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New Rules for Electrical Safety
If you are planning to extend or alter the electrical installation in your home, such as providing extra sockets in the kitchen, or adding new ceiling lights, don't attempt it yourself. Ensure you employ a competent electrician.
The Government introduced a new law in January, which demands that most electrical work in UK households is only carried out by a competent person. Up to now, the electrical industry has maintained relatively high safety standards, aided by voluntary controls such as those practiced by NICEIC. Approved Contractors. But with an increasing use and variety of electrical equipment and appliances in our homes, it is not surprising that we are exposed to an increased risk of electric shock and fires caused by faulty electrical installations.
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What is the electrical safety law?
Electrical safety requirements have been included in a part P of the Building Regulations. The building regulations deal with the health and safety of people in and around building functional requirements for building design and construction.
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What is a fixed electrical installation?
Many improvements carried out in the home include some form of fixed electrical installation. For example, a new kitchen may require your electrician to install additional sockets, extra lighting and switches, consumer units (fuse boxes) and ceiling fittings.
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Bathroom Safety
As far as electricity is concerned, the bathroom is possibly the most dangerous room in the house. Water is a very efficient conductor of electrical current which makes the combination of water and electricity potentially lethal.
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Sockets - outlets
No socket-outlets, other than specially designed outlets such as those for shavers are permitted in bathrooms.
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Lights
Light fittings must be well out of reach and enclosed to keep water out. Enclosed ceiling lights are preferable to pendant light fittings.
Normal wall mounted light switches may not be suitable in a bathroom as they may allow dampness or water to enter, such as from wet hands. A ceiling mounted pull cord switch with a cord made of insulation material is the safest option.
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Heaters and towel rails
All electrical heaters and water heaters in a bathroom must be fixed and permanently wired - none must be supplied via a plug and socket.
Hot water central heating is the safest way of keeping a bathroom warm, but if you do have an electric room heater, is must be out of reach of someone in the bath or shower fixed at a greater distance than 0.60m from the bath of shower.
Electric heaters should be controlled by a pull cord or by a switch located outside the bathroom.
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Showers
An instant demand electric shower must be wired back to wall to the consumer unit.
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