest. The approved docs are not themselves the actual law, just an example of one (strongly recommended ) way of meeting the law .

The law itself is actually  the various building control regulations, the building act, and the act does not mention BS7671 at all. and then a stack of  statutory instruments that modify these acts there are many of those  several per year, mostly unread by most MPs and not voted on.

- but as far as the approved docs are concerned, you can do other things and break no law, so long as  you can convince a building control officer are they are  equivalent in meeting the letter of the various acts.

Some of us have and no doubt will do so again. I have an intumescent cat flap into my garage for example, and some German standard wiring in my downstairs shower room, and all the completion certs to show it is legal.

Indeed load the latest part P approved document here and turn to page 3 of 22 in the PDF reader, and the section 'What is an approved document'

where in among the rest is the key

Note that there may be other ways to comply with the requirements – there is no obligation to adopt any particular solution contained in an approved document. If you prefer to meet a relevant requirement in some other way than described in an approved document, you should discuss this with the relevant building control body

Page 10 of 22 (page 3 of the actual document) highlights the only bit that is the actual legal requirement.

Now at any time the primary legislation may change, or indeed another SI may go before parliament, but for now, BS7671 is not called up in the legislation, only in the guidance to it.

 Regards Mike.

Graham,

Thank you for your reply. I found it most interesting. Many thanks once again for taking the time and trouble.