Electrical Inspection and Testing
We at Quadrica Electrical and Fire Ltd, first and foremost, will liaise with you as to the purpose for the fixed installation testing and ascertain the extent of inspection and testing to be carried out. It is our aim to minimise disruption to your premises whilst at the same time provide a thorough and professional electrical testing service.
Fixed wiring installation testing is the inspection and testing of the permanent electrical systems or circuits within a premises. It is an electrical survey carried out to ascertain if there are any faults present within the fixed electrical installation and also to check that the electrical installation complies with current electrical legislation.
Quadrica Electrical and Fire Ltd carry out fixed installation testing to BS7671:2008 1st Amendment (17th Edition Wiring Regulations).
Our electrical engineers hold both City and Guilds 2381/2382 and 2391 electrical qualifications and are fully experienced in the inspection and testing of commercial, industrial and residential premises.
The routine inspection and testing of your fixed electrical installation, ensures compliance under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Consumer Protection Act 1987. Electrical installation testing is also a common requirement for business and public premises insurance.
Following a visual appraisal and verification of the entire electrical installation, test procedures are applied where appropriate, in order to ascertain the safety of electrical installation. Our test procedures are detailed below.
For safe electrical installation, we use testing procedures such as:
- Continuity
- to ascertain that the earthing is continuous throughout the circuit - Bonding conductors continuity
- to ensure bonding is in place and effective - Ring circuit continuity
- ascertains whether or not the ring is complete - Insulation resistance
- to test whether there has been any breakdown in insulation to the installation - Polarity - to check that the installation is correctly wired
- Earth fault loop impedance
- to ascertain the Zs of the installation - Earth electrode resistance
- applies to TT systems only, to test the earthing rods - RCD testing
- to check that Residual Current Device disconnects the supply in the event of a fault - Functional testing of isolators and breakers
- to ensure that they disconnect the supply
Guidance on your schedule of inspection & test results:
The engineer who carried out your testing will also talk through the results with you and explain if any remedial work is necessary in order to remedy an unsafe installation.
If the electrical installation has any faults, they will be listed under the section of observations and recommendations and will be given one of the following codes
- Code One: requires urgent attention
- Code Two: requires improvement
- Code Three: requires further investigation
- Code Four: does not comply with current BS7671 standards
Did you know that the IEE recommends the maximum time between period inspections is:
Commercial premises - max 5 years
Industrial premises - max 3 years
Hotels and Public Houses - max 5 years
Shops and Offices - max 5 years
Domestic - max 10 years or at change of occupancy
Residential - max 5 years or at change of occupancy
Launderettes - max 1 year
Community Centres/Village Halls - max 5 years
Churches - max 5 years
Educational premises - max 5 years
Places of public entertainment and theatres - max 3 years
Leisure complexes (excluding swimming pools) - max 3 years
Swimming Pools - max 1 year
Construction site/temporary installations - every 3 months
