Periodic Inspection and Testing
General Reasons For A Periodic Inspection And Test
1. To Ensure the safety of persons and Livestock.
2. To Ensure protection of property from fire and heat.
3. To Ensure that the installation is not damaged so as to impair safety.
4. To Ensure that the installation is not defective and complies with the current regulations.
General Areas of Investigation
Safety, Ageing, Damage, Corrosion, Overloading, Wear and Tear, External Influences and Suitability.
Documentation To Be Completed
Periodic Inspection Report (PIR), A schedule of test results and a schedule of inspections.
Sequence Of Tests
There is no required sequence. However, that for an initial verification is preferred if possible.
Periodic inspection and testing could be such a simple and straightforward process. Nevertheless it usually tends to be complicated and frustrating.
On the domestic scene, I doubt if any house owner actually decides to have a regular inspection, the comment being, "If it works it must be ok". It is usually only when there is a change of ownership that mortgage companies insist on an electrical survey. The worst cases are, however, industry and commerce.
Periodic inspections are often requested by clients, reluctantly, to satisfy insurers or an impending visit by the HSE. Even then it is usually the case that "You cant turn that off" or "why cant you just test this bit and then issue a certificate for the whole lot".
Under the rare circumstances that an inspection and test is genuinely requested due to responsible concerns for the safety of staff etc., it is difficult to convince the client that, as there are no drawings, or information about the installation, and that no switchgear is labelled, etc., you are going to be on site for a considerable time and at a considerable cost.
When there are no drawings oritems of information, especially on a large installation, there may be a degree of exploratory work to be carried out in order to ensure safety whilst inspecting and testing.
However, let us assume (in our wildest dreams) that, as with an initial verification, the the original installation was erected in accordance with the wiring regulations, and any alterations and/or additions have been faithfully recorded and all the original documentation/diagrams/charts, etc., are readily available!
Aperiodic inspection and test should be relatively easy under these circumstances, as little dismantling of the installation will be necessary, and the bulk of the work will be inspection.
Inspection should be carried out with the supply disconnected as it may be necessary to gain access to wiring in enclosures, etc.and hence with large installations it will probably need considerable liaison with the client to arrange convenient times for interruption of supplies to various parts of the installation.
In General an Inspection Should Reveal
1. Any aspects of the installation that may impair the safety of persons and livestock against the effects of electric shock and burns.
2. That there are no installation defects that could give rise to heat and fire and hence damage property.
3. That the installation is not damaged or deteriorated so as to impair safety.
4. That any defects or non-compliance with the regulations, which may give rise to danger, are identified.
Tests Carried Out
1. Continuity of Final Circuits.
2. Isulation Resistance.
3. Earth Fault Loop Impedance.
4. Prospective Fault Current.
5. RCD Test.
6. Polarity
7. Earth Continuity.
Landlords require testing and inspection to be carried out on rental properties to ensure the safety of the tenant and to make sure the property is in a safe condition. The property should be inspected between change of tenancy to ensure no damage to the installation has happened by the previous tenant.
We have a fixed rate for landlords and a discount for having a Portable Appliance Test done at the same time as a Periodic Inspection and Test or Inspection. Prices are highly competitive so call for a price over the phone.