An increased media focus on gardens has encouraged people to take almost as much care and attention over the design of their garden, as they do the interior of their home and with Spring now fully underway what better time to take full advantage of your outdoor space.
Lighting makes the most of an outdoor space after dusk and is an important element in garden design. It can be used to show off a garden’s best features but it is important to spend time planning a lighting scheme to obtain the desired effect.
If you are installing electric lights or sockets in your garden, you should be aware that the rules in England and Wales were tightened in 2005 to prevent the number of accidents caused by faulty electrical work. All electrical work in the garden must now be carried out in accordance with national safety standards and comply with Part P of the Building Regulation.
Electrical regulatory body, NICEIC offers illumination on how to install garden lighting professionally and safely.
What to buy
Always buy good quality outdoor lighting equipment from a reputable retailer and make sure the light fittings (luminaires) are weatherproof, or if used within a water feature, waterproof. An approved-quality light fitting should always carry an IP rating, which indicates how well it stands up to external conditions. Don’t forget to look for the BEAB Approved Mark or the European Community (CE) safety symbol too.
Safe installation
All outdoor sockets must be protected by a residual current device (RCD), which switches off the flow of electricity if a cable or flex is cut. This should be hardwired to your fuse box.
Cables for fixed outdoor lighting installations must be buried at a sufficient depth to avoid damage from garden tools and should also be protected by an earthed metallic cover.
Who should install your lighting?
Homeowners should only carry out electrical work if they are competent to do so, and can inspect and test that it is safe for use. Homeowners must notify their local building control office before they begin any work and pay the appropriate fee for them to inspect the work. Alternatively an electrician registered with a government approved scheme, such as NICEIC, should carry out the work.
On completion, an NICEIC registered electrician will provide you with a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate to certify the work fulfils the requirements of Part P of the Building Regulations. All domestic electrical work notified to Building Control by NICEIC electricians is covered by an insurance-backed warranty for six years.
NICEIC’s Top Tips for successful garden lighting
- Concentrate on the most attractive features, such as a tree, decking or water feature - don’t light everything in sight
- Use low-voltage lights or indirect lighting to accentuate decks and patios subtly
- Use torches to help you plan whether you want uplighters or downlighters
- Light up steps and paths for safe access, or install security lights to welcome you home
- Avoid positioning lights so that they shine into a neighbour’s window
- Some outdoor lights can get hot, so place out of reach of small children
- All cables and transformers should be placed out of sight to ensure the lighting scheme is only apparent when lit at night
- Visit local garden centres, DIY chains, electrical wholesalers and look at websites, such as www.allweatherlighting.co.uk, for inspiration
- Go to www.findanelectrician.info to find a registered electrician to carry out the work
Press contacts:
Shelley Cotterell or Martinee Reid at Ridgemount PR. Tel: 020 8943 9349.
Notes to editors:
NICEIC is an independent voluntary electrical regulatory body that has been assessing the competence of electricians for the past 50 years. NICEIC maintains a register under license from the Electrical Safety Council of around 24,000 Approved Contractors and Domestic Installers that meet national safety standards and codes of practice. It is for this reason, and because all electrical contractors are periodically assessed by one of its area engineers that NICEIC’s symbol is one that you can trust.
