Electrical Inspection, Test & Certification
Certelec Ltd provides a full range of Testing and Inspection services on fixed wiring systems, inspecting and testing low and medium voltage systems in commercial, industrial and domestic premises.
Fixed Installation Testing (FIT) involves testing the electrical services and systems that conduct electricity around a building. Anything electrical in a building that is fixed such as lighting, socket outlets, air conditioning and other fixed plant needs to be tested. Certelec is a specialist FIT company and has no interest in remedial repairs. Its objective is to present an unbiased installation assessment.
New Installations and Alterations or Additions to the Installation
The IEE Wiring Regulations require every electrical installation to be inspected and tested during erection and on completion before being put into service, this requirement also applies to alterations or additions that include the provision of a new circuit to an existing installation (for domestic installations see Part P).
Certelec can provide an independent inspection, test and certification of new installations including a first fix inspection to ensure the installation meets BS7671 and appropriate Building Regulations relevant to electrical work. Certelec also offer a specific service to assist clients in meeting their local Building Control requirements with regard to electrical 'notifiable' work.
Certelec’s BSi Kitemark licence is specifically defined to allow us to inspect, test and certify any electrical contractor’s work.
The test and inspections would include:
- Visual inspection
- Characteristics of supply at the origin of the installation
- Protective conductors continuity test
- Ring Circuit Continuity
- Insulation resistance test
- Polarity
- Earth electrode resistance
- Earth fault loop impedance test
- Operation of residual current devices
- Prospective fault current
- Site applied insulation and insulation of non conducting floors and walls
Periodic Inspection Reports - What is a periodic inspection?
The Electricity at Work Regulations state that all electrical systems and equipment used in the working environment should be in a safe condition.
The Health & Safety Executive recommend that to comply with the regulations an inspection and testing schedule must be implemented at all workplaces. Insurance companies are increasingly asking for evidence that the electrical installation at a commercial or industrial location is safe.
All installations deteriorate with use and age, also DIY additions made to a domestic installation in the past may not have been carried out to the correct code. Government statistics say that on average 10 people die and about 750 are seriously injured in accidents in the home involving unsafe electrical installations.
A Periodic Inspection is an inspection on the condition of an existing electrical installation, to identify (in order of priority) any deficiencies against the national safety standard (BS 7671) for electrical installations.
Not just a visual inspection but a full inspection and testing of the system
- Identifies if any electrical circuits or equipment are overloaded
- Detects any potential electrical shock risks
- Discovers any fire hazards in your electrical installation
- Finds any defective DIY electrical work
- Reveals any lack of protective earth /bonding
- Details the type of fixed wiring system and its condition
- Checks the suitability of the consumer unit
- Examines the equipment e.g. switches, socket-outlets and light fittings
- Tests any residual current devices
- Discovers any wear and tear, damage or other deterioration
The report identifies and classifies problems according to the I.E.E scale:
- Requires urgent attention
- Requires improvement
- Requires further investigation
- Does not comply with BS7671 (this does not necessarily imply that the installation is unsafe)
When is it needed?
The IEE recommends the maximum period between periodic inspection and testing is:
- Domestic - 10 years or change of occupancy
- Commercial - 5 years or change of occupancy
- Residential Accommodation - 5 years
- Buildings open to public - 3 – 5 years
- Industrial Buildings - 3 years
- Special locations eg. Swimming Pools - 1 year
Other instances when a periodic inspection should be carried out are:
- When a property is being prepared to be let
- Prior to selling a property or when buying a previously occupied property
All testing is carried out to BS7671:2008. Details of key changes are shown on this page.
The Health and Safety Executive leaflet Electrical Safety and You outlines basic measures to help you control the risks from your use of
electricity at work.