Electrical Testing & Repairs
Electrical Compliance, Installation & Maintenance for Public Sector Buildings
Fixed Installation Testing or Periodic Inspection and Testing, is a report on the electrical wiring of a property, outlining any defects it may have that could prove to be a safety hazard. Owners of buildings have a duty of care to users. The wiring of buildings is an area that is often taken for granted, yet it can be a major cause of fire or injury through electric shocks.
The legal requirements are enshrined in the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and states that:
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All systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, danger.
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All systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger;
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Every work activity…shall be carried out in such a manner as not to give rise, so far as is reasonably practicable, to danger;
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Any equipment provided under these Regulations for the purpose of protecting persons at work on or near electrical equipment shall be suitable for the use which it is provided.
Why carry out fixed installation testing?
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that to comply with the regulations, an inspection and testing programme should be undertaken at all places of work.
Periodic inspection and testing is necessary because all electrical installations deteriorate due to a number of factors such as damage, wear, tear, corrosion, excessive electrical loading, ageing and environmental influences.
The requirements for fixed installation testing are contained within the Institution of Electrical Engineers 18th Edition, Wiring Regulations (BS 7671). Depending upon the type of establishment, the frequency of inspection and testing will vary.
However, all electrical installations require testing to meet the requirements of the IEE Wiring Regulations.