A Guide to Installing Electricity in Your Log Cabin
When buying a log cabin, there are a wide range of factors to take into account. The size, style, price and quality of the log cabin all play a part, along with the way you want to use it.
Adding electricity can transform it from a simple garden building to a functional space that you can use as a garden office, hobby room, an additional living area or even an additional bedroom.
In this guide, we explain the key considerations when installing electricity in a log cabin, including important safety points and practical installation tips to discuss with your electrician.
Planning the electrical installation
Before you start installing any electrics, consider how you want to use your log cabin. Planning its intended use and electrical layout in advance will help you to understand how many sockets and lighting points you will need.
Common electrical additions to log cabins include:
Interior lighting
Plug sockets for office equipment or appliances
Electrical heating
Exterior lighting for verandas or decking
Internet cables
Power for workshop tools
Knowing exactly how you will use your log cabin and how frequently you intend to use it will help you plan the electrics and ensure your building is fit for purpose from its construction.
Electrical regulations and safety
Installing electricity in your log cabin requires some knowledge of the safety regulations around it. Any electrical installation connected to your home’s electrical system must comply with UK building regulations. Failing to follow these rules can lead to safety risks, legal issues or complications if you sell your property in the future.
Who can install electrics in a log cabin?
There are three main options when it comes to installing electrics in your log cabin:
An electrician registered with a ‘scheme provider’
An unregistered electrician
You or a friend
Any of these people can install the electrics in your log cabin but there are important differences in how the installation must be completed depending on who does the work.
Using an unregistered electrician or DIY installation
If the electrical work is carried out by an unregistered electrician, you must notify your Local Building Control before you do anything. They will usually want to see a description of the installation, diagrams and details of the level of experience and knowledge of the installer. They will also want to visit and check on the stages of work before and during the various stages.
Once the installation is complete, and before the system is connected to the power supply, Building Control will normally carry out a final inspection. This ensures your installation meets the current wiring regulations and safety standards. They will test and certify the system and there is usually a fee for this service.
Understanding Part P of the Building Regulations
In January 2005, Part P of the Building Regulations came into effect. Part P covers electrical safety in domestic properties and associated buildings. This identifies a legal requirement for all work on fixed electrical installations in dwellings and associated buildings to comply with relevant standards. The relevant standards are defined by the IEE Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) and any updates that apply at the time of installation.
This also places a legal obligation that any electrical work outside is notified to the Local Building Control so your log cabin electrical system must be notified.
These regulations are important to follow as there are fines of up to £5000 for non-compliance with Part P of the Building Regulations.
Electrical installation certificate
An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) is vitally important for any electrical works carried out after 2005. When you sell your home, you will be asked for a certificate for any work carried out after this date. Without it, you may have problems with selling your property. In addition, in the event of a fire, this certificate will be one of the first things your insurance company will ask for. Without a valid certificate, your claim may be void.
Competent Person Scheme
Many professional electricians are members of a Competent Person Scheme (CPS). Electricians who are part of this scheme are able to self-certify their own work and that they are tested yearly, their work is monitored, their qualifications are up to date and that their test equipment is properly calibrated. Once of the most important factors is that they are fully insured so their work is guaranteed.
These electricians can test and issue an Electrical Installation Certificate and register the installation with your local building control.
By employing a registered electrician, you ensure that your installation fully complies with all regulations.
Running power to your log cabin
Before you install anything, plan exactly what you’re going to need power for inside your log cabin. Write down the items you’re likely to be using as this will give your electrician an idea of the amount of power you’ll require. They can then design the system to account for your maximum power usage.
When your electrician designs your electrical system, they will base it on your power requirements, the distance of your log cabin from the main incoming supply and the condition and rating of your supply. Other factors will be considered but these are the basics required for a quote.
We recommend giving the following information to an electrician when asking for a quote:
The number of lights and sockets needed
The power requirement. You can either add up the watts or amps of each electrical item or tell the electrician which items you intend to use, and they will be able to make the calculations
Distance from the main supply or consumer unit
Condition of your consumer unit and whether there are any spare ways within it
Route of the supply cable to your log cabin and whether you’ll be digging the trench yourself
Exit route from your consumer unit in the house to the outside
There are two main methods for installing an electrical system in your log cabin. The method used will depend on your power requirements.
Consumer unit
The first method is to take power directly from your main consumer unit. If there is no power space, a smaller consumer unit will be added from the mains supply to your cabin. This case will be RCD protected.
Existing house socket
The second method is only used with a low power requirement and is taken from your existing house socket circuit and only if that circuit is suitable and capable of additional load.
It’s unlikely this method will be used for anything other than a single light and single socket and only if the log cabin is close to your house.
In both cases, an electrician will use an armoured cable to supply the log cabin. This can either be fixed in clear sight of immovable objects such as walls and fences or buried in the ground. Usually, it should be buried around 500mm deep but should be buried deeper if it runs across flowerbeds or vegetable gardens.
Understanding timber movement in log cabins
One of the most important considerations is timber movement. Log cabins are built from timber wall logs which naturally expand and contract as the temperature changes throughout the year. Thicker log cabins can even move up to 70mm over the course of the year and, while it’s completely natural, it will need to be considered when installing electrics.
Electrical wiring will need to be installed in a way that allows the structure to move without damaging the cables. If the cables are fixed too tightly across several logs, the movement of the timber could stretch or crush the wiring over time.
To prevent this, your electrician will need to install wiring in ways that allow for flexibility, such as:
Running cables vertically
Using flexible trunking
Avoiding rigid fixings between multiple wall logs
Installing electricity in your log cabin safely and successfully
Installing electricity in your log cabin can help you to get more use from it throughout the year. With a properly designed and installed electrical system, you can use your log cabin as a garden office, workshop, additional living space or as a bedroom space.
However, due to regulations and log cabins being built from natural timber, electrical work needs to be carefully planned. Working with a qualified electrician ensures your installation complies with building regulations and will provide you with a safe and reliable electrical system.
If you’d like further advice on installing electrics in your log cabin, please contact our expert customer service team.
