All electrical appliances and installations deteriorate over time, so it’s wise to have them inspected to ensure that they are safe to avoid potentially fatal incidents. These checks are known as ‘periodic inspection and testing’.
An inspection will:
- Show if any of your electrical circuits or equipment are overloaded
- Look for potential fire hazards
- Look for potential electric shocks
- Identify faulty electrical work
- Point out lack of earthing or bonding
- Test wiring and fixed electrical equipment
How often you should have a periodic inspection varies depending on the property:
- 10 years for an owner-occupied home.
- 5 years for a rented home.
- 3 years for a caravan
Landlords should carry our an inspection every time new tenants are move in. They should also be carried out if you are selling or buying a property.
Who should carry out the periodic inspection?
Periodic inspection and testing should be carried out by a registered electrician. They will check against the UK standard for the safety of electrical installations, BS 7671 - Requirements for Electrical Installations (IEE Wiring Regulations).
When your inspection is complete, you will be issued with an Electrical Installation Condition Report, which will detail and observe any damage, defects, dangerous conditions, deterioration and any non-compliances with present day safety standard.
If anything is deemed dangerous the installation will be declared ‘unsatisfactory’, which means immediate action needs to be taken to remove any risks.
For more advice on electrical safety visit The Electrical Safety Council
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