Benefits of using an NICEIC-registered Contractor

NICEIC has been assessing the technical competence of contractors for over 50 years. Our aim is to protect everyone who uses electricity from unsafe electrical installations in their homes, places of work and leisure. To achieve this, we maintain a register of electrical contractors that we assess as complying with the various standards, codes of practice and Scheme rules.

Contractor assessment covers a representative sample of the contractors work, their premises, documentation, equipment, and the competence of their key supervisory staff. Once contractors become registered with NICEIC, they are re-assessed on a regular basis to ensure continued compliance.

Enrolment with NICEIC is voluntary, but electrical contractors that are competent and conscientious about the service they offer customers would consider it a priority to enrol. Over 20,000 contractors are registered by NICEIC, covering the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland. This means that you're sure to have a choice of competent contractors operating in your area.

It is believed that approximately 90% of Local Authorities in the UK restrict work to NICEIC Approved Contractors on safety grounds and householders can be assured that all work undertaken by an NICEIC-registered contractor will be safe.

The main benefits of using a contractor registered by NICEIC include:

Safety and competence

Contractors registered by NICEIC are assessed on a regular basis to ensure that they are competent and capable of meeting the relevant technical and safety standards, codes of practice and rules of the Schemes they are registered to. Each Scheme has a defined set of competence criteria that contractors must meet to achieve and maintain registration.

Compliance with building regulations

Contractors registered to NICEIC Building Regulations Schemes are authorised to self-certify their work without hindrance from Local Authority Building Control. This saves you both time and money when undertaking work that requires notification under the Building Regulations.

Insurance Backed Warranty

The NICEIC Insurance Backed Warranty covers work undertaken by contractors registered to the NICEIC Domestic Installer Scheme that is notifiable to Building Control. The purpose of the Warranty is to protect consumers should any work be found not to comply with the Building Regulations under circumstances where the contractor is no longer in business to undertake the necessary remedial work.

The financial limit placed on the remedial work is £25,000 in respect of any one installation per period of insurance and the warranty is valid for a period of six years from the date of completion of the original work.



Domestic Installer Scheme (Part P)

The Domestic Installer Scheme is NICEIC's approval for contractors undertaking work within the scope of Part P of the Building Regulations.

What is the Domestic Installer Scheme?

NICEIC's Domestic Installer Scheme has been approved to register installers to Full Scope or Defined Competence for domestic electrical installation work in accordance with Part P Building Regulations. The scheme covers design, installation and inspection and testing and certification of electrical installation work associated with dwellings, intended to operate at low or extra low voltage.

The scopes of registration are;

Full Scope

o The scope of work covers the full range of domestic electrical installation work. This is those businesses that carry out electrical installation work as the main part of their business. However, other businesses wishing to be registered as full scope, must provide level A type work for assessment (see definition matrix below). If the main activity of the business is not electrical installation work and involves only additions to existing circuits, then the Defined Competence route will be more appropriate.


Defined Competence

o The scope of work is limited to Level B type electrical installation work in connection with , or ancillary to, some other non-electrical work.

o The scope of Part P applies to fixed electrical installations in building or parts of buildings comprising:


• Dwelling houses and flats;
• Dwellings and business premises that have a common supply – For example; shops, and public houses with a flat above;
• Common access areas in blocks of flats, such as corridors and staircase (not lifts);
• Shared amenities of blocks of flats, such as corridors and staircase (not lifts);
• Shared amenities of blocks of flats, such as laundries and gymnasiums;
• Outbuildings such as sheds, detached garages and greenhouses served from a local dwelling, including garden electrics, external lighting and pond pumps, etc.