Can my unqualified builder do this electrical work?
Discussion
I am part of my son's schools pta. One project we have on the go is refurbished of a Sen room. We need to move a few things up and around in the room using surface conduits as per the quote above.
I've been struggling to get anyone to quote for the work and the one quote I've received is pretty punchy.
One solution is that I use my builder who is very good at electrics but is not qualified. He is however completely competent and has required most of my house and new extension and I then got it tested and signed off.
The electrician I previously used and had hoped to use for this job is now messing me about
So my question is this, is any of the work in the above quote "notifiable" and would a certificate need to be issued afterwards ? I could get my builder to do the work which would be a fraction of the cost and if no certificates are needed, great. If a certificate is needed I could then make a building control application notice and get it certified that way?
Am I missing anything?
It's a school and all electrical work (particularly new circuits) would need a qualified electrician. On completion of the work he should supply a certificate of compliance. Keep it in your records for the operation and maintenance manual which should also include all service records of plant and machinery, as well as compliance test certificates for fire alarm and emergency light fittings.
Do it properly. To do otherwise might put people's lives at risk. Wish you luck with getting a better price though!
Do it properly. To do otherwise might put people's lives at risk. Wish you luck with getting a better price though!
Johnniem said:
It's a school and all electrical work (particularly new circuits) would need a qualified electrician. On completion of the work he should supply a certificate of compliance. Keep it in your records for the operation and maintenance manual which should also include all service records of plant and machinery, as well as compliance test certificates for fire alarm and emergency light fittings.
Do it properly. To do otherwise might put people's lives at risk. Wish you luck with getting a better price though!
+1Do it properly. To do otherwise might put people's lives at risk. Wish you luck with getting a better price though!
If you have the budget available, maybe speak to the school head and lean on the maintenance team who can sort this out for you, and get your PTA to cover this specific cost instead? (school responsibilities to get the wiring signed off!).
Our PTA is doing something similar'ish (donating a shepherd hut to become a wellness centre), but we are using the school maintenance guys (with a few parents chipping in) to build the shepherd hut, ground prep etc.. My PTA do look after the maintenance team throughout the year, and they have positively responded by agreeing to complete this project for free. However, our PTA has agreed to pay them a fair day rate given the guys are giving up their weekend time for our project.
Our PTA is doing something similar'ish (donating a shepherd hut to become a wellness centre), but we are using the school maintenance guys (with a few parents chipping in) to build the shepherd hut, ground prep etc.. My PTA do look after the maintenance team throughout the year, and they have positively responded by agreeing to complete this project for free. However, our PTA has agreed to pay them a fair day rate given the guys are giving up their weekend time for our project.
Johnniem said:
It's a school and all electrical work (particularly new circuits) would need a qualified electrician. On completion of the work he should supply a certificate of compliance. Keep it in your records for the operation and maintenance manual which should also include all service records of plant and machinery, as well as compliance test certificates for fire alarm and emergency light fittings.
Do it properly. To do otherwise might put people's lives at risk. Wish you luck with getting a better price though!
+2Do it properly. To do otherwise might put people's lives at risk. Wish you luck with getting a better price though!
ashenfie said:
Adding to a circuitry requires certification and an electrician or building control would need to sign it off. This issue with builders doing this kind of work is that there is unlikely to be any testing done.
I think the OP has made it quite clear that any work will be signed off. There is no problem getting electrical work inspected/tested after it's fitted.dickymint said:
ashenfie said:
Adding to a circuitry requires certification and an electrician or building control would need to sign it off. This issue with builders doing this kind of work is that there is unlikely to be any testing done.
I think the OP has made it quite clear that any work will be signed off. There is no problem getting electrical work inspected/tested after it's fitted.It’s only for domestic places I think.
Schools are under the remit of the Electricity at Work Regulations; therefore all modifications must be inspected, tested, and certified by a competent (NICEIC) electrical contractor.
Additionally, the local authority may have their own particular requirements over and above those in the EAWR.
Additionally, the local authority may have their own particular requirements over and above those in the EAWR.
And as it's SEND, the 'designer' should ensure BB104 is consulted, and where its (non-statutory) guidance is not to be followed, a written justification is on file > https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/area-gu...
Not electrical related.
Not electrical related.
Edited by Regbuser on Wednesday 4th June 20:15
A friend of mine is Maintenance Manager for a SEND school. Pretty much everything requiring a trade is at least twice the price of a regular commercial environment. He feels it’s like wedding venues, and providers add a ‘special tax’ because they think the customer has a massive budget.
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