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New Regulations for Electricians
In 1831 Michael Faraday found a way to produce what he called “waves of electricity”. His technique using a coil of wire and magnets is still used in power stations today. It was nearly 50 years later that Godalming in Surrey become the first town to have a public electricity supply. The electricity was used to provide light in shops and houses and to light the streets of the town.
The next 50 years saw the introduction of a whole range of electrical appliances into UK homes including the cooker, fridge, washing machine, kettle, vacuum cleaner and television.
The use of electricity in homes and businesses lead to the need for specialists who could harness and work with this newly available source of power and, as a result, the trade of electricians was created. In English slang, electricians are often referred to as a “Sparky” or “Sparks”.
In recent years there has been increasing concern about the number of deaths and injuries in the home caused by faulty wiring. In January 2005 tough new rules were introduced which prevent DIY enthusiasts from doing many electrical jobs around the house. The new building regulation, Part P, requires homeowners to get work carried out by a competent electrician registered to issue Building Regulations certificates or to notify a local building control body before starting any work and pay a fee for an inspection and a certificate after the work is completed.
There are a limited number of minor jobs to which the new regulations do not apply but a homeowner should not commence any electrical work themselves without checking the details of the regulations. Failure to comply can result in a large fine and, if sellers’ packs are introduced for house sales, it is likely to be difficult to sell a home containing electrical work for which the home owner does not have appropriate paperwork. More importantly carrying out electrical work yourself or allowing an unregistered electrician to make changes to the wiring in your house could place you, your family and your home at risk.
One impact of these changes is that there is likely to be an increased need for registered electricians to do work which home owners would previously have taken on themselves. A first step for anyone interested in a career as an electrician is to contact a local firm of electricians and ask about opportunities for work experience or positions as trainee electricians.
For electricians who choose to work primarily in a domestic setting, the sorts of work which they are likely to encounter relates to developments and improvements in the home including re-wiring of older properties, carrying out electrical work on extensions, moving electrical sockets and fittings as part of a changes being made to a room e.g. addition of a new kitchen. Opportunities for specialising, perhaps combined with another specific skill, could involve work with intruder alarms and the latest IT and home cinema options. For more information on a career as an electrician go to How to Become an Electrician
Local Service Guide features electricians on its site. If you know of an electrician who you think we should include on the site, please contact us and we will include details. To see an example of a feature on Local Service Guide go to the feature for Yare Electrical in Norfolk
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The next 50 years saw the introduction of a whole range of electrical appliances into UK homes including the cooker, fridge, washing machine, kettle, vacuum cleaner and television.
The use of electricity in homes and businesses lead to the need for specialists who could harness and work with this newly available source of power and, as a result, the trade of electricians was created. In English slang, electricians are often referred to as a “Sparky” or “Sparks”.
In recent years there has been increasing concern about the number of deaths and injuries in the home caused by faulty wiring. In January 2005 tough new rules were introduced which prevent DIY enthusiasts from doing many electrical jobs around the house. The new building regulation, Part P, requires homeowners to get work carried out by a competent electrician registered to issue Building Regulations certificates or to notify a local building control body before starting any work and pay a fee for an inspection and a certificate after the work is completed.
There are a limited number of minor jobs to which the new regulations do not apply but a homeowner should not commence any electrical work themselves without checking the details of the regulations. Failure to comply can result in a large fine and, if sellers’ packs are introduced for house sales, it is likely to be difficult to sell a home containing electrical work for which the home owner does not have appropriate paperwork. More importantly carrying out electrical work yourself or allowing an unregistered electrician to make changes to the wiring in your house could place you, your family and your home at risk.
One impact of these changes is that there is likely to be an increased need for registered electricians to do work which home owners would previously have taken on themselves. A first step for anyone interested in a career as an electrician is to contact a local firm of electricians and ask about opportunities for work experience or positions as trainee electricians.
For electricians who choose to work primarily in a domestic setting, the sorts of work which they are likely to encounter relates to developments and improvements in the home including re-wiring of older properties, carrying out electrical work on extensions, moving electrical sockets and fittings as part of a changes being made to a room e.g. addition of a new kitchen. Opportunities for specialising, perhaps combined with another specific skill, could involve work with intruder alarms and the latest IT and home cinema options. For more information on a career as an electrician go to How to Become an Electrician
Local Service Guide features electricians on its site. If you know of an electrician who you think we should include on the site, please contact us and we will include details. To see an example of a feature on Local Service Guide go to the feature for Yare Electrical in Norfolk