Electrical Inspection, Testing and Certification
Electrical installations should be tested often enough that there is little chance of deterioration leading to danger.
Inspection and testing is crucial in residential and commercial properties, all installations suffer from deterioration of some form. Current legislation says that properties should be inspected and tested every 5 years for commercial premises and 10 years for domestic premises.
Most Insurance companies require your property to have a current satisfactory certificate or report. The law requires electrical equipment to be maintained to prevent danger. The type and frequency of user checks, inspections needed will depend on the equipment, the environment in which it is used a property with the correct certifications adhering to all current legislations.
Landlords
The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 requires that the electrical equipment is safe at the start of every tenancy and maintained in a safe condition throughout the tenancy. Even though Landlord electrical safety certificates are not a legal requirement we strongly recommend that any Landlord should make absolutely sure they are complying with the regulations to ensure that all electrical appliances supplied are safe. You could be held liable if any of the electrics in the property cause harm to the tenant.
We are happy to give you a free of charge quote to assist you with all testing that is carried out by our qualified and experience staff. PERIODIC INSPECTION REPORT / ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION CONDITIONING REPORT (EICR)
PIR/EICR
A Periodic Inspection Report (PIR) OR (EICR) is a term used within the electrical installation business. Every property should have its electrical installation tested and certified periodically, with the frequency depending on the building’s age, use and general condition.
A PIR / EICR will reveal if electrical circuits are being overloaded, condition of the wiring, carry out visual inspections, find potential hazards within the electrical installation, identify defective DIY work highlight any lack of earthing or bonding, and continue to test the fixed wiring of the installation. This includes checking fuse or circuit breaker ratings and testing the RCDs to ensure they trip under fault conditions.
The outcome from the Periodic Inspection Report will establish the overall condition of all of the electrics (a bit like an MOT on a motor vehicle). It will tell you whether it is satisfactory for continued use and will detail any remedial work that might need to be done, graded by importance with a recommended timescale.
Visual inspection
A visual inspection can help you if you are thinking of purchasing a property it will identify defects, damage or deterioration of the electrical installation and to establish whether it complies with the current BS7671 electrical safety standard. It can be especially good in helping you making up your mind whether to purchase the property or whether to negotiate for discount.
During the inspection you will gain some idea of the condition of the installation, and indeed any alterations which would have to be carried out by a qualified electrical engineer.