Testing and Inspecting

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Periodic Inspection Reports 

All properties should be periodically tested and inspected for electrical safety in accordance with wiring regulations BS 7671. The frequency of these inspections vary depending on usage or building type. Some examples are:
Monthly for building sites
Yearly for public houses, nursing homes etc.
2 yearly for commercial premises
10 yearly for domestic dwellings

Many Building Societies and mortgage lenders require or recommend such inspections and occasionally will enforce a retention of mortgage on a property pending the outcome of an electrical inspection report.  Landlords are required to hold such documentation and have portable appliances tested.

The nationally recognised format is the NICEIC Periodic Inspection and Test Report. This is a report of at least 6 pages and includes schedules of circuit details and test results. A list or recommendations is also included within the report of items that require attention. A Domestic version of this report is available containing the same relevant information over 3 pages. These reports should not be confused with Installation Certificates, which should always be issued by the installing contractor for all new work. It is not permissible to use a Periodic Inspection Report to certify new work.

Installation Certificates

For small jobs that do not require a new circuit from the fuse board, the contractor who completed the work should issue a ‘Minor Works’ certificate. This details the work completed by the contractor and records test results. All information is recorded on a single page.

Domestic installations that do require a new circuit, (Rewires, new installations, additional socket ring, Shower, Cooker lighting circuit etc) a 
Domestic Installation Certificate  must be issued. This is a 2 page certificate with test results and is a condensed version of the ‘Installation Certificate’.

Larger domestic installations  and all other commercial and industrial installations require an ‘Installation Certificate’.

NB. Only the contractor undertaking the installation work should, and must issue a certificate. Periodic inspection reports must not be issued in place of these certificates.

Lomax Electrical will issue all the appropriate documentation and certificates for all work carried out.

Part P Certificates

Part P of the Building regulations require that the local council be notified of any domestic electrical work undertaken. It is not necessary to notify some minor jobs, but virtually any work in a kitchen, room containing a bath or shower, outside or involving work to a consumer unit comes under this requirement.  This can be done in one of two ways:

1. The householder initially applies to the building control department of the local council with plans and an outline of the proposed electrical work. After filling out the application forms and paying the appropriate fee, the local authority or council will give permission for the work to commence.  The council may make arrangements to conduct an interim inspection at a specified point of the work in progress. Once the work is complete the householder contacts the council who will then test and re-inspect the work. If everything is compliant they will then issue Part P certification. 
2. The householder appoints a firm registered with an organisation such the NICEIC Domestic Installer Scheme and a Part P certificate will arrive in the post a few weeks later. Lomax Electrical make no additional charges for this certification.

Portable Appliance Testing

All portable appliances in commercial use are required to be regularly tested for electrical safety. See PAT testing

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Further Information