Consumer – Health & Safety Information

Each year, on average, 10 people die and around 750 are injured in accidents involving unsafe electrical installations in the home. In addition to this, 2,336 house fires were caused by faulty installations in 2003.

In the future, risks could well increase as rising consumer ownership of portable and fixed electrical appliances causes extra demand for extensions and alterations to existing electrical installations.

The risks posed by unsafe electrical installations and portable appliances are electric shock, burns and other injuries arising from fires in buildings ignited by electrical components overheating or building up dangerous currents causing ‘arcing’. Installations that are properly designed, fitted, tested and commissioned in accordance with British Standard BS 7671 (a requirement of Part P) will help minimise these risks.

BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations

The IEE Wiring Regulations is the British standard that covers the safe design, installation and testing of electrical installations in building systems. It is the technical standard specified, almost universally, in UK contracts for electrical installation work. It is also the basis for the approved technical guidance to meet the electrical requirements of the Building Regulations so it is for this reason that a Competent Person will issue you with a BS 7671 certificate on completion of any work.