Roundtable backs Part P

Roundtable backs Part P retention

The ESC recently hosted a roundtable event to discuss the government’s review of Part P of the Building Regulations for England and Wales.

The event, which was facilitated by Ann Robinson of uSwitch, aimed to garner the views of a range of interested parties and discuss how to create a strong evidence base to assess the impact of Part P and show its relevance to both consumer safety and industry standards.

Delegates attending the event represented various electrical and related trade bodies, including NICEIC, as well as Which? magazine, the Trading Standards Institute and the Chief Fire Officers Association.

Presentations were made by a representative from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), who outlined the government’s review process, and Phil Buckle, director general of the ESC, who summarised Part P requirements and reviewed the current evidence base relating to electrical injuries, deaths and fires in UK homes. “What was particularly pleasing about the event was the general consensus established in relation to the need to retain Part P, although concerns about compliance, in particular, were noted,” said Buckle.

The need to clarify and simplify documentation and increase the awareness of both consumers and electrical contractors to the benefits of Part P was also highlighted.

Other outcomes from the event include the proposed establishment of a working group to help source Part P impact assessment material for submission to the DCLG’s review.

The ESC is currently looking at ways of gathering the views of interested parties to feed into this assessment process.

> ESC director general Phil Buckle

ESC seeks five-year tenant PIR

The ESC is calling for mandatory Periodic Inspection Reports (PIRs) every five years in all private rented properties in Scotland.

The charity wants PIRs to be a central plank of the tenant information pack, proposed in the Private Rented Housing Bill that is currently making its way through the chamber.

Currently, the duty of the landlord to carry out repairs and maintenance on properties is only enforceable if the tenant informs the landlord of faults, or if the landlord is made aware in some other way.

Given the low level of knowledge of tenants and the often invisible nature of electrical risks, the ESC believes a reactive regime offers insufficient protection because tenants may not be in a position to recognise and notify the landlord that there is a problem until it is too late.

As well as calling for mandatory PIRs, the ESC is calling for a clear statement in the tenant information pack on whether or not RCD protection is installed, forcing landlords to actively consider the issue.

The ESC has submitted evidence to the Bill Committee, stressing the need for improved assessment of electrical safety in privately rented housing.

The bill is likely to be passed before the Scottish Parliament elections in May.

> Private rentals: more inspection needed

Electricians urged to Plug into Safety

Electrical contractors are being encouraged to take part in the ESC’s Plug into Safety campaign, which aims to reduce electrical fires and accidents by encouraging the installation and use of RCDs.

The council has produced a tailored electrician’s toolkit, containing 50 leaflets that explain both the importance of RCD protection to consumers and the different options available.

The packs also include detachable blank business cards, which the contractor can complete and leave with a client after a house call. To date more than 1.5 million leaflets and 19,000 packs have been distributed.

“I always advise my customers to get RCD protection, but sometimes it can be difficult to convince people just how crucial it really is,” says Gary Fisher, a London-based electrician.

“The Plug into Safety toolkit clearly explains the issues and helps ensure that customers feel well informed. As the information is from a respected charity, and not a commercial enterprise, it also helps demonstrate that I have my customers’ best interests at heart.”

Since the launch of the campaign in May last year, a wide range of wholesale and retail partners, as well as individual electrical contractors, have joined the council in promoting the message “An RCD can save your life”.

The latest names to join the campaign include retailers B&Q, Homebase and Focus DIY and wholesalers Wilts, Rexel, Electricfix, CEF and Denmans.

“To ensure the success of the Plug into Safety campaign, it is vital that we have the support of all sectors of the industry,” explained Lorraine Carney, head of campaigns at the ESC. “We would like to extend our thanks to all those who have joined us in promoting the campaign.”

For more information on where to pick up the pack, visit www.esc.org.uk.