When is it ok to DIY electrics?

Question

In what circumstances is it okay to do electric works DIY and what must be done by a professional?

Trevor · Accepted Answer

Never, get all your electrics carried out by a competent qualified electrician

Rob · Answer

Under current Edition regulations it now states that electrical work shall be undertaken by a skilled person.

This changed from “competent person” meaning that ideally you should be trained to undertake any electrical work. 

Even if it’s just adding a socket - you need test equipment to measure the earth readings and check the associated RCD times.

Any work on kitchen or bathroom (and many other areas) are notifies me to building control. 

So in short, would you touch your gas?

Laurie · Answer

Evening Sir, hope all is well, I would  only use qualified electrician, would not recommend DIY cheers.

Darren · Answer

All electrics should be done by a professional, I know that this can seem expensive sometimes and many people will "have a go" to save money. However mistakes can often be financially costly and in some circumstances cost more than money. 

Always use a professional

William · Answer

At all times electric works should be undertaken by a professional since every alteration on electric work should be verified and commissioned with basic dead test inspection and testing prior to going live and live tested as well.

Craig · Answer

The simple answer is it’s not.   Electricians have to follow rules and codes of practice  which the untrained person don’t know.

David · Answer

The regs states that all electrical work should be carried out by competent skilled persons only , but in the real world that doesn’t wash unfortunately because the householder always want to save money , and  that’s the problem the householder want to save money so he or she does it themselves  or he finds an unscrupulous Individual  who does the job cheap chips and then he has to have the job re-done by a competent electrical persons so Answer to your question is just pay for the job to be done correct get a 12 month warranty on the work done and you’ll be happy as Larry

Shaun · Answer

As a general rule anyone working on domestic electrics has to be 'competent'. This means that by qualification and/or experience the person doing the work has to be able to erect and test all wiring / equipment to the current regulations.

This is not only to protect you but also to protect future users or engineers working on the installation. Without full knowledge of the regulations, standards and safe isolation (not just flipping the MCB off) you could be putting you or other people at risk and potentially your freedom.

If you do work which eventually results in injury to yourself or others you could be brought before a court and in the electrical world it isn't 'innocent until proven guilty' its 'guilty until proven innocent' and without following the regulations proving innocence would be pretty difficult.

Granted if you feel like you are relatively competent to safely isolate a circuit (by testing) you are 'allowed' to replace a like-for-like socket/light/extractor fan as long as these reside outside special zones, this doesn't mean you should.

Overall if your unsure you may as well just pick up the phone and call an electrician, at least then you have the piece of mind that everything has been done safely, been tested and you'll get a certificate to show this.

So to answer the question, more times than not its best to just leave it to the professionals. 

In an ideal world touching electrics should have the same repercussions as illegally working on gas but I don't make the rules...

Colin · Answer

It’s never OK to work with anything that can kill and is something you don’t fully understand. Legally, You can undertake anything within your own house as a homeowner. But you could be putting yourself and family and friends at risk, Electrical items are very easy to make work but making them safe is where an Electrician steps in.

Adrian · Answer

Part P certification will enable all electrical work, 

Safely.

When is it ok to DIY electrics?

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