where can i find the laws that a qualified electrician has 2 install a electric shower

deborahking67 · 7 Mar 2016

My husband installed an identical electric shower. He has done hundreds of them in the USA. The shower came but had no hose in so we used the hose from the old one as it was identical my husband had no need for the instructions as they were not in the box too. It worked beautifully for 3 months than it started to trip. He took it to pieces to see that an element had blown. So we called the shop. The shop said their policy was to go to the supplier so they gave us there number. We called on the Friday the part came on the Tuesday but they would not send it to us as they said they had to send their own electrician out. He never came until the next Monday. He opened the shower said that he couldn't touch it as there was no plate on it. My husband showed him the old shower which is identical with no plate. The electrician said without the plate he would not touch it. The supplier will not even supply us with the plate. The supplier sold a box that was incomplete and a shower that was faulty but they are trying to blame us coz my husband is not qualified. Where does it say on the product or in a shop that you HAVE To BE QUALIFIED. PLS CAN YOU TELL ME.

denso13 · 7 Mar 2016

deborahking67 said:
Where does it say on the product or in a shop that you HAVE To BE QUALIFIED

It says it quite often in the installation guide (depending which one it is).

PBC_1966 · 8 Mar 2016

Legally in the U.K. there is nothing to say that a qualified electrician has to install any electrical appliance. In fact there isn't even a legal definition of "qualified electrician," although certain qualifications would be deemed to make one so in court.

There is, however, legislation regarding the fitness for purpose of appliances sold and a requirement that they should last for a reasonable length of time. Ultimately, it is the shop who sold you the unit which is legally responsible for replacing it or refunding if faulty, regardless of whatever "policy" they might have about referring it back to the supplier.

stardanny · 8 Mar 2016

Should take the shower back to shop as parts is missing and no instruction as well.

Daniel.

foxhole · 1 Apr 2016

deborahking67 said:
My husband installed an identical electric shower. He has done hundreds of them in the USA. The shower came but had no hose in so we used the hose from the old one as it was identical my husband had no need for the instructions as they were not in the box too. It worked beautifully for 3 months than it started to trip. He took it to pieces to see that an element had blown. So we called the shop. The shop said their policy was to go to the supplier so they gave us there number. We called on the Friday the part came on the Tuesday but they would not send it to us as they said they had to send their own electrician out. He never came until the next Monday. He opened the shower said that he couldn't touch it as there was no plate on it. My husband showed him the old shower which is identical with no plate. The electrician said without the plate he would not touch it. The supplier will not even supply us with the plate. The supplier sold a box that was incomplete and a shower that was faulty but they are trying to blame us coz my husband is not qualified. Where does it say on the product or in a shop that you HAVE To BE QUALIFIED. PLS CAN YOU TELL ME.

Contact local consumer advice, UK law states goods have to be fit for purpose.You have a case against the shop.

D_Hailsham · 7 Apr 2016

deborahking67 said:
My husband installed an identical electric shower. He has done hundreds of them in the USA. ... Where does it say on the product or in a shop that you HAVE To BE QUALIFIED.

A shower is classed as a "special location". Any electrical work carried out in a special location has to be done by a person with Part P qualifications. The work has to be notified to Building Control at the local council.

bernardgreen · 7 Apr 2016

D_Hailsham said:
a person with Part P qualifications

There is no Part P qualification, it is a building regulation requiring certain electrical work to be notified to Building Control and then for some one to certify the design and the work are of a good and safe standard. Electrical work that has to be notified can be DIY provided the DIYer can prove to the Building Control officer that they are competent.

Electricians who claim to be Part P qualified have paid to join an association ( a scheme ) which enable them to self certify their own work is to standard and the Building Control accept that the work these people carry out will not need to be inspected by the Building Control inspectors

D_Hailsham · 8 Apr 2016

bernardgreen said:
Electrical work that has to be notified can be DIY provided the DIYer can prove to the Building Control officer that they are competent.

And therein lies the DiYer's problem: how does he prove to the BCO that he is competent?

A BCO is often a qualified building surveyor, but not necessarily a qualified electrician, so he has to rely on a third party to tell him if a person is competent. (This is where the competent person scheme enters the fray.) The BCO will ask to see proof that the person is a member of a "competent persons" scheme. If the person cannot produce any proof then, so far as the BCO, and consequently Building Regs, is concerned, the person is not competent.

You don't just have to pay a membership fee to join a scheme. You have to meet the relevant minimum requirements laid down in the ELECTROTECHNICAL ASSESSMENT SPECIFICATION, published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

bernardgreen · 8 Apr 2016

D_Hailsham said:
The BCO will ask to see proof that the person is a member of a "competent persons" scheme. If the person cannot produce any proof then, so far as the BCO, and consequently Building Regs, is concerned, the person is not competent.

Some BCOs when presented with a set of test results from a DIYer along with some proof of the validity of the tests will consider the DIYer to be competent. It is best to ask the BCO what they will take as proof of competence before starting the work.

D_Hailsham · 8 Apr 2016

bernardgreen said:
Some BCOs when presented with a set of test results from a DIYer along with some proof of the validity of the tests will consider the DIYer to be competent. It is best to ask the BCO what they will take as proof of competence before starting the work.

I used a meter wot I got at Poundland.

If there is no consistent approach by BCO's and Councils then that drives a coach and horses through the Building Regulations.

According to the latest version of Approved Document P, a DIYer can now get a registered third party to certify the work, instead of asking Building Control (who would probably sub-contract the job to a third party specialist). The DIYer has to appoint the certifier before starting work.