Garden Outbuilding Power Supplies

Many people struggle for space in their homes and use an outside garden outbuilding as an extra room for work or play. Changes to working practices in response to the Covid pandemic have also led to an increase in home working, which is increasing demand for ‘shed offices’ in the garden.

But whether used as an office, workshop or teenage den, you should think carefully about the proposed use of the outbuilding as this will affect the type of electrical installations you need.

Powering your shed

The two main considerations are: 1) Do you want to use your garden building all year round or just in the summer months, and 2) What will you use the building for?

The answers to these questions will determine whether you need power as well as lighting. And, if you do opt for power, how many sockets you might need (eg for a computer, heating, specialist equipment or power tools).

You will also need to decide whether to run the power cable from the outbuilding to the mains supply in the house overground or underground. It is possible to run power above ground. But running the cable underground is much safer and less unsightly (although costlier).

Why you should hire a professional electrician?

The main thing to bear in mind is that running electricity to your outbuilding is not a DIY job.

The work should be carried out by a registered electrician. Partly for safety reasons. But also, because the Building Regulations state that installing electricity to outbuildings requires the work to be carried out by a ‘registered competent person, registered third party certifier, or building control body’.

So, unless you’re a registered electrician yourself, you must employ the services of a Part P compliant professional. Juice Electrical Services are a NICEIC Approved Installer (ie registered under Part P of the Building Regulations) and can undertake your work to the highest standards.