Proof of compliance for electrical work
All electrical work done in a home, garden or conservatory in England and Wales must meet Part P of the Building Regulations.
Part P requires all electrical installations to be designed, installed and maintained to prevent the risk of injury. It was introduced to protect homeowners and tenants from unsafe or careless electrical work.
Electricians must ensure that all work is carried out in line with the UK National Standard for Electrical Safety, BS 7671.
And so must homeowners and tenants.
Anyone who has electrical work done is legally required to prove that the work meets Part P. For a property owner or inhabitant, this means obtaining the necessary electrical safety certification.
Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Work Certificate
An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) / Minor Electrical Installation Work Certificate (MEIWCs) is a formal declaration that a new installation, alteration or addition complies with the national standards and is safe for use at the time it was put into service.
The difference between the two electrical safety certificates is as the names suggest – a Minor Work Certificate is for more minor electrical work.
For example; if the work involves a new installation or alteration to a new installation/circuit, you will need an Electrical Installation Certificate. On the other hand, where an alteration or addition is carried out but does not include a new circuit, either a Minor Work Certificate or an Electrical Installation Certificate may be used.
Whatever the size of the job, a certificate must be issued for all electrical work, meaning you must obtain one or the other at the end of a job.