Electrical Installation — Inspection and Testing Electrical equipment and systems are used in nearly every aspect of normal life, so it is easy to become complacent and presume that this equipment is safe. There are several fatal accidents in the UK every year, both in domestic and work environments. Electrical systems and the law It a legal requirement to inspect and test an electrical installation and this document provides help and advice on how to comply with The Electricity at Work (EAW) Regulations 1989, which require ‘all electrical systems and apparatus to be maintained so as to avoid danger.’ The EAW Regulations are of the goal-setting type, and so they are open to interpretation. The HSE have given their interpretation in their HSR 25 memorandum of guidance on the EAW Regulations 1989. Maintenance Programmes With respect to maintenance, the regulations say that the quality and frequency should be sufficient to avoid danger and that regular inspection is an essential part of any preventative maintenance programme. Any voltage above 50 volts ac is considered potentially dangerous, so there is clearly a legal requirement to properly maintain standard 230/400 volt installations.

There are two basic options:

• The first is to have a comprehensive regular preventative maintenance programme. This will ensure that the electrical system is maintained in a safe condition. This is, however, quite labour intensive and most companies now do not have the maintenance staff or budget for this type of scheme.

• The other option is to carry out periodic inspection and testing. There is again a choice in

approach, but the HSE say that compliance with BS 7671’s Requirements for Electrical Installations (IET Wiring Regulations) is likely to achieve conformity with the relevant aspects of the EAW Regulations. Guidance Note 3 (GN3) to BS 7671 provides detailed guidance on inspection and testing.

FAQs What does periodic inspection and testing include? A visual inspection of the complete installation is carried out to verify the integrity of the installation, to identify any damage and to check that the system has been correctly selected and erected. The inspection also includes a number of tests to determine the condition of the installation and to ensure that essential protective devices will operate correctly. How often should the installation be inspected? The frequency of periodic inspection is dependent on the type and use of the installation, the quality and frequency of previous maintenance and any external influences which the installation may be subject to. GN3 provides guidance on the initial maximum period between inspection and testing for different types of business for example:

• Industrial — Three years • Commercial — Five years • Swimming Pools — One year

The competent person completing the electrical inspection and testing will recommend the next inspection date upon completion of the first Electrical Installation Condition report. What will be included in the report? The report will include observations and recommendations, schedules of test results and give an assessment of the condition of the installation. Dangerous defects will be notified in writing to the client, while the inspector is still on site. Can thermography replace periodic inspection and testing? A survey with a thermal imaging camera is a very useful supplement, but it only covers limited aspects so it cannot be a replacement for periodic inspection and testing.