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Part P Competent Person

A 'Competent Person' is a firm that has been approved by one of the government-approved Part P schemes as sufficiently competent to self-certify that its work complies with the Building Regulations. Schemes authorised by the Communities and Local Government (CLG) are listed on its website.

A registered firm is not required to notify a building control body of its proposals to carry out electrical installation work before it begins, or to have the work inspected on completion. This reduces costs for the customer as the additional charges for calling out a building control body can be avoided.

If a firm wishes to become a Competent Person it must first be vetted to ensure it meets the conditions of registration, including the required levels of competence. The minimum standard of technical competence required is as follows: (a) Electrical work in dwellings is designed, installed, inspected and tested to the standard required by BS 7671. (b) Applicants for a Part P Competent Person Scheme are assessed to be able to work to these standards.