Electrical Installers’ Guide to the Building Regulations For dwellings and associated areas in England and Wales A joint publication between Representing the best in electrical ‘engineering and building servicesSeoeee eee enna eendndddnbdnbddddd UPDATED TO: ee wHRING REGULATIONS EDITION BS7671:2008 Electrical Installers’ Guide to the Building Regulations For dwellings and associated areas in England and Wales A joint publication between Representing the best in electrical tengineering and building services Endorsed by LABC Vw LABCElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC This guide has been jointly produced by the following organizations: NICEIC Warwick House, Houghton Hall Park, Houghton Regis, Dunstable LUS 52x Tel: 01582 531000 Fax: 01582 556024 wwwniceicgroup.com ECA (Electrical Contractors’ Association) ECA Head Office ESCA House, 34 Palace Court, London, W2 4HY Tel: 020 7313 4800 Fax: 020 7221 7344 Website: www.eca.co.uk Endorsed by: Local Authority Building Control (LABC) LABC 137 Lupus Street, London SW1V 3HE Tel: 0844 561 6136 Fax: 0844 561 6137 E-mail: info@labc.uk.com Website: www.labc.co.uk Published by: NICEIC Warwick House, Houghton Hall Park, Houghton’ Regis, Dunstable LUS 5ZX Tel: 01582 531000 Fax: 01582 556024 www.niceicgroup.com ISBN-10 0-95-487910-4 ISBN-13 987-0-9548791-0-5 EAN 9780954879105 All rights reserved. No part of the guidance and information may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the publishers: NICEIC, ECA, and LABC believe that the guidance and information contained in this book is correct, but all parties must rely on their own skill and judgement when making use of it. NICEIC, ECA, and LABC assume no liability to anyone for any loss or damage caused by any error or omission in the book, whether such error is the result of negligence or any other cause. Any such liability is disclaimed. It should be noted that Building Regulations and related documents are subject to updates. a © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 ee ee ee ee ee]eee een Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Forewords ~~, Foreword by LABC Director of Technical Services. LABC In Autumn 2002, the Electrical Contractors’ Association invited representatives of Local Authority Building Control to work with them to help develop @ system to ensure that electrical work in dwellings complied with new regulations to be introduced into the Building Regulations, concerned with electrical safety in dwellings. LABC was eager to assist and representatives from this association attended regular meetings with the ECA to explore how this could be achieved. By January 2003 the District Surveyors Association (DSA) Technical Committee Chair had joined the EAS Management Comrmittee. The EAS was looking at a scheme whereby competent electrical contractors could certify their own work as being compliant with the Building Regulations in a similar way to other established certification schemes for other aspects of the Building Regulations. On 29th June 2004 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the ODPM Phil Hope announced that five bodies had been authorised by the Building Regulations Advisory Committee to run schemes. He also announced that Part P of the Building Regulations ‘Electrical Safety’ would come into effect on 1st January 2005. To assist electrical Installers in understanding the requirements of the Building Regulations, the first edition of this guide was produced jointly by the ECA and NICEIC following consultation with the DSA’s Technical Committee. The District Surveyors Association have long promoted the services offered by local authority building control through LABC. The DSA and LABC have now merged into one as LABC which is the member organisation representing all local authority building control departments in England and Wales. September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publicationElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations Endorsed by LABC LABC promotes the design and construction of buildings that are safe, accessible and environmentally efficient, to comply with the Building Regulations and endorses this publication to assist the electrical industry and Building Control Bodies in ensuring safer electrical installations in England and Wales. It offers a valuable contribution to the improvement of public health and safety. Barry Turner B.S.Turner MRICS Director of Technical Services LaBC © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 BRePRBRPAR ARR RR RRR RRR RRR aaaOe ee ee ee ee ee Electrical installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Representing the best in electrical engineering and building services Mainstream work of domestic electrical installers first became subject to the requirements and procedures associated with Building Control with the publication of the Building (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2004 No. 1808, which introduced Part P of the Building Regulations. Prior to Part P, electrical installers needed to take account of other Parts of the Building Regulations such as Part B (Fire safety), Part L (Conservation of fuel and power) and Part M (Access to and use of buildings). However, Part P (Electrical safety) is concerned specifically with electrical installation work and places a statutory requirement on electrical installation work in or attached to dwellings. This requirement (given in regulation 20), as amended by the Building and Approved Inspectors (Amendment) Regulations 2006 No.662, is that: ‘Reasonable provision shall be made in the design and installation of electrical installations in order to protect persons operating, maintaining or altering the installations from fire or injury.’ A competent electrical installer should have no problem with meeting this requirement. Clause 0.1 of Approved Document P (Electrical safety - dwellings) 2006 edition states that ‘the requirements will be met by adherence to the ‘Fundamental Principles' for achieving safety given in BS 7671: 2001 Chapter 13' - the UK standard for the safety of electrical installations, with which all electrical installers should be familiar. Since that statement BS 7677 has been revised to the 2008 edition, and account has been taken of the revised content of it in this guide. September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication [BRETElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC However, the requirements placed on electrical work by Part P arise in the context of the Building Regulations — a world far more extensive than that described by BS 7677. For example, electrical installers must also be aware of the requirements that apply to the builder's work they carry out in connection with their electrical work — this work may well be subject to other Parts of the Building Regulations. In addition, they need to understand, and comply with, the requirements and administrative arrangements for notifying work to an appropriate Building Control Body any work that falls under the requirements of the Building Regulations. An electrical installation business should also be aware that it may apply to be registered with an authorised ‘Competent Person Self-Certification Scheme’, as a result of which, it can avoid certain requirements and costs associated with Building Control. However, in order to be registered with such a scheme, a business (firm) will need to demonstrate that it is competent to carry out work in compliance with the Building Regulations and its performance will be monitored to ensure that it does in fact perform as required by the Building Regulations, This guide has been written to describe for electrical installers the way the Building Regulations bear upon their particular activity and to explain the main requirements with which they must comply. © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 BPRPPRAPRAARPFRPRRRPRPRRPRP RRR RAR]Bee ea i i i a i Electrical Installers’ Guide to “The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Contents 1. Introduction 6 Bs The Building Regulations 8 Introduction to the Building Regulations 8 What needs to be done to comply? 9 The ‘Requirements’ 10 ‘Approved Documents’ "W 3. Competent Persons 13 What is a Competent Person? 13 Competent Person Self-Certification Schemes 13 Technical competence and Part P 13, Building regulations certificates 15 Warranties 15 Compliance 16 4. Building Control 7 Building work 7 S Practical Consideration What is Building Work as defined in the building regulations 18 The scope of Part P 18 Minor Work 19 Kitchens, special locations and special installations 20 Work on existing fixed installations 20 Builders work carried out in connection with electrical work at 6. Enforcement 25 What happens if the Building Regulations are contravened? 25 Annexes: Annex 1 - Approved Documents 27 Annex 2 - Regulation 7 — Materials and workmanship 79 Annex 3 - Preparing for floods 81 Annex 4 - Competent Person Schemes for Part P 82 Annex 5 - Part P: Minor Work and Special Installations 83, Annex 6 - Relevant publications 87 Annex 7 - Sources of information 90 Index (page numbers) 91 September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publicationElectrical Installers’ Guide to "The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Section 1 Introduction 1.1 This guide provides an introduction to the Building Regulations for England and Wales and detailed advice and guidance on meeting the legal requirements. It is intended primarily for businesses or individuals that carry out electrical installation work in dwellings" (such as a house or flat), and, in particular, electrical installers intending to become registrants of an authorised Competent Person Self-Certification Scheme for Part P (see Section 3), so that they can self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations. 1.2 The requirements of Part P apply only to electrical installations that are intended to operate at low or extra-low voltage and are in: a. or attached to a dwelling! b. common access parts of a building serving one or more dwellings, such as corridors or staircases, c. dwellings and business premises that have a common supply, for example, shops or public houses with a flat above, d. shared amenities of blocks of flats such as laundries and gymnasiums, and/or e. a garden or in or on land associated with a building where the electricity is from a source located within or shared with a dwelling. 1.3 Examples of fixed electrical installation work include: * new installations * rewiring installations * alterations, additions or extensions * repairs. ’ Approved Document B defines a dwelling as a unit of residential accommodation ‘occupied (whether or not as a sole or main residence}: a. bya single person or by people living together as a family; or b. by not more than 6 residents living together as a single household, including a household where care is provided for residents. pages | © A joint production by NICEIC and ECA September 2008 SBBeBeeBeRPR RRB RRR RRR RRR RRR aShe aaa Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC 1.4 September 2008 © An joint production by NICEIC and ECA This guide deals only with the Building Regulations for England and Wales and provides a general appreciation of the requirements. Further information on the Building Regulations may be obtained from the documents and sources of information included in the Annexes. The work that a project involves may be subject to other statutory requirements, such as planning permission, fire precautions, water regulations, licensing and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (see Annex 6). Electrical installers carrying out work in dwellings and associated areas (see item 1.2) must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations, other Statutory Regulations and licensing requirements. A way of satisfying this requirement is to ensure such work meets all the applicable safety requirements of BS 7671: Requirements for Electrical Installations and other applicable British Standards. A\ll work carried out professionally (that is, other than DIY work) is subject to the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. To meet these regulations, safe working practices need to be followed in accordance with HSE (Health and Safety Executive) guidance documents HSR 25 - Memorandum of Guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations and HSG 85 — Electricity at Work: safe working practices. On a construction site, which includes premises where an installation is being rewired, relevant health and safety legislation, for example the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996, must be complied with. Furthermore the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations need to be applied as applicable. This guide is not intended as a substitute for Approved Document P, with which an electrical installer must be familiar.Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Section 2 The Building Regulations INTRODUCTION TO THE BUILDING REGULATIONS 21 2.2 The Building Regulations are made under powers provided in the Building Act 1984, and apply in England and Wales?. The current edition of the regulations is the ‘Building Regulations 2000’ (as amended), and the majority of building projects are required to comply with them. The purpose of the Building Regulations is to: * secure the health, safety, welfare and convenience of people in or about buildings and of others who may be affected by buildings or matters connected with buildings. * further the conservation of fuel and power * prevent waste, undue consumption, misuse or contamination of water. The Building Regulations apply to the design and construction of buildings and the provision of services or fittings in or in connection with buildings The Building Regulations contain sections dealing with definitions, procedures and what is expected in terms of the technical performance of building work. For example, they: * define what types of building, electrical, plumbing and heating projects count as "Building Work' and are, hence, subject to control under the Building Regulations, * specify what types of buildings are exempt from control under the Building Regulations, * set out the notification procedures to follow when starting, carrying out, and completing building work, and * set out the ‘requirements’ with which the individual aspects of building design and construction must comply in the interests of the health and safety of building users, of energy conservation and access to and use of buildings. A separate system of building control applies in Scotland and Northem Ireland © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 FPRPRPRARARRBRBHBHEARBERARPRP PARR RR ReeseOe eee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO COMPLY? 2.3 Anyone wanting to carry out building work which is subject to the Building Regulations is required by law to make sure the work complies with the regulations and, with some exceptions, to use one of the two types of Building Control Service available, that is: * the Building Control Service provided by the local authority, or * the Building Control Service provided by approved inspectors. Persons carrying out work will be charged for either service. The Building Control Service selected may offer advice before the work is started, 2.4 The exceptions mentioned above arise if the business carrying out the work is registered with an authorised Competent Person Self-Certification Scheme. Competent Person Self-Certification Schemes are approved by the Secretary of State for specific parts of the Building Regulations. Work carried out by a registrant of such a scheme does not have to be notified to Building Control prior to commencement, and the business concerned can self-certify that its work complies with the Building Regulations 2.5 The primary responsibility for achieving compliance with the Building Regulations rests with the person carrying out the work. If householders carry out the work themselves, then the responsibility is theirs. If householders employ a business to carry out the work, then the responsibility will usually be that of the business - the position should be made clear at the outset as part of the contract or agreement between the building owner and the business carrying out the work. 2.6 Ultimately, if the work does not comply with the Building Regulations, it is the owner of the building who may be served with an enforcement notice. September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication EzTHE 'REQUIREMENTS' ar 2.8 The final bullet point in paragraph 2.2 refers to the ‘requirements’ with which building work must comply. These requirements are contained in Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations and are currently grouped under fourteen ‘Parts’. The parts deal with individual aspects of building design and construction ranging from structural matters and fire safety, to access and facilities for disabled people and electrical safety, All the current parts are listed in the table below. The fourteen ‘parts' of the Building Regulations Structure Fire safety Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture Toxic substances Resistance to the passage of sound Ventilation Hygiene Drainage and waste disposal Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems Protection from falling, collision and impact Conservation of fuel and power Access to and use of buildings Glazing ? safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning Electrical safety VIZ/Z(- JAC TO; Imyjojojway> The requirements within each part set out the broad objectives or functions which the individual aspects of the building design and Construction must set out to achieve. They are therefore often referred to as ‘functional requirements’ and are expressed in terms of what is ‘reasonable’, ‘adequate’, or ‘appropriate’. Not all the functional requirements may be relevant to the particular building work, but all those that are relevant must be complied with as part of the overall process of complying with the Building Regulations. © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 _—— Endorsed by LABC mW PPPPRAR eRe eee eee nn one noo |hei ia i Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC 2.9 It is important to note that while the principal concern of an electrical installer will be with Part P, any building work carried out in connection with the electrical installation must also comply with all other applicable requirements of the Building Regulations (see paragraphs 5.12 - 5.17). 2.10 The way in which the functional requirements are applied to building work is given in regulation 4 of the Building Regulations, which includes the following requirements. a, On completion of the electrical installation work, the building (and parts of the electrical installations in the building that where not the subject of the work) should be no worse in terms of the level of compliance with the other applicable Parts of Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations than before the work was undertaken. For example, one or more perforations of a ceiling lining beneath an upper floor — made to accommodate recessed luminaires or similar fittings - may have an adverse effect on the floor’s performance in terms of its resistance to fire and sound penetration. Due regard should therefore be paid to the guidance in Approved Documents B and E on the performance of compartment floors (see Annexes 1.2.9 and 1.3.4 respectively of this guide for information on recessed luminaires installed in a ceiling). b. When extending or altering an installation, only the new work must meet current requirements and there is no obligation to upgrade the existing installation unless the new work would adversely affect the safety of the existing installation, or where there is a requirement imposed by the energy efficiency requirements of the Building Regulations. ‘APPROVED DOCUMENTS' 2.11 Practical guidance on ways to comply with the functional requirements in the Building Regulations is contained in a series of ‘Approved Documents’ that are to be read alongside each of the fourteen 'Parts' in Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations. September 2008, © An NICEIC and ECA joint publicationElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Each document contains: 2.12 2.13 * general guidance on the performance expected of materials and building work in order to comply with each of the requirements of the Building Regulations; and, * practical examples and solutions on how to achieve compliance for some of the more common building situations. The most relevant Approved Documents for electrical installers are listed in the contents page of Annex 1 and all are listed in Annex 6 The guidance in the Approved Documents does not amount to a set of statutory requirements and does not have to be followed if someone wishes to design and construct building work in some other way providing it can be shown that the work does comply with the relevant requirements. The guidance will be taken into account when a Building Control Service is considering whether the plans of proposed work, or work in progress, comply with particular requirements. In addition, there is a legal presumption that if someone has followed the guidance then this is evidence that the work has complied with the Building Regulations. However, it is the job of the Building Control Service to consider whether plans and work comply with relevant requirements in Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations ~ not whether they follow the specific guidance or a specific example in an Approved Document. Some building work will involve work to buildings that are either listed nationally or locally for their historic or architectural interest, and/or are located in sensitive urban or rural environments such as Conservation ‘teas or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Approved Documents for Parts 'B', 'E' and 'L' of the Building Regulations acknowledge that in these circumstances it is reasonable to meet the appropriate requirements with greater sensitivity and more flexibility. In addition, English Heritage has produced an Interim Guidance Note on how to balance the needs for energy conservation with those of building conservation in historic buildings (see Annex 6). © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 RHA WAAnAnaTna non nao nop apo oaol Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Section 3 Competent Persons WHAT IS A COMPETENT PERSON? 34 3.2 ‘Competent Person Self-Certification Schemes’ were introduced by the Government to allow individuals and businesses who are judged suitable, that is, ‘Competent Persons’, to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations as an alternative to notifying a building control body (the local authority or a private approved inspector). The principles of self-certification are based on giving businesses that are competent in their field the authority to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations, without the need to notify a building control body; thus not incurring building control inspections or charges. Self- certification is enhancing compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations, reducing costs for the businesses that join the recognised schemes, and promoting training and competence within the industry. It is also helping to tackle the problem of ‘cowboy electrical installers’, and assisting local authorities with enforcement of the Building Regulations. COMPETENT PERSON SELF-CERTIFICATION SCHEMES. 3.3 34 Schemes are formally authorised as ‘Competent Person Self-Certification Schemes’ by the Secretary of State, The basis for so doing is that their registrants are judged to be sufficiently competent to self-certify that their work has been carried out in compliance with all applicable requirements of the Building Regulations. This concession does not cover all building work and each scheme is authorised for a specific type of work, for example, ‘Installation of fixed low or extra-low voltage installations’. Operators of Competent Person Seff-Certification Schemes are required by the Government to ensure that registrants fully comply with regulations 4 (building work), 7 (materials and workmanship) and 20C (commissioning) of the Building Regulations 2000, as amended, for all work carried out under the schemes, In the case of electrical installation work and Part P, a number of schemes have been recognised as authorised ‘Competent Person Self-Certification September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publicationElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Schemes’. These are listed in rows 10 and 11 of Schedule 2A to the Building Regulations, as amended in regulation 21 of Statutory Instrument 2006 No. 652 The Building Inspectors (Amendment) Regulations 2006. |n addition, contact details of the businesses registered with these schemes can be obtained from the website - www.competentperson.co.uk — which is hosted by Local Authority Building Control (LABC) or Appendix E to Approved Document P. TECHNICAL COMPETENCE AND PART P. 3.5 The central requirement applied by the Government to applications for running a Competent Person Self-Certification Scheme for Part P is that the scheme should ensure the electrical work in dwellings that is carried out by its registrants is designed and installed to protect persons operating, maintaining or altering the installations against fire or injury. 3.6 Scheme Operators are required to use compliance with the national safety standard BS 7671 as a means of demonstrating technical competence. Government has set out the minimum standard of Technical Competence for Part P schemes (see Annex 4). Assessment against this standard should be carried out as required by the Electrotechnical Assessment Scheme (EAS), or equivalent. 3.7 In practice, becoming a Competent Person for Part P entails the applicant, that is, a business that undertakes electrical installation work in dwellings, undergoing an initial assessment and, thereafter, periodic surveillance to ensure that it is complying with the requirements of the scheme and, thereby, complying with the Building Regulations. 3.8 While a Competent Person Self-Certification Scheme for Part P is concerned with electrical installation work, as defined in Approved Document P, registrants of such a scheme will be required to issue certificates to building owners stating that the work they carry out complies with the Building Regulations, that is, all the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations (see, paragraph 3.9). Thus Competent Persons will be assessed both for their competence to carry © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 TrlnrnnonoTnirnnaignrnennnoinainenienngynw nanaiooenggnbib Sink id il il i ii i Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC out electrical work in compliance with the requirements of Part P and for their knowledge and appreciation of the other Parts of the Building Regulations that are relevant to the electrical work they carry out (see paragraphs 5.12 - 5.17). BUILDING REGULATIONS CERTIFICATE 3.9 Electrical installation work in dwellings that is carried out by a Competent Person for Part P does not need to involve a Building Control Service. On completion of the work, the occupier of the dwelling must be provided with a certificate stating that the work has been carried out in compliance with the Building Regulations, in particular regulations 4 and 7 (see item 2.9 and Annex 2 respectively). In addition, the local authority needs to be provided with certain information on the work, including: * a description of the work, * where and when it was carried out, * who carried it out, and * that it was properly inspected and tested. This information is required for confirmation of compliance and record purposes, and is then available for searches, for example, during the sale of the property concerned. The approach usually adopted by a ‘Competent Person Self-Certification Scheme’ is for the registered installer to report to its scheme operator the details of the work that has been carried out. The scheme operator then issues a certificate of compliance to the customer and sends the relevant information to the appropriate local authority. WARRANTIES 3.11 September 2008 It is a requirement of Competent Person Self-Certification Schemes that the customers of the registrants of these schemes should be offered an insurance-backed warranty. The warranty provides a guarantee that the work carried out complies with the Building Regulations and, in the event © An NICEIC and ECA joint publicationElectrical installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC 3.12 of the installer not performing as required, the work will be made good, or completed, in compliance with the Building Regulations. The provision of a warranty is a chargeable and optional service. It is at the customer's discretion whether or not he or she purchases the warranty. In the absence of a warranty, and if the work does not comply with the Building Regulations, a customer could be exposed to the risk of having to rectify the work concerned at his or her own cost (see Section 6, Enforcement). The customer must be made aware of this consequence if a warranty is not provided. COMPLIANCE 3.13 Compliance with the Building Regulations through a Competent Person Self-Certification Scheme is achieved in a number of ways: * the regular periodic inspection (usually on an annual cycle) of the registrants of the scheme to provide a systematic overview of the degree of compliance achieved under the scheme. Registrants are required to rectify any instances of non-compliance identified during surveillance (at no additional cost to the customer) at risk of being expelled from the scheme, * complaints from customers to Scheme Operators about work carried ut by their registrants can trigger inspections and, again, the businesses concerned will be required to rectify any non-compliances identified as a result of these special purpose inspections, and * finally, if all else fails and a Competent Person refuses to rectify work that has been found not to comply with the Building Regulations the warranty should come into effect and another Competent Person will be found to rectify the work under the terms of the warranty - provided, that is, the customer concerned has secured warranty cover in the first place. © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 mW WwW TT. soe s6Tsh6Umeh hu Oho TLlbniwNInononnoninganaigniniteTrenanennynoh ald ik i ia Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Section 4 Building Control BUILDING WORK 41 42 43 September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication If the work amounts to "Building Work" (see paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2), it will be subject to, and must comply with, the Building Regulations. Unless the work is being carried out by a ‘Competent Person’ (see Section 3), the building owner is required to contact the relevant local authority Building Control Service. The local authority Building Control Service can be contacted through the appropriate district or borough council, The LABC website (www.labe.uk.com) provides contact details for all the local authority building control departments in England and Wales. It is important that the responsibility for ensuring that the building work complies with the Building Regulations, and for liaison with the Building Control Service, is made clear at the outset. This can be achieved by means of the contract or agreement between the building owner and the electrical installer. If the business carrying out the work is a Competent Person for Part P, it does not need to notify the Building Control Service and is able to self-certify compliance with the Building Regulations for the installation work undertaken.Electrical Installers’ Guide to “The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Section 5 Practical Considerations WHAT IS 'BUILDING WORK' AS DEFINED IN THE BUILDING REGULATIONS? 51 Electrical installation work is defined in regulation 2 of the Building Regulations as a ‘controlled service or fitting’. 5.2 ‘Building Work' is defined in regulation 3 of the Building Regulations as: the erection and extension of a building the provision or extension of a “controlled service or fitting” an alteration project involving work which will be relevant to the continuing compliance of the building, service or fitting with the requirements relating to structure, fire, or access and facilities for disabled people the insertion of insulation into a cavity wall, and the underpinning of the foundations of a building additional works relating to thermal elements additional works relating to change of energy status additional works relating to consequential improvements to energy performance. 5.3 Thus, for the purposes of the Building Regulations, electrical installation work counts as ‘Building Work’ and as such must comply with the Building Regulations. THE SCOPE OF PART P 5.4 Part P applies to electrical installations that are intended to operate at low or extra-low voltage and: are in = © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 Sv sSohGUW ay at s6«dnekhkGCUnhlCUlCO m7 h6€U©*shtCOhOthCOthOthOkhOtkOtktkO av 6 7 TaoBok kik kkk kai Electrical installers! Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC * or attached to a dwelling, * common access areas in blocks of flats, such as corridors and staircases, * dwellings and business premises that have a common supply, for example shops and public houses with a flat above, and/or * shared amenities of blocks of flats such as laundries and gymnasiums. Part P applies also to parts of the above electrical installations in: * or on land associated with the buildings, for example fixed lighting and pond pumps in gardens, and * outbuildings such as sheds, detached garages and greenhouses. 5.5 'Dwellings' do not include institutional places of residence such as hospitals, schools and homes for the care of the aged, nor do they include hotels, boarding houses, halls of residence or hostels. 5.6 If there is any doubt as to whether electrical installation work falls within the scope of Part P, the relevant local authority building control service should be consulted. ‘MINOR WORK’ 5.7 While Part P applies to ALL electrical installation work in dwellings, as described above, it is not necessary to involve building control bodies (see Section 4) in the following circumstances: * the electrical installation work is to be undertaken by a Competent Person for Part P (see Section 3) * when electrical installation work is ‘Minor Work’. 5.8 — Minor Work for the purposes of electrical installation work is described in detail in Approved Document P (see Annex 5). It includes work, such as adding lighting points to an existing circuit, and the addition of socket- outlets to an existing ring or racial circuit (that are not in a kitchen or special location and do not involve a special installation). September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publicationElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC KITCHENS, SPECIAL LOCATIONS AND INSTALLATIONS 5,9 Approved Document P identifies kitchens? and a number of ‘special locations and installations where the risks to people are greater (see Annex 5). As a consequence, much Minor Work in such special installations or locations must be notified or carried out by a Competent Person for Part P. WORK ON EXISTING FIXED INSTALLATIONS 5.10 The requirements imposed by the Building Regulations normally apply only to work at the time it is being carried out. There is no requirement for the existing building to be generally upgraded in order for it to be brought in line with the current requirements of the Building Regulations (see item 2.9), Regulation 4 of the Building Regulations requires only that, after work is carried out, the existing building or service or fitting is ‘no more unsatisfactory’ in relation to the requirements of the applicable Parts of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations than it was before the work was carried out. These may include, but are not limited to, Parts A (Structure), B (Fire Safely), C (Resistance to moisture), E (Resistance to the passage of sound), F (Ventilation), L (Conservation of fue! and power), J (Combustion appliances and fuel) and M (Access to and use of buildings). For examples refer to Annex 1 5.11 In the case of electrical installation work and Part P, the guidance in Approved Document P recognises the integral character of an electrical installation and the possibility of a need for consequential work on existing fixed installations to ensure overall safety. Section 2.1 of Approved Document P requires that: ‘Where any electrical installation work is classified as an extension, a material alteration or a material change of use, the addition and alteration work must include: a A kitchen is defined in the Building Regulations as ‘a room or part of a room which contains a sink and food preparation facilities’ NBII © 2 es1cana ec oie ptt september 2008 am et a on a a aa .ee ee ee ee | Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC a. such works on the existing fixed electrical installation in the building as are necessary to enable the additions and alterations, the circuits which feed them, the protective measures and the relevant earthing and bonding systems to meet the requirements; and b. establishing that the incoming electrical service and the mains supply equipment are suitable." Further guidance on complying with items (a) and (b) above is given in Section 2.2 of Approved Document P. BUILDING WORK CARRIED OUT IN CONNECTION WITH ELECTRICAL WORK 5.12 5.13 September 2008 Frequently, the process of carrying out electrical installation work will entail carrying out other building work, for example: chasing conduit and cables into walls, lifting and replacing floors, driling and making good holes in walls and floors. ‘Building work’ in connection with electrical installation work is also be subject to the Building Regulations, and must also comply with any applicable requirements. The following items (a) to (h) are typical elements of work carried out by electrical installers (see Annex 1 for further details). a. Lifting and replacing floors — Building Regulations Parts A Structure, B Fire Safety and E Resistance to the Passage of Sound refer. Approved Documents A, B and E give guidance on floor construction, fire resistance and passage of sound resistance. b. Notching and drilling joists — Building Regulations Part A Structure refers Part A requires that buildings are constructed so that loads are sustained, safely, without causing excessive deflection or deformation. c. Holes in walls and ceilings ~ Building Regulations Part B Fire Safety and Part C Resistance to moisture and Part E Resistance to the passage of sound refer 6 AnniceIC and €ca jon pubicvion (BEENElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Section B2 of Approved Document B (Volume 1 - Dwelinghouses) requires that fire spread over internal linings of a building is inhibited. Furthermore, Section B3 requires all of the following measures to be met in construction of buildings: + ensuring the stability of buildings in the event of fre, * ensuring that there is sufficient degree of fire separation within buildings and between adjoining buildings, and * inhibiting the unseen spread of fire in concealed spaces in a building. Where measures are taken to meet the above requirements, any building work undertaken in conjunction with electrical work (for example making holes in walls or ceilings for the passage of cables, or installing luminaires in cellings) should not reduce the fire and smoke resistance of the building construction. Section 5.2d of Approved Document C: 2004 edition gives guidance that external walls should resist the penetration of precipitation* to the inside of the building. It is therefore essential that any holes made in external walls, for example for the passage of cables, are sealed to prevent moisture entering the building. The installation of cables in cavity walls should be avoided. However, where a cable needs to be installed through a cavity wall, between its external and internal leafs, the cable installation should be routed to prevent precipitation being cattied to the internal leaf of the cavity wall (Section .12 of Approved Document C: 2004 edition refers). d. Installing or replacing lighting and commissioning of heating systems — Building Regulations Part B Fire Safety, Part E Resistance to the Passage of Sound and Part L Conservation of fuel and power refer. Approved Documents L1A (new dwellings) and L1B (existing : Precipitation includes the effects of spray blown from the sea or any other body of water adjacent to the building a © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 nmaoonnnrnnnrnnnnnnnnnnnarnnaunrnaert tfBaa Electrical Installers’ Guide to “The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC dwellings) contain requirements concerning fixed internal and external lighting, the commissioning of heating systems and the provision of operating and maintenance instructions to building owners (see Section 5.15). e. Installing or replacing heating systems — Building Regulations Part J Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems and Part L Conservation of fuel and power refer. Approved Document J gives guidance on how to satisfy the requirements of Part J, which apply to the accommodation of any combustion installation and liquid fuel storage system. Approved Document J has been prepared mainly for domestic installations, such as those comprising space and water heating systems and cookers and their flues, and attendant oil and LPG fuel storage systems. {. Heights of equipment, such as socket-outlets ~ Building Regulations Part P Electrical Safety - Dwellings and Part M Access to and use of Buildings reter. Clause 1.6 of Approved Document P states that wall-mounted socket- outlets, switches and consumer units should be located so that they are easily reachable where this is necessary to comply with Part M of the Building Regulations. Similarly, Section 8 of Approved Document M states that switches and socket-outlets for lighting and other equipment in all new dwellings should be easily reachable. Annex 1.6 of this Guide includes guidance on meeting the relevant requirements. Work in existing dwellings must not make switches and socket-outlets and other wall-mounted equipment less easily reachable than before the installation work was undertaken. g. Installation of smoke detectors and alarms — Building Regulation Part B Fire refers. Section B1 of Approved Document B places requirements for provisions for early fire warning by an automatic detection and warning system. September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publicationElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations! Endorsed by LABC 5.14 5.15 5.16 5A7 h. Installing or replacing ventilation fans ~ Building Regulation Part F Ventilation refers. Building Regulation Part F requires buildings to have adequate ventilation Approved Document F sets minimum flow rates for extract ventilation Of certain rooms. Such rooms include kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms and sanitary accommodation. Extract ventilation may be achieved by using an extract fan or passive stack, or (in some cases) where open-flued appliances are installed In dition to the above functional requirements, regulation 7 of the Building Regulations requires that building work is carried out ‘with adequate and proper materials' and in a workmanlike manner’. Further details are given in Annex 2, Where an electrical installer is carrying out work to which the requirement of Building Regulation Part concerning the provision and commissioning OF ‘energy efficient fixed building services with effective controls’ apples, then regulation 20C applies. This requires the person carying out the work to give to the local authority a notice confirming that the fixed building services have been commissioned in an approved manner. Further details are given in Annex 1.5 I the work is being carried out by a business registered with a Competent Person Scheme for Part P, the business will be required to issue the Owner of the dwelling with a certificate of compliance that states that the work carried out complies with the Building Regulations; that is, all the applicable parts and not just Part P (see paragraphs 3.3 - 3.8, above). Finally it should also be noted that The Electricity Safety, Qualty and Continuity Regulations 2002 require electricity distributors to install and, so far as is reasonably practical, maintain their equipment so as to prevent danger. in compliance with this requirement the electricity distributor may be required to take account of flooding, Guidance on preparing for floods is given in Annex 3. © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 TAaRHHA AAD an nwt wnt nw vHWe un nr aw emee ee ee ee ee | Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Section 6 Enforcement WHAT HAPPENS IF THE BUILDING REGULATIONS ARE CONTRAVENED 6.1 The Building Regulations can be contravened a. by not following the building control procedures, and/or b. by carrying out building work that does not comply with the requirements contained in the Bullding Regulations. The local authority has a general duty to enforce the Building Regulations in its area, 6.2 Where an approved inspector is providing the Building Control Service, the responsibility for checking that the Building Regulations are complied with during the course of the work will ie with that inspector. However, approved inspectors do not have enforcement powers. Instead, in a situation where they consider the building work does not comply with the Building Regulations, they will not issue a final certificate and in addition will cancel the initial notice by notifying the local authority. If no other approved inspector takes on the work, the Building Control Service will automatically be taken on by the local authority. 6.3 Ifa person carrying out building work contravenes the Building Regulations, the local authority may decide to take them to the magistrate's court where they could be fined up to £5,000 for each contravention, and £50 for each day a contravention continues. This action will usually be taken against the builder or, in the case of electrical installation work, the electrical installer. Alternatively, or in addition, the local authority may serve an enforcement notice on the owner requiring them to alter or remove work that contravenes the regulations. If the ‘owner does not comply with the notice, the local authority has the power to undertake the work itself and recover the costs of so doing from the owner, 6.4 Ifalocal authority considers that building work does not comply with the Building Regulations, it takes enforcement action by service of a notice, it September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication zaElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC 65 6.6 may enter the details in the local land charges register. This could then come to light when the property is being sold If the work has been carried out by a business that is registered with a Competent Person Self-Certification Scheme, then the business is required under the terms of its registration with the Scheme Operator to carry out work in compliance with the Building Regulations. The Scheme Operator will require the business to rectify the work if it is found not to so comply. Alternatively, if the business refuses to comply, the work will be put right by another Competent Person under the terms of the warranty provided as part of the Competent Person Self-Certification Scheme. It should be noted that the warranty offered under a Competent Person Self-Certification Scheme Is optional; that is, the customer may decide not to purchase it. If there is no warranty in place, then the building owner can only rectify the work by securing the services of another business (that may or may not be a Competent Person) or run the risk of being subject to an enforcement notice from the local authority. Ifa Competent Person refuses to rectify non-compliant work, then it may be expelled from the Competent Person Self-Certification Scheme and face the possibility of being taken to a magistrate's court by Building Control and fined as explained in paragraph 6.3. a © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 Dono nwa no rmitienrtinrneninrniooninngnny mesS«Fth TT 6 TTeee ee ea aa a a a Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Annex 1 APPROVED DOCUMENTS Note: Building Regulations and Approved Documents are subject to revision and readers are advised to check that the guidance given in this guide is relevant. Contents Annex 1.1. Approved Document A - Structure 1.1.1 General 1.1.2. Notches and holes in simply supported floors and roof joists 1.1.3 Chases in a structure Annex 1.2 | Approved Document B - Fire safety 1.2.1 General 1.2.2 Fire alarm and fire detection systems. 1.2.3. Lighting of escape routes 1.2.4 Protected power circuits 1.2.5 Internal fire spread (linings) 1.2.6 Thermoplastic lighting diffusers which form part of a ceiling 1.2.7 Classification for thermoplastic materials 1.2.8 Fire-stopping 1.2.9 Downlighters (recessed luminaries) installed in a ceilings 1.2.10 Flush-mounted consumer units 1.2.11 Flush-mounted accessories (including switches, sockets, flex outlet plates, data and telephone points etc) 1.2.12 Flush-mounted wall luminaries and concealed speakers in walls or ceilings Annex 1.3 Approved Document E - Resistance to the passage of sound 1.3.1. General 1.3.2 Sound absorbing material within internal floors to help resist the passage of sound 1.3.8 Reduction in current-carrying capacity of cables 1.3.4 Recessed luminaires installed in a ceiling containing sound absorbent materials September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publicationElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Annex 1.4 Approved Document F - Ventilation 4.41 General 1.4.2. Extract ventilation rates 1.4.3 Ventilation systems for dwellings without basements 1.4.4 Ventilation systems for dwellings with basements 1.4.5 Work on existing buildings 1.4.6 Control of ventilation devices 1.4.7 Good practice guide to the installation of fans in dwellings 1.4.7.1 Axial fans 1.4.7.2. Centrifugal fans 1.4.7.3. Inline fans Annex 1.5 Approved Document L1 - Conservation of fuel and power in dwellings 1.5.1 General 1.5.2 New dwellings 4.5.2.1 Fixed internal lighting 1.5.2.2 Fixed external lighting 1.5.3 Existing dwellings Annex 1.6 Approved Document M - Access to and use of buildings Annex 1.7 Approved Document P - Electrical safety This annex gives further details of the Approved Documents that are likely to be of the greatest relevance to electrical installers. This guidance makes reference to the Approved Documents, copies of which may be freely downloaded from the Government's Building Regulations website. BEER © 00 nicetc and eca joint publication september 2008 LTULUTETAAATDHTAAAAAAAArnnnnnee Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Annex 1.1 Approved Document A - Structure 1.1.1 General September 2008 Part A — Structure in Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations includes the requirement that a bullding is constructed so that the combined dead, imposed and wind loads are sustained and transmitted to the ground safely. Approved Document A gives guidance on how the requirements of Part A of the Building Regulations can be satisfied, Alternative guidance on sizing of certain timber members in floors and roofs is given in BS 5268; Part 2: 2002 Code of Practice for permissible stress design, materials and workmanship, BS 5268: Part 3: 1998, Code of Practice for trussed rafter roofs and BS 8103: Part 3: Structural design of low-rise buildings Code of Practice for timber floors and roofs for dwellings (Section 2B1 of Approved Document A (2004 edition) refers). Electrical installers often need to drill holes or cut chases in walls and notch or drill holes in joists for the passage of cables and their enclosures. When carrying out such work, it is important that the building structure is not weakened. Guidance to prevent damage to the building structure when carrying out the work described above is given in BS 5268: Part 2 and BS 8703: Part 3 (gee items 1.1.2 and 1.1.3 below). Existing holes and notches may be used where appropriate. The guidance in Approved Document A and BS 5268: Part 2 and BS 8103: Part 3 applies to all work carried out. Notches and holes in simply supported floors and roof joists For single family houses of not more than 8 storeys, the requirements for notches and holes in simply supported floors and roof joists are as follows: © An NICEIC and ECA joint publicationElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC a. notches should be within the following limits: © no deeper than 0.125 times the depth of a joist * not closer to the support than 0.07 of the span * not further away from the support than 0.25 times the span. b. holes should be within the following limits: * no greater diameter than 0.26 times the depth of the joist * made at the neutral axis (where the joist is under least tension, normally at the centre line of the joist depth) * not be less than 3 diameters (centre to centre) apart * located between 0.25 and 0.4 times the span from the support. Example of holes and notches in a floor joist 0.4 0f span 0.25 of span 0.25 of span Limits of Limits of holes in joist notohes see details in joist Band C s s00 details Ceiling ‘Acend C Floor joist support wall Span between supports ——__. NOT TO SCALE <= © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 daeiabel dahlia clini esaaiachdaiiadainlaMda ina aieeaaaenii on wh oOFP o6UhUCUnhlUCUtoUtosoetoOPoetoloesolethlelfoleee ee | Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Example limits of notches in a floor joist, detail A io 0.25 of span Limits of notches of i i i 1 injoist | 9-07 i see detail C | I L Depth ofjoist | Maximum [ notch depth of 0.125 x depth of joist NOT TO SCALE Example of limits of holes in a floor joist, detail B 0.4 of span i ee Maximum | hole diameter 0f0.25x = depth of joist | Limits of holes in joist see detail C NOT TO SCALE September 2008 esElectrical installers’ Guide to ‘the Building Regulations Endorsed by LaBC Example of holes and notches in a floor joist, detail Cc Maximum depth of notch 0.125 x joist depth Notches should be not Closer to a support than 0.07 times the span, or further away than 0.25 times the span Maximum diameter of hole should be 0.25 x joist depth ——— Holes should be hot less than three diameters (centre to centre) apart, and located between 0.25 and 0.4 times the span from the support IGS and roofs (excluding trussed rafter roofs) ‘or dwelings’ published by the Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA), available from Chiltern House, Stocking Lane, Mughendlen Valley, High Wycombe, HP14 4ND, Bucks Alternative guidance on sn Of certain timber members in foors and roofs is given in BS 5268: p. 'art 2: 2002 Code of. Practice for Permissible Stress design, materials and workmanship, BS5268: Part 3: 1998, Code cy © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 Titra atrannws ss...Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC 1.1.3 Chases in a structure The requirements for chases in a structure are as follows (paragraph 2C30 of Approved Document A (2004 edition) refers): a. vertical chases should not be deeper than 1/3 of the wall thickness or, in cavity walls, 1/3 of the thickness of the leaf b. horizontal chases should not be deeper than 1/6 of the thickness of the wall or leaf c. chases should not be so positioned as to impair the stability of the wall, particularly where hollow blocks are used. Outer leaf of cavity wall: Cavity of wall etre leat of Maximum depth of, horizontal chase "7 cavity wall of thickness of inner ba leaf of cavity wall Maximum depth of vertical chase |, of thickness of inner Thickness of leaf of cavity wall inner leaf of covity wall NOT TO SCALE Example of chases in the leaf of a cavity wall z= © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 Set thR RHEE h Rah nhthehoensanke | UlhlUUhUUhCUiii ee ee ee | Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Annex 1.2 Approved Document B - Fire Safety 1.2.1 General Part B - Fire Safety of Schedule 1 to ‘the Building Regulations includes the requirements for a building to have: * means of warning and escape * internal linings® which inhibit the spread of fire within the building * astructure that in the event of fire maintains its stability for a reasonable period external walls and a roof that adequately resist the spread of fire * reasonable facilities to assist fire fighters in the protection of lite * Feasonable provisions within the site of the bullding to enable fire appliances to gain access to the building, Guidance on meeting the requirements of Part B of Schedule 4 to the Bullding Regulations is given in Approved Document B . Fre safety, which has two volumes: Volume 1 - Dwellinghouses and Volume 2 - Builaings other than dwellinghouses, Guidance from Volume 1 Of Approved Document B on fire detection and fire alarm systems is given in item 1.2.2 of this Guide. Guidance from Volume 2 on escape route lighting and Protected power Grreutts is given in items 1.2.8 and 1.2.4, respectively Guidance on meeting the recommendations of Volume 1 on measures to inhibit the spread of fire is given in items 1.2.5 to 1.2.12. In $0 far as it applies to dwellings, the guidance in Approved Document B applies in relation to all installation work carried ‘out in new dwelinghouses. However, it also applies where certain installation work is carried out in existing dwellings, as indicated in the following examples. “Infernal inings! mean the materials ining any partion, wall, celing or other internal structure. September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publicationElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC * Where a loft in a two storey house is converted into habitable accommodation, an automatic smoke detection and alarm system based on linked smoke alarms should be installed (see item 1.2.2 d). Holes made in walls and ceilings for the passage of cables should be fire stopped to inhibit the spread of fire (see item 1.2.8). * Measures to inhibit the fire spread apply to all work carried out. Note: Ifa dwelling is rewid there is no requirement to add a fe alarm system or escape lighting, providing that, on completion of the work, the building is no worse in terms of the level of Compliance with other applicable Parts of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations (608 item 5:10). However, its strongly recommended that a fire alarm system is provided. 1.2.2 Fire alarm and fire detection systems Requirement B1 (means of warning and escape) of the Building Regulations requires a building to be designed and constructed so that there are appropriate provisions for early warning of fire and appropriate means of escape in case of fre from the building to a place of safety outside the building capable of being safely and effectively used at all times. To meet part of the above requirement, Section 1 of Approved Document 8 Volume 1 includes guidance on fire detection and fire alarm systems to give early warning in the event of fire Example of a smoke detector of a fire detection and fire alarm system Sh oe oh on oe ee a ae © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008ee ee ee | Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC In most dwellings, the installation of automatic fire detection and fire alarm systems can significantly increase the level of human safety by giving automatic early warning of a potential fire. The main guidance given in Section 1 of Approved Document B Volume 1 for the installation of automatic fire detection and fire alarm systems in dwellings is summarised in items (a) to (i) below: a. Automatic fire detection and alarm systems generally (paragraphs 1.3 and 1.8 of Section 1 of Approved Document 8 Volume 1 refer) A fire detection and fire alarm system meeting the relevant recommendations of BS 5839-6: 2004 to at least Grade D® Category LD3” standard is required for all new dwellinghouses and all material alterations to dwellinghouses, in accordance with the guidance summarised in items 1.2.2.b to 1.2.2.1 below. b. Smoke alarms and heat alarms (paragraph 1.4 of Section 1 of Approved Document B Volume 1 refers) Smoke alarms and heat alarms should conform to BS 6446-1: 2000 or BS 5446-2; 2003, respectively. They should be of the mains operated type having a standby power supply (either rechargeable or replaceable) or capacitor, BS 5446-1 covers smoke alarms based on ionization chamber smoke detectors and optical (photo-electric) smoke detectors. The two different 6 BS 5839-6: 2004 groups fire detection and fire alarm systems into six Grades, namely A, B, C, D, Eand F. A Grade D system is a system having one or more mains-powered smoke alarms, each with an integral standby supply. The system may, in addition, incorporate one or more mains-powered heat alarms, each with an integral standby suoply. 7 ‘BS 5839-6: 2004 groups fre detection and fire alarm systems into a number of Categories, according to the level of protection they afford. A Category LDS system is a system incorporating detectors in all circulation spaces that form part of the escape routes from the dweling, September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication [EEElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC types of detector respond differently to smouldering and fast flaming fires. Either type of detector is generally suitable. However, the choice of detector type should, if possible, take into account the type of fire that might be expected and the need to avoid false alarms. Optical detectors tend to be less affected by low levels of ‘invisible’ smoke that often cause false alarms. BS 5839-6 suggests that, in general, optical smoke detectors should be installed in circulation spaces, such as hallways and landings, and in areas where a likely cause of fire is ignition of furniture or bedding by a cigarette. lonization chamber smoke detectors may be the more appropriate type in rooms, such as the living room or dining room, where a fast burning fire may present a greater danger to occupants than a smouldering fire, subject to consideration of the potential for unwanted alarms. e. Large houses (paragraphs 1.5, 1.6, and 1.7 of Section 1 of Approved Document B Volume 1 refer) A dwellinghouse may be regarded as large if any of its storeys exceed 200 m2. A large dwellinghouse of 2 storeys (excluding basement storeys) should be fitted with a fire detection and fire alarm system to Grade B® Category LD3 of BS 839-6: 2004. A large dwellinghouse of 3 or more storeys (excluding basement storeys) should be fitted with a fire detection and alarm system of Grade A? Category LD2" of BS 5839-6: 2004. The detectors should be sited to meet the recommendations of BS 5839-1: 2002 for a Category L2 system. 8 AA Grade B fire detection and fire alarm system is a system comprising fire detectors (other than ‘smoke alarms and heat alarms), fire alarm sounders, and control and indicating equipment that either conforms to BS EN 54-2 (and power supply complying with BS EN 54-4) or to Annex C of BS 5839-6: 2004. 9 A Grade A system is a system that incorporates control and indicating equipment conforming to BS EN 54-2, and power supply equipment conforming to BS EN 54-4, and which is designed and installed in accordance with all the recommendations of sections 1 to 4 inclusive of BS 5839-1:2002, except those in certain clauses, for which the corresponding clauses of this part of BS 5839 should be Substituted, as detailed in clause 7.1 of BS 6839-6: 2004. © An EC and EC ont publation September 208 AAAAARARAAAAARA AAA AnRTR AAR AHAh ATlei ee ee ee ee ee Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations Endorsed by LABC d. Material alterations (paragraph 1.8 of Section 1 of Approved Document B refers) AA fire detection and fire alarm system should be installed where a new habitable room is provided above ground floor level, or where such a room is provided at ground floor level and there is no final exit from the room. Smoke alarms should be installed in the circulation spaces of the dwellinghouse as described in items 1.2.2 b to warn any persons using the new room of any fire that could impede their escape. Sheltered housing (paragraph 1.9 of Section 1 of Approved Document B Volume 1 refers) The detection equipment in a sheltered housing scheme with a warden or supervisor should have a connection to a central monitoring point (or alarm receiving centre) so that the person in charge is aware that a fire has been detected in one of the dwellinghouses and can identify the dwellinghouse concerned. These provisions are not intended to apply to the common parts of a sheltered housing development, such as communal lounges, or to sheltered accommodation in the institutional or other residential purpose groups, which are covered by Volume 2 of Approved Document B. Installations based on smoke alarms and heat alarms (where applicable) (paragraphs 1.10 to 1.18 of Section 1 of Approved Document B Volume 1 refer) BS 5839-6: 2004 gives detailed guidance on the design and installation Of fire detection and fire alarm systems in dwellinghouses. However, the guidance given in Volume 1 of Approved Document B and summarised below is appropriate in most common situations A Category LD2 system Is a system incorporating detectors in all circulation spaces that form part of the escape routes from the dwelling, and in all rooms or areas that present a high fire risk to occupants (as assessed in accordance with clause 4 of BS 6859-6: 2004) September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication EaElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Smoke alarms should normally be positioned in the circulation spaces between sleeping spaces and places where fires are most likely to start (e.g. kitchens and living rooms), to pick up smoke in the early stages of a fire, while also being close enough to bedroom doors for the alarm to be effective when occupants are asleep. Example of a smoke alarm Courtesy of Good Photo Art www. goodphotoart.com In a dwellinghouse (including a bungalow), there should be at least one smoke alarm on every storey. Where more than one smoke alarm is installed, they should be linked together so that the detection of smoke by ‘one unit operates the alarm signal in all of them. Any heat alarms also need to be interlinked with the smoke alarms, The manufacturers’ instructions covering the maximum number of units that can be linked should be observed. Smoke alarms should be sited so that: there is a smoke alarm in the circulation space within 7.5 m of the door to every habitable room; (i) they are ceiling mounted and at least 300 mm from walls and light fittings (unless, in the case of light fittings, there is test evidence to prove that the proximity of the light fitting will not adversely affect the efficiency of the detector), Units designed for wall mounting may also be used provided that the units are above the level of doorways opening into the space, and they are fixed in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions; and (i) the sensor in ceiling mounted devices is between 25 mm and 600 mm below the ceiling (25-150 mm in the case of heat detectors)'? It should be possible to reach the smoke alarms to carry out routine maintenance, such as testing and cleaning, easily and safely. For this 7 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 sehen aed e-file aca —_— ss = hc hlUckl le rrBe ee a a Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC " 12 September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication [IRE reason smoke alarms should not be fixed over a stair shaft or any other opening between floors. Smoke alarms should not be fixed next to or directly above heaters or air conditioning outlets. They should not be fixed in bathrooms, showers, cooking areas or garages, or any other place where steam, condensation or fumes could give false alarms. Smoke alarms should not be fitted in places that get very hot (such as a boiler room), or very cold (such as an unheated porch), They should not be fixed to surfaces that are normally much warmer or colder than the rest of the space, because the temperature difference might create air currents which move smoke away from the unit. Power supplies and interlinking (paragraphs 1.19 to1.22 of Section 1 of Approved Document B Volume 1 refer) The power supply for a smoke alarm system should be derived from the dwellinghouse's mains electricity supply. The mains supply to the smoke alarm(s) should comprise a single independent circuit at the dwellinghouse's main distribution board (consumer unit) or a single, regularly use lighting circuit"®. This has the advantage that the circuit is unlikely to be disconnected for any prolonged period. There should be a means of isolating power to the smoke alarms without isolating the lighting. Any cable suitable for domestic wiring may be used for the power supply and interconnection to smoke alarm systems. It does not need any particular fire survival properties except in large houses (BS 5839-6: 2004 specifies fire resisting cables for Grade A and B systems). This guidance applies to cellings that are predominantly flat and horizontal. Other effective, though possibly more expensive, options exist and are specified in BS 5839-1: 2002. For example, the mains supply may be reduced to extra-low voltage in a control unit incorporating a standby trickle-charged battery, before being distributed at that voltage to the alarms.Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Any conductors used for interconnecting alarms (signalling) should be readily distinguishable from those supplying mains power, e.g. by colour coding, to avoid the possibilty of confusion between the interlink conductor (which generally operates at extra-low voltage) and the conductors providing the a.c. power supply. The interlink conductor should therefore be identifiable not by the colour brown (which is used for the line conductor of the 230 V a.c. power supply), but by one of the colours black, red, orange, yellow, violet, grey, white, pink or turquoise, as referred to in Table 51 of BS 7671: 2001. The diagram below shows the simplest method of meeting this requirement where a three-core-and- earth cable having core colours of brown, black and grey is used as the line, neutral and interlink conductors interconnecting heat or smoke alarms. Detector Detector alarm termination alarm termination Line conductor Interlink conductor j= cpe |-_——_ Neutral conductor Neutral identification sleeve (blue) Se ‘Smoke alarms may be interconnected using radio-links, provided that this does not reduce the lifetime or duration of any standby power supply below 72 hours. In this case the smoke alarms may be connected to separate power circuits, rather than to a single circuit as mentioned earlier in this item: a | © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 slU mel retlCULTrTlCUMTTlhCUPehCOCU CO pe eeCe | Electrical Installers’ Guide to “The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC 1.2.3 Design and installation of systems (paragraphs 1.23 and 1.24 of Section 1 of Approved Document B Volume 1 refer) Fire detection and fire alarm systems must be properly designed installed, and maintained. Therefore, where a fire alarm system is installed, and installation and commissioning certificate should be provided. Third party certification schemes for fire protection products and related services are an effective means of providing the fullest possible assurance, offering a lovel of quality, reliability and safety. A requirement for maintenance cannot be made by the Building Control Body as a condition of passing plans. However, developers’ and builders’ attention is drawn to the importance of providing occupants with the information on the use of the equipment and on its maintenance (or guidance on suitable maintenance contractors)" Lighting of escape routes Guidance on lighting of escape routes guidance is given in Section 5 of Approved Document B Volume 2. Section 5 does not specifically apply to dwellings. However, the guidance in section 5 may apply to common escape routes from dwellings and other premises (for example, shops). In such cases all escape routes should have adequate artificial lighting. Routes and areas listed in Table 9 (shown below) in Section 5 of Approved Document B Volume 2 should also have escape lighting which illuminates the route if the main supply fails. Lighting to escape stairs should be on a separate circuit from that supplying any other part of the escape route. Standards for the installation of a system of escape lighting are given in BS 5266-1 Emergency lighting. Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises. BS 5899-1 and BS 5839-6 recommend that occupiers should receive the manufacturers* instructions concerning the operation and maintenance of the alarm system, September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publicationElectrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Provisions for escape lighting as in Table 9 in Section of Approved Document B Volume 2 Purpose group of the building or part of the building Areas requiring escape lighting 1 Residential ‘Al Common escape routes’, except in 2-storey flats 2 Office, Storage and a. Underground or windowless accommodation Other non-residential . Stairways in a central core or serving storey(s) More than 18 m above ground level ¢, Internal corridors more than 30 m long d. Open-plan areas of more than 60 m2? 3 Shop and Commercial All escape routes1 (except in shops of 3 or fewer and car parks storeys with no sales floor more than 280 m2 provided that the shop is not a restaurant or bar) 4 Assembly and Recreation] All escape routes’. and accommodation except for: a. accommodation open on one side to view Sport or entertainment during normal daylight hours 5 Any purpose group a. All toilet accommodation with a floor area over 2 8m . Electricity and generator rooms ©. Switch room/battery room for emergency lighting system d. Emergency control room Notes: 1. Including external escape routes. 1.2.4 Protected Power circuits Where it is critical for electrical circuits to be able to continue to function Guring a fire, protected circuits are needed. The potential for damage to tage 4s | © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 BARRHAnRnRHaaeas sk.oe i i a Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC 1.2.5 cables forming protected circuits should be limited by the use of sufficiently robust cables, careful selection of cable routes and/or by the provision of physical protection in areas where cables may be susceptible to damage. Methods of cable support should generally be non- combustible and such that circuit integrity will not be reduced below that afforded by the cable. A protected circuit for operation of equipment in the event of fire should consist of cable meeting at least the requirements of PH 30 classification when tested in accordance with BS EN 50200; 2006 (incorporating Appendix 6), or an equivalent standard. It should follow a route selected to pass only through parts of the building in which the fire risk is negligible and should be separate from any circuit provided for another purpose. In large or complex buildings there may be fire protection systems that need to operate for an extended period during a fire, Guidance on the selection of cables for such systems is given in BS 5839-1, BS 5266-1 and BS 7346-6. (Paragraph 5.38 of Section 5 of Approved Document B Volume 2 refers.) Internal fire spread (linings) Part B of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations includes the requirement that internal linings" are to be provided that inhibit the spread of fire within the building. The internal linings are required to: a. adequately resist the spread of flame over their surfaces; and b. have, if ignited, a rate of heat release which is reasonable in the circumstances. Section 8 of Approved Document B Volume 1 deals with the above requirements, including: a. classifying linings of walls, ceilings and rooflights for various locations, b. giving the provisions applicable to thermoplastic materials, which includes lighting diffusers forming part of a ceiling (soe item 1.2.6). 14 September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication "Internal linings’ mean the materials lining any partition, wall, ceiling or other internal structure.Electrical installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC 1.2.6 Thermoplastic lighting diffusers which form part of a ceiling, 15 16 7 18 19 Thermoplastic’ lighting diffusers" which form part of a ceiling, such as in recessed luminaires (lighting fittings), are part of the internal linings of the building (see item 1.2.5). Consequently, the selection and installation of such diffusers is subject to certain requirements of Part B of the Building Regulations, relating to resistance to surface spread of flame and rate of heat release when ignited. Guidance on meeting the above requirements with respect to thermoplastic lighting diffusers is given in Section 8 of Approved Document B Volume 1. The guidance places restrictions on the use of thermoplastic lighting diffusers where these form part of a celling (as shown overleaf, if the celling is of the fire-resisting'? or fire-protecting"® type. The following illustration shows one example of a lighting diffuser"? forming part of a celling. A lighting diffuser which is not part of a luminaire may also be considered to be part of a celling (such as a diffuser installed in a section of suspended ceiling beneath a luminaire situated within the calling void). {A thermoplastic material is any synthetic polymeric material which has a softening point below 200 °C if tested to BS 2782: Methods of testing plastics, Part 1: Thermal properties, Methods 120A: 1990. A lighting diffuser is a translucent or open-structured element that allows light to pass through. A lighting diffuser may be part of a luminaire or used below a rooflight or other source of light. Cavity barriers are needed in some concealed floor or roof spaces, to resist smoke and flame spread. A fire-resisting celling is one which, when positioned below such a space, can reduce the need for cavity barriers. The ceiling has to meet certain provisions given in Approved Document B relating to this purpose. AA fire-protecting suspended ceiing is a suspended ceiling relied upon to contribute to the fire resistance of a floor/ceiiing assembly, and meeting certain provisions given in Approved Document B rolating to this purpose. A lighting diffuser may either be translucent (such as an opal diffuser or a prismatic controller) or open-structured (such as a louvre). mm © An NICEIC and ECA joint publication September 2008 a wv or nrnironriomioeeiuwiesnmnomornronienren7’rwoorhierwrenrnriwrennnownonynn ww rtee ee ee ee Electrical Installers’ Guide to ‘The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC Example of a lighting diffuser forming part of a ceiling Luminaire Ceiling OOO Diffuser The guidance in Approved Document B Volume 1 is not concerned with diffusers of luminaires attached to the soffit of, or suspended beneath, a ceiling (as shown below). Example of a lighting diffuser not forming part of a ceiling Lui inai O00 Diffuser Except as referred to in the next paragraph, thermoplastic lighting diffusers should not be used in luminaires forming part of a fire-protecting or fire resisting ceiling, unless they have been satisfactorily tested as part of the celling system that Is to be used to provide the appropriate fire protection. Evidence of the fire resistance of the ceiling assembly may be called for by ‘the Building Control authority or other interested parties. Thermoplastic lighting diffusers may form parts of cellings to rooms and circulating spaces, but not to protected stairways, providing the following two conditions are met (@) If diffusers are of classification?" TP(@) rigid, there are no restrictions on the extent of their use. This is shown in Table 2 of Approved Document B Volume 1 (reproduced below) 20 Aprotected stairway is a stairway enclosed in a protected shaft because it passes directly from one Compartment of a building to another. (Bulkings are sometimes sub-divided into compartments, separated by walls and/or floors of fre-resisting material, to restrict the spread of fe.) 21 For detais of classifications of thermoplastic materials see iter 1.2.5. September 2008 © An NICEIC and ECA joint publicationElectrical installers’ Guide to “The Building Regulations’ Endorsed by LABC (b) If diffusers are of classification TP(a) flexible or TP(b), they should be limited in extent as indicated in Table 2 and Diagram 9 of Approved Document B Volume 14 (reproduced below). NOTE: In addition to conditions (a) and (b) above, the wall and ceiling surfaces within the space above the suspended ceiling (other than the upper surfaces of the thermoplastic diffusers) must provide the appropriate class Of fire performance as required by clause 3.1 of Approved Document B Volume 1. ; {tis important that where both lighting diffusers and thermoplastic { rooflights are provided in the same Ceiling, the restrictions given in Table 2 and Diagram 9 are applied to the combination of the two. | Table 2 of Approved Document B Volume 1: Limitations applied to thermoplastic rooflights and lighting diffusers in suspended ceilings and ' Class 3 plastic rooflights Minimum Use of space | Maximum area of | Max total area of Minimum classification of below the each diffuser | diffuser panels separation lower surface diffusers or panel or | and rooflights as | distance between rooflight rooflight' | percentage of | diffuser panels or floor atea of the rooflights? . space in which the ceiling is (im?) located (%) (mm) zs TPla} any except No imi? No iit No iit protected staiway . (Ciass3° or TPIb) rooms 5 50° 3 ’

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