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All
non-domestic electrical
installations should be subject to a
regular programme of testing and
inspection to comply with current
legislation. You must ensure that
all necessary precautions are being
taken to reduce the risk of injury
through electrical failure.
Periodic inspection and testing
should be considered if it is
required by a governing body or
particular directive (ie Licensing
authorities, insurance companies,
Landlords etc)
There are many good reasons for
adopting periodic testing. You may
need to inspect and test to comply
with the IEE Wiring Regulations 17th
Edition. Or if you have recently
acquired ownership or tenancy of
business/workplace premises you may
wish to ensure the installation is
safe. If you suspect there is a
fault or risk of failure, you must
take steps to inspect the affected
circuits urgently. |
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Fixed Wire
testing has become increasingly
popular due to the growing amount of
technology and equipment being used
in today's environment. Fixed wire
testing is the testing of the wiring
within the fabric of a building and
having a fixed wiring test completed
in your workplace/home is highly
recommended due to the Health and
Safety of employees and users of the
installation.
A Fixed wire test involves the
testing and inspection of each
individual circuit in an electrical
installation/system. The reason for
this is to determine the safety of
the installation and to reduce the
chances of electrical shock to
persons or livestock.
It is a mandatory requirement of the
“Electricity At Work Regulations
1989”. A series of tests is carried
out to each individual circuit,
sub-main and the equipment used in
the installation. The visual and
Infra Red inspection is important to
establish many things such as
exposed dangerous wires and
overheating of equipment/ circuits.
Tests should be carried out no less
that once every five years, with a
yearly visual or Infra Red
inspection. |
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Electrical
installations
Landlords should ensure that the
electrical installation (fixed
wiring, etc) is safe to use. The
Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
requires landlords to ensure the
electrical installation is safe when
the tenancy begins, and that it is
maintained in a safe condition
throughout that tenancy. One way of
ensuring safety is to undertake a
regular visual inspection of the
installation, looking for any
obvious signs of damage such as
damaged cables, socket-outlets
showing scorch marks, etc. In
addition, the Institution of
Electrical Engineers recommends that
electrical installations are
formally inspected and tested by a
competent person on change of
occupancy, and at least once every
ten years.
Formal inspection and testing should
only be undertaken by someone
competent to do such work, such as
an Approved Contractor. Formal
inspection and testing should be
more frequent where the risk is
found to be greater, for instance
where the installation is very old,
where damage is regularly found
during inspections, etc.
Electrical appliances
Official guidance issued by the
Department of Trade and Industry
strongly advises estate agents,
letting agents, landlords and anyone
else who lets furnished
accommodation to seek independent
advice as to who is responsible for
the safety electrical appliances
supplied in the course of business.
If landlords provide any electrical
appliances (cookers, kettles,
toasters, washing machines,
immersion heaters, etc) as part of
the tenancy, the Electrical
Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994
require them to ensure the
appliances are safe to use when
first supplied. Each time the
property is re-let, it will be
classed as supplying to that tenant
for the first time.
Landlords therefore needs to
maintain the electrical equipment
they supply, taking reasonably
practicable precautions to ensure
the appliances are safe. A
combination of visual inspection,
and formal inspection and testing by
a competent person such as an NICEIC
Approved Contractor, should help
achieve this. |
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Portable
appliance testing is vital to
protect your business and its
employees. Lecway aim to give the
best service and to fulfil our
obligations with regard to equipment
safety.
Electrical safety obligations are
not limited to businesses, of
course; landlords are also
responsible for ensuring the regular
testing of all appliances they
provide for their tenants. All
portable appliances with a mains
plug need testing, this includes: |