What is a Periodic Electrical Inspection?
All electrical installations deteriorate with age and use. They should therefore be inspected and tested at regular intervals to check whether they are in a satisfactory condition for continued use. Such safety checks are commonly referred to as periodic inspection and testing, otherwise known as EICR.
What is an EICR?
An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is an inspection of the condition of an existing electrical installation in a domestic or commercial property and it tells you if there are any deficiencies against the national safety standard for electrical installations. During an EICR assessment, tests are also carried out on any wiring and associated fixed electrical equipment to check it is safe.
Freqently Asked Questions
An EICR is a formal document that is produced following an inspection of the electrical installation and it is carried out by one of our approved, qualified and experienced electricians.
An EICR identifies any potential risks to health & safety and will assess the condition of your electrical systems and evaluate how efficiently they are working, paying particular attention to any deterioration or defects, any issue with circuits or equipment that might overload or overheat the system. The assessment and tests are completed by one of our qualified electricians to make sure your electrical installation is working safely and correctly and to the standards of the National Safety Standard identifying any electrical circuits or equipment that are unsafe to use.
An EICR Report will list any electrical work that is needed and includes any electrical standards which have not been adhered to. It is vitally important that as a business owner or someone who is responsible for a business that you can demonstrate you have had an EICR report completed and taken action against any of the issues identified.
An EICR Report should be carried out every 5 years, however, higher risk environments will require 3 yearly or even more frequent testing. It should be noted that all stated periods are maximum intervals.
The EICR legal requirements in England and Wales are not legally required, however, they demonstrate that you are adhering to The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 which is the statutory legislation in place to regulate that employers ensure the safety of electrical devices and systems in the workplace.
A lot of insurers now are insisting that inspection and testing be carried out on a regular basis. If you suffer an avoidable accident and you are found guilty then by law you will have committed a criminal offence and insurers will not pay fines or compensation suffered as a result of a criminal offence.
Our electricians have experience of working in the constraints of 24-hour operations and most of their testing will normally include live tests which can be scheduled around specific working and production processes, for example; shift changes, weekends, holidays, process changes, and cleaning or maintenance breaks. Your electrical system can normally be switched off in stages to ensure you are never completely without lighting and power.
It is usually dependent on the terms of your lease if you or your landlord are responsible for paying for electrical testing to be carried out. If you are going to rent a property then this is always something that should be agreed and included in the tenancy document beforehand. If you are on a full repairing lease then the cost will fall to you. Always remember that you are responsible to make sure that you and your staff comply with Health & Safety legislation and The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
There are different recommended timelines for different types of properties and situations. Homeowners, for example, are expected to test their electrical infrastructure. This not only upholds the integrity and condition of your electrical systems but also means that you are in line with safety regulations as well. Committing to this regular timeline will reduce the risks of aged wiring or faulty circuits and any other potential hazards.
Rented properties require a more frequent testing timeline. Due to the nature of rented homes, the safeguarding of occupants, it is essential to uphold a safe and secure home. This is why electrical inspections are required every 5 years. This condensed timelines means that there is more chance of catching something wrong, identifying and fixing any potential problems before they become serious. Due to the wear and tear of the property being full of different occupants, it’s a responsible approach to electrical safety that guarantees the wellbeing of residents.
At first thought, your caravan’s electrics may not seem like a potential risk, however it’s important to stay up to date with the condition of your caravans electrical system. Caravans require inspection every three years. This shorter timeframe compared to the previous property types is due to the nature of caravans, mobility being towed or transported subjects the caravan to vibrations and other water, leading to a faster deterioration of electrical elements like writing or connections. Everyone uses their caravan differently, be it for leisure, travel or even a living arrangement – these scenarios will have different demands for the caravan, it’s why it’s better to remove any potential strain on its electrical systems.
New homeowners, regardless if it’s your first property purchase or your last, an electrical inspection should be at the top of your to-do list. Being proactive in this way will help you to understand your new home’s electrical infrastructure and familiarise yourself with the state of the property, you cannot know too much when it comes to your property’s electrical safety. It is a chance to identify any problems early on, giving you a chance to address or fix them before you have fully moved into the home and guarantee the safety of yourself and those who will be residing with you in the new living space.
Regardless of your specific situation or property type, it’s important to prioritise electrical safety, rather than ignore it. Regular inspections minimise the risk of hazards and ensures your home stays secure, safe and comfortable to live in for you and your loved ones.
Fixed write testing, also known as electrical Installation Condition Reporting (EICR), a systematic and in depth review of your electrical infrastructure, it requires vigorous testing of your building’s electrical system and other installations. This is carried out to assess the safety and durability of the property’s electrical systems in order to identify any hazards, faults or concerns. In fact this process is vital for the safety of those residing in the property, to comply with regulations and ensure the proper function of your electrical infrastructure.
During a fixed wire testing session, a qualified electrical engineer will examine all components of your electrical installations such as wires, switch boards, switches and sockets as well as any other fixed electrical equipment. Addressing any areas of concern regarding the condition of these elements, checking for compliance with the current electrical standard and review if any additional work needs to be carried out to guarantee the safety of the property.
This testing process involves visual inspection, circuit testing, functional testing and provides you with the correct documentation in the form of a EICR report to outline what was found in the inspection, it will list any defects, potential risks and provide recommendations to rectify.
About Total Electrical Engineering and Our Electrical Services
When you choose TEE as your Commercial Electricians we offer:
- The highest standards of quality.
- A reliable and professional service.
- Fully qualified, experienced and local commercial electricians.
- Trustworthy and reliable support staff.
- Competitive pricing.
- The highest standards of professionalism, workmanship and customer satisfaction.
- We provide emergency callout support 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.
Electrical Testing and Inspection Report
Our speciality is Electrical Testing and Inspection Report creation. We carry out a full Electrical Installation Condition Report or EICR for short at regular intervals to ensure that all standards required by law are kept up to date. At Total Electrical Engineering, our inspectors are fully qualified, with many years of experience in domestic and commercial environments and will check all your existing electrical wiring as well as appliances that are connected to the installation to ensure that it’s safe for use.
Not only are we at Total Electrical Engineering available for scheduled repairs but we also offer a 24/7, 365 day a year emergency call-out service for any electrical problem you may encounter so please keep our contact details to hand. Total Electrical Engineering is a family electrical business in Cardiff that covers the whole of South Wales either for domestic, commercial, retail and industrial work and have established a reputation over the years of being the premier electrical contracting company in the area and thanks to our fully qualified and helpful staff we offer you a great service at a great price.
Our EICR Documentation and Reports
For your electrical testing and inspection report, it’s important that this is carried out every 5 years, every 3 years in certain situations, by a qualified expert. The report is kept by the client to prove the safety and performance of your electrical network. As some insurers are now deciding not to pay out if you do not have an EICR it’s vital that you get in touch as soon as possible so that our friendly team can help.
Our EICR document will show you and the relevant authorities any faults that need addressing as well as every item that passes the stringent testing in the report. It’s imperative that as an employer you act upon any changes required immediately. The EICR will highlight and threats to the health and safety of employees and visitors to your premises as well as advising if your equipment does not meet the National Safety Standard.
If your business is a 24-hour operation then do not panic, at Total Electrical Engineering, our experts are used to working in environments where staff members are still in place and will work around your operation including shift changes, weekend work, holidays etc. The electrical testing and reporting can be carried out in stages to preserve your electricity supply at all times.