Page 1 of The end of the road for electrical DIYers ?

There are some new regulations taking effect in Jan 2005 regarding major electrical work in the home (and I suppose elsewhere). Apparently it will be an offence for "unqualified" persons to carry out major electrical work in one`s own home. This type of DIY can still be done but only if plans are submitted to the local council and the work is inspected after completion. If the work is carried out by a professional then that person has to be specially trained in the new regulations, (at cost to the trainee and presumably then the consumer). It seems that this is all to do with "harmonisation" of electrical matters with the rest of Europe as it appears that new wiring will be colour coded differently e.g. - black becomes the live and blue the neutral. Fair enough on that point I suppose, but I object to being told what I can and can`t do as regards DIY in my own home. I have a technical background and was competent enough to install a new consumer unit a while back. OK, I make mistakes like any other normal person, but surely if I`m a danger only to myself, then that`s my lookout. This latest intrusion from Brussels seems to me to be another case of the "nanny state" and is another nail in the coffin of personal freedom.
Sunday rant over!

JohnF

i heard that on radio 5 this morning... i guess they will want us to call out an electrician at an extortionate amount to change a fuse next?



`I am going to live forever, or die trying`...

Along with my father, I completely re-wired my parent`s house a few years ago. and I`ve also installed light fittings, plug sockets and a shower unit in my current abode. Fair enough, there are morons out there that have shorted out an entire neighbourhood after trying to wire up their car to the mains or something, but personally, I can tell the difference between red/brown and black/blue. That incident with taping the red wires on the ring main together was a one-off, honest. (big blue spark tho)

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I ate what?


My Collection

Quote:
There are some new regulations taking effect in Jan 2005 regarding major electrical work in the home I suppose it depends on what is meant by `major` as to whether this is an encroachment on civil liberties or protection of the individual and his neighbours. I imagine it will still be ok to change a fuse or use an electric drill but rewiring a house may be safer if it is overseen and inspected by a professional. Let`s hope it`s not the start of a slippery slope.

This is a joke, and it is so typical of the nanny state that we are becoming. I can understand not fiddling with gas, as you could easily kill people and destroy half a street. BUT if i want to electrocute myself in the privacy of my own home, i should be able to. It has always been the case that any electrical stuff that the public use has to be signed off by someone who is NICEIC, expanding this to the home is crazy.

It is reckoned that 10 people a year die from this type of thing. Now obviously that is 10 deaths too many, but there are many many things that kill more people than that each year.

The electricians must be p***ing themselves, as they will be bankrolling it in now - double the charge and people will HAVE to pay it! You can still do the work yourself, but it has to be inspected by building control from the council - i bet they can`t wait to have a shedload more work put on them!
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...some kind of superstar*

I whole-heartedly agree with uncharged...this is an increase of the nanny state approach.
A more significant amount are affected by using gardening equipment and power tools etc...

We are mugs in the UK for putting up with this type of cr*p hence obscene amounts of money the Government spends on TV advertising telling us not to eat salt, not to eat fat and not to smoke; Why not spend the money on education and healthcare instead of telling people what they can and can`t do?

Our Government is the 2nd biggest spender on advertising in the UK (they spend more than Ford, BT, L`Oreal, Lever and Nestle...!!). Call it propaganda, brainwashing, nanny state or manipulative, but no Government before this one has done it to this extent and no other government in the world gets anywhere close to the levels that this UK government does.

Neil.

I understand that `major work` is defined as any work in the kitchen / bathroom / outside areas. You can still add light fittings and plug sockets / spurs, but not in these areas. local electricians must think christmas has come early!

Bloody hell,

I changed a light switch in my bathroom last month!
I must have been putting my life in danger.
Talk about living on the edge.
I`m gonna need a brandy or two to calm me down.

I`ll only feel comfortable when Uncle Blunkett comes round to
tuck us all in at night. And maybe he can do something about
my relatives naturalisation papers while he`s at it.
:p

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Jitendar Canth

Quote:
"You won`t believe the things I have seen with your eyes..."

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As a rider to my original post, it`s all supposed to be in aid of safety. Cynical moi ?

JohnF

Think we all agree that this is an absolute joke.
But, on this point:
Quote:
"it appears that new wiring will be colour coded differently e.g. - black becomes the live and blue the neutral. Fair enough on that point I suppose, "

So, in the interests of safety, that black main witre that has been neutral all these years is now to be the live....

Yup, sound like a safety move to me!
(Also watches the undertakers glee-fully rubbing hands together at the amount of money soon to be made from the funerals of Electricians if this nonsense goes ahead!)

Jimbo : oÞ