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Fixed Electrical Testing

Fixed Electrical Installation Inspection and Testing

Overview

All electrical installations deteriorate with age and use. They should therefore be inspected and tested at regular intervals to check whether they are in a safe and satisfactory condition for continued use. Such safety checks are commonly referred to as ‘periodic inspection and testing’.

Duty holders have a legal responsibility to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees to matters within their control. This involves keeping electrical systems safe through correct design and installation and by using competent persons to carry out the work.

Periodic inspection and testing should be carried out only by electrically competent persons, such as registered electricians. The condition of the electrics is checked against the UK standard for the safety of electrical installations – BS 7671 IET Wiring Regulations, supporting statutory regulations such as the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

Our periodic inspection and testing of fixed electrical installations will support you in complying with these standards, including regulation 4 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, which requires that: ‘As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent such danger.’ Where danger may exist, all systems should be constructed and maintained in a safe condition, and records of maintenance should be kept.

A periodic inspection will:

  • Reveal if any of your electrical circuits or equipment are overloaded
  • Find any potential electric shock risks and fire hazards
  • Identify any defective electrical work
  • Highlight any lack of earthing or bonding

Our highly skilled engineers will conduct a thorough visual inspection supported by a 100% test or an agreed percentage test of the installation (where practicable) dependant on the option agreed and taking into account previous maintenance records and environment, examining:

  1. Safety
  2. Wear and tear
  3. Corrosion
  4. Damage
  5. Overloading
  6. Age
  7. External influences
  8. Suitability

The inspections are vital for the protection against electric shock, electric burns, fires from electrical origin and electrical arcing or explosions initiated or caused by electricity.

We will thoroughly conduct a visual inspection of your fixed electrical installation, including an internal inspection of a sample of isolating devices, including:

  1. Joints and Connections
  2. Conductors (Including Protective Conductors)
  3. Flexible Cables and Cords
  4. Accessories and Switching Devices
  5. Basic Protection
  6. Fault Protection
  7. Protective Devices
  8. Enclosures and Mechanical Protection
  9. Marking and Labelling

Testing of fixed equipment installation includes:

  1. Continuity of Protective Conductors
  2. Insulation resistance testing
  3. Polarity Testing
  4. Earth loop impedance
  5. Functional tests
  6. Initial final circuit tracing and identification can be provided if required
  7. Final circuit labelling can be provided if required

At the end of the inspection, you will receive an Electrical Installation Condition Report detailing any observed damage, deterioration, defects, dangerous conditions and any non-compliances with

the present-day safety standard that might give rise to danger. This is prioritised as follows:

  •  C1. Danger Present – The safety of those using the installation is at risk.
  •  C2. Potentially Dangerous – The safety of those using the installation may be at risk.
  •  C3. Improvement recommended.

If anything dangerous or potentially dangerous is found, the overall condition of the electrical installation will be declared to be ‘unsatisfactory’, meaning that remedial action is required without delay to remove the risks to those in the premises. Reported defects that receive a C1 classification will be notified to the duty holder, will need to be signed for by the client and must be resolved immediately.

As part of this service, you will receive exclusive access to your compliance web portal, showing an online version of your inspection and test records, network drawings and condition reports as well as your overall electrical site compliance and notifications for renewals. Our web portal is a proactive way to demonstrate your bid to become compliant, and is an invaluable tool should you ever need to provide your reports in defence and for audit purposes.

Detailed inspection and testing however thorough, may not ensure the ongoing safety of an electrical installation, which might suffer degradation and damage on a daily basis. Inspection & testing consideration is therefore advised specific to the environment, nature of usage and location. With this in mind, we will then recommend a 3 year or 5-year maintenance regime as per Guidance Note 3. It is then down to the duty holder to agree the level of maintenance required.  

Need additional information?

If you have a query, please contact us, or complete our inquiry form and one of our team will be in touch shortly.