What This Requirement Covers
Electrical installations in gardens, outbuildings, and external areas of dwellings are notifiable under Approved Document P. The outdoor environment presents additional risks from moisture, UV degradation, and physical damage.
Key Requirements
Notifiable Work
- Installation of new circuits for garden lighting, pond pumps, or outbuilding supplies
- Installation of outdoor socket outlets
- Installation of EV charge points
- Any electrical work in an outbuilding that requires a new circuit from the consumer unit
Key Requirements
- All outdoor circuits must be protected by a 30 mA RCD
- Cables buried underground must be SWA (Steel Wire Armoured) or installed in conduit, buried at a minimum depth of 450 mm (600 mm under driveways)
- Route marker tape must be placed above buried cables
- Outdoor socket outlets must be rated IP66 minimum (weatherproof)
- Outdoor lighting must be suitably rated for the environment (IP44 minimum for sheltered locations, IP65 for exposed locations)
- Circuits to outbuildings should be on separate MCBs or RCBOs at the consumer unit
Outbuilding Supplies
- The supply cable to an outbuilding must be SWA or run in conduit
- A local isolation switch should be provided in the outbuilding
- If the outbuilding has its own consumer unit, it must comply with BS 7671
- Earth electrode or earth connection must be adequate for the outbuilding
Practical Compliance Tips
- Use SWA cable for all underground runs; standard twin-and-earth cable is not suitable for direct burial
- Bury cables at the correct depth and install route marker tape; future gardeners may dig in the area
- Specify IP66 outdoor sockets with lockable covers to prevent moisture ingress when not in use
- LED garden lighting on a 12V SELV transformer is the safest option for decorative lighting
- For EV charge points, a dedicated circuit from the consumer unit with a Type A RCD or RCBO is required
- All outdoor electrical work is notifiable; use a registered competent person scheme electrician
- Consider the impact of solar gain on plastic enclosures; UV-resistant products last longer outdoors