Thanks, as an old hand (MOD apprenticeship almost 50 years ago) I welcome the clarification of the present position. My business partner is much more recently qualified and I have been leaning on hime in this, but this will reduce his burden somewhat. Paret P is mentioned, and having gone through this it doesn't seem to apply in Scotland, but it is difficult to get clarification from the local Building Department on procedures. does anyone have a clue about the Scottish situation?
Part P is an English and Welsh building standard, so it does not apply this side of the border.
So for "normal" work, i.e day to day wiring alterations or rewires, you don't have to do anything regarding building control * , just issue a certificate for the work you do.
For new builds, that require a building warrant, the situation is less clear. But basically there are two options. First, as I do, is just carry on as before and do the job and issue your certificate. Building control are supposed to inspect the first fix as part of their on site visits during the build, but rarely do.
The alternative is sign up to the "certificate of conformance" scheme, which is a bit like a watered down part P. If you have done the course and joined a scam provider, then you can sign off the completion certificate for the wiring, and building control will give you a VERY small discount off the building warrant cost for using a COC electrician.
The COC scheme is supposed to be optional, but this is where it gets complicated. Certainly in Highland region, I have not had any issue with doing things the old way, but some further south report great resistance to trying to get new builds through without COC.
* The exception is a full rewire of a flat requires a building warrant.
