Details marked
in Red
are
important
A
Periodic Test & Inspection of a
property consists of, a visual inspection
of the electrical installation, and live
and dead testing of the installation by a
suitably qualified electrician. On
completion of the visual and testing of
the installation, a Periodic certificate
for the installation is given. This states
if there are any faults, and if the
installation is safe to use at the time of
the test. If electrical faults are found,
a price or quote for rectifying these
faults will also be received. It should be
remembered that all electrical
installations, should be tested &
inspected at regular recommended
intervals.
Periodic
testing & inspection does not have
to be completed by a part P approved
Company under part P of the building
regulations, and can be completed by
anyone qualified to complete a test &
inspection. SCN Electricals Limited
have obtained the 2391 testing &
inspecting City & Guilds Certificate,
and are qualified to complete periodic
test & inspections.
If
there are any faults found during a
periodic they are given codes 1,2,3 or 4,
if a code 1 or a code 2 is given it would
mean the installation is in an
unsatisfactory condition. Code 1 faults
require urgent attention, code 2 faults
require improvement, code 3 faults require
further investigation, code 4 faults means
that part does not comply to current
regulations. All installations that fail a
test & inspection and require remedial
work, should be given a retest after the
remedial work is completed.
Main
reasons for test & inspections
 |
BS
7671 states every electrical
installation should be periodically
tested & inspected
|
|
Electrical
installations deteriorate with use and
over time and can put users in danger
|
To
detect electrical faults which could
cause shock or burns to humans or
livestock
|
Check
if the installation is safe to use
|
Check
if there is protection against damage to
property by fire or heat arising
from a defect
|
Before
a new tenant moves in
|
Before
selling a property for a mortgage
application
|
Change
of use of the property
|
Additions
to the installation which could cause
overloading
|
Alterations
to the installation which could cause
harm or damage
|
Problems
reported about the installation such as
fuses blowing or tripping
|
If
there has been flooding or water damage
due to a leak
|
After
a fire or electrical fault to the whole
or part of the installation
|
If it
is reported there has been an electrical
shock received
|
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There
are many other types of installation requiring
a
periodic
test & inspections below are just a
few.
How
often should one be completed
|
Domestic
installations every 10 years or change
of tenant or owner
|
Commercial
installations every 5 years or change of
occupancy
|
Educational
installations every 5 years except for
fire & emergency lighting
|
Residential
accommodation every 5 years or change of
occupancy
|
Offices
every 5 years or change of occupancy
except for fire & emergency lighting
|
Caravans
every 3 years
|
| | | | |
What
happens during a test & inspection
|
Details
of the installation are noted as well as
the owners name and address
|
The
type of installation domestic,
commercial, Industrial
|
Type
of supply single phase or 3 phase
|
Number
of fuse boards or consumer units it has
|
Number
of circuits
|
Number
of fixed appliances, lights, plugs, etc
|
Type
of heating, cooking and water heating
appliances
|
What's
on each circuit and what should not be
|
Checking
for defects visually
|
Dead
testing of each circuit to obtain test
readings to check safety &
conformity
|
Live
testing of each circuit to check against
regulations and check safety &
conformity
|
Check
cables are installed correctly and in
safe manor
|
Check
correct cable sizes are used throughout
|
Check
main earthing conductor is present
|
Check
if any gas pipe is earth bonded and
installed correctly
|
Check
if main water pipe is earth bonded and
installed correctly
|
Check
fuse or MCB is of correct size
|
Check
if all metal light switches, light
fittings, and other metal accessories
are earthed
|
RCD's
are working correctly to the correct
tripping value
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
These
are just a few of many things we do during
a
periodic test & inspection of an
installation
How
long will it take
How
long a periodic test & inspection takes
depends on many factors, but most normal 3
bedroom terrace houses, take between 2 & 4
hours to complete. The regulations state all
electricians must complete a minimum of 10%
checks of an installation, but it is down to
the owner and the contractor how far the
testing is permitted. The contractor and the
owner decide how far checks are made and for
what price, normally electricians do not lift
floorboards or carpets.
A
limited amount of dismantling is done to
complete visual inspections & testing,
again this is discussed with the owner to
decide how far a test & inspection should
go. If faults are found within an
installation, we are required to go further
than 10% or let the owner know more testing
& inspecting is required.
The
time stated above to test & inspect a 3
bedroom property, is an approximate time most
electricians would take. If you employ an
electrician to conduct a test in a property,
and it takes less than 2 hours, it is not
being done properly. Even the smallest of
properties will take about 2 hours to
complete, so if it has been done quicker, we
would question the integrity of the report and
the person carrying it out.
The
NICEIC have been around for many years, and on
the whole are a very good organization.
Electricians come in all shapes and sizes, but
the main thing is, some are better than
others. All Napit members are vetted and
tested for competency on their work, where as
only the person who is in charge of
certification and testing within a company
with the NICEIC. All organizations have a good
and bad element, but it does take time to find
the bad ones out.
What
determines the time and price of a PIR
|
The size of the
property overall, you can have a 3 bed
semi or a 3 bed mansion
|
The amount of
switches, plugs, light fittings etc
within the property the more
testing
|
How many floors it
has, the property could be on many
levels
|
How many fuse
boards or consumer units the
installation has the more testing needed
|
How many circuits it
has, the more circuits it has the more
testing required
|
If it has an RCD this
will need testing, and all RCD circuits
will require testing
|
If not able to test
all areas or no electricity a retest
will be required, additional cost
|
Number of rooms in
property, least amount of rooms
means less testing
|
Heating type if
storage heaters, there will be 2
consumer units and more testing needed
|
If occupied or
vacant, if vacant it will be cheaper as
it will be done quicker
|
If old certificates
available this can help make a test
quicker and so cheaper
|
| | | | | | | | | |
In
2005 I asked the NICEIC two questions, how
long will it take to complete a periodic test
& inspection of a 3 bedroom terrace house
on two levels. The answer I received was a
minimum of 4 hours approximately. I also asked
how much would it cost to complete one, the
answer I received was this. In Peterborough
approximately £75 to £135 and £170 or more
in London, of course this will vary with
different Companies or tradesmen. The prices will
of changed with some Companies as this was
over 4 years ago, and regulations have
changed.
Many
Companies or tradesmen quote a very low price
for periodics, just so they can get a foot in the
door and also get the remedial work
afterwards. Then they will more than likely
charge higher rates to complete any work
required, knowing that almost every property
will require remedial work.
Some
Companies that employ apprentices and
electricians or sub-contractors to do
periodics, can afford to go in with a low
price. This is because the cost of a periodic
less the labour price, would still mean the
Company would make money. The question you
should always ask is, who is doing the
testing and are they qualified to
conduct a periodic test & inspection. Ask
to see proof of there qualifications if in
doubt.
Important
Information Required For The Test
Before
calling for a periodic to be completed please
obtain the information below, which we will
need for the certificate, and could save you
additional costs and problems later.
|
Name
and address of the owner this is
information for the certificate
|
Contact
phone number again for the certificate
|
The
electricity suppliers details such as
EDF or southern electric, for
certificate
|
Where
the fuse board or consumer unit is, and
how many incase not visible
|
Is
there parking close to the property and
if a parking permit required
|
Type
and size of property, how many levels,
if out buildings
|
What
type of heating it has, central heating
or storage heaters
|
How
many fuses or MCB's ( determines how
many circuits )
|
Is
there any old information or
certificates for the installation,
please make available
|
Is it
an occupied or vacant property and if
any animals in the property
|
Is
there a credit electricity meter for the
installation or is it a quarterly meter
|
State
the reason for the test & inspection
required for the certificate
|
Is
there any reason why the power can not
be turned off for an hour or so
|
Is
there tropical fish or other reason for
being careful about how long power is
off
|
Is
there any specific time the power has to
be turned on by
|
When
is the best time to complete a test
& inspection AM or PM
|
Is
there any other special requirements for
the property or its inhabitants
|
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Please
make all switches & points accessible
in
all areas, this
will save time & costs
Many
of the answers to these questions are
information for the certificate, some are to
help us conduct the test safely for us and
anyone present, but some are to help us price
the test & inspection fairly.
Also
Important For The Test
Please
make available all keys to obtain entry to all
areas for the test & inspection, and make
any parking permits available for the date of
test. Please make sure any electrical credit
meters have credit on them, as you will be
charged if we have to return due not being
able to conduct a full test if no power
available.
You
can pay in advance to book a test &
inspection before the date of the test, but we
do not give out full certificates until full
payment received in cleared funds or cash. If
paying by cheque or after the test date, you
only not receive the certificate until
clearance of full payment. This is due to some
past clients obtaining certificates, without
paying the test fee required. .
What
happens after a test & inspection
After
a periodic you will receive a periodic
inspection report certificate, this is only a
report not an installation pass certificate
unless it states there are no faults. If there
was faults found you will also receive a price
from us to complete the electrical work (
remedials ), and you will need to have a
retest to obtain a periodic pass certificate
from us. Once you have the pass certificate
you will need to have the installation
retested, at the interval noted as the next
test & inspection date, which will also be
stated on the fuse box or consumer unit.
Your
safety is at risk if you do not have your
property tested & inspected at regular
intervals more details on request
