Posted on Jul 17, 2012 in General, Loft Conversions & Extensions in London, Planning Permissions by paul 0 Comments
There are many safety precautions that must always be taken hen going up into an attic or loft space, pre or post conversion. The loft can often be a central hub for electrical and plumbing, making it full with all kinds of hazards. Modern Attics addresses the electrical hazards this week to be followed shortly by a blog on plumbing.
Once the major internal work of a loft conversion has been completed the electrical and plumbing often is the next step to completion. When it comes to electrical work it should be carried out by a qualified electrician or specialist contractor.
Only qualified, experienced people should ever tackle electrical installations. DIY is only recommended for those that have experience in dealing with such matters.
Important note to consider – building control officers need to be notified before any work is undertaken by the homeowner and it has to be tested on completion. The specifics of the do’s and don’ts involved can be found stipulated in the building regulations set out by your local council.
Depending on your loft conversion plans and the agreement between you and the people carrying out your work, the electrical installations should be included. It may be a different scenario if you yourself are project managing, in which case you may have to independently bring in an electrician to handle the job. As with any construction job you should shop around for quotes! Whoever you use be sure that they are qualified for the work (no cowboys!) Every job should be paid on completion, not in advance – a special note worth remembering there!
Now when it comes to the electrical fittings job itself everything starts with the cabling. Loft conversions will yield a lot of uprooted wiring and cabling that needs to be rerouted through the new timberwork. Circuits will need to be rewired or put in and potentially a whole new electrical panel will need to be installed. Everything will be of course covered up and no exposed wires will be left – for safety and for aesthetic purposes. These amendments and additions will lead to the installations of power points and light fixtures. This all falls under the First Electrical Fix category.
The Second Electrical Fix category deals with the aftermath and seeing if everything is in the right place, in practical positioning and if the need for extra sockets and fixtures is required.
The real issues of electrical fittings become evident depending on what type of conversion you are having installed in the loft. En-suite bathrooms may require the addition of extractor fans (which add to the electrical fixtures). Other considerations that fall under the Second Electrical Fix will include smoke alarms – a requirement of building regulations.
There may be some restrictions when it comes to the electrics in a loft conversion. Building regulations dictate the positioning of where sockets are fixed to (i.e. no sockets in a bathroom conversion) and the measurement of sockets are specifically designated for different rooms.
There are always these considerations to factor in when you think about the electrical fittings in your loft conversion.
Just ask if you want to know more. Contact us at Modern Attics.
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