Electrical wiring may not look like much but is important to the functioning of your house. When you flip on a light switch, electrical current travels through wires to your outlet, then to the light bulb, then back to the outlet again. If that circuit is broken, power will not be delivered to your home's outlets.
But that is only the tip of the iceberg. Because testing of your electrical installation may find other, more serious issues.
What is an electrical installation inspection
It’s a series of operations done by a certified electrician who inspects an electrical installation and all accessories (sockets, light switches, light fittings) using a multifunctional tester and his knowledge and experience to test the condition and performance of an electrical installation. The purpose of testing is to prevent the potential risk of fire, electric shock or death or serious injury due to electrical faults.Â
What are the main points to be checked in an inspection of an electrical installation?
During such inspection, an electrician will check if any of the electrical circuits or equipment are overheated or damaged. He will assess for any potential electric shock risks and fire hazards and will try to identify any faults within the installation as well as any lack of earthing or bonding.
How often should electrical installations be inspected?
The time between inspections varies depending on your circumstances. However, the main points to remember are:
- if you are a homeowner and living on your property, you should have an electrical inspection done every 10 years
- if you own a rented property, then an electrical inspection is due every 5 years
On top of that, bear in mind, that if you own a caravan, you should have it tested every 3 years.
And if you are one of those happy owners of a swimming pool, have it tested every year (water and electricity do not like each other !).
That was for periodic inspections.
However, you should order an inspection also in a situation when your house is being prepared for letting, before selling your property, or before buying a previously occupied property.
Is electrical testing a legal requirement?
Yes, it is a legal requirement if you are a landlord.
According to Government Regulations (which came into force on 1st June 2020), the law requires landlords to have electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested by a person who is qualified and competent, at an interval of at least 5 years. Landlords have to provide a copy of the electrical safety report to their tenants, and their local authority if requested.
If you live in a property that you own, then it is not a legal requirement to have your installation tested. However, we strongly advise you to do so. That’s the way you can be certain that your property is safe.
On some occasions, especially if your property is over 25 years old, the inspection will determine whether the house rewiring is necessary.
Who should carry out the inspection?
When hiring an electrician to inspect your electrical installation, make sure to check if they are qualified, registered and insured.
After an inspection, an electrician will issue you with the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), which assess the safety and compliance of all accessories and wiring in your property. The report will list any safety issues if present. And the report will be issued as satisfactory or unsatisfactory based on the findings of the inspection. If unsatisfactory, an electrician will provide a report with faults to rectify and a quote.Â
Therefore, you shall be responsible to perform immediate actions to remove the risks.
In conclusion, this electrical inspection and testing are necessary to ensure that you are protected and that your electrical installation is safe. We at Hal Systems can help you schedule your next inspection so that you can avoid regrettable problems afterwards.
Contact us for more details.