Electrical Inspections

Lecway Services Limited provide electrical testing and inspections to domestic and commercial customers in Norwich, Norfolk & Suffolk. We offer a complete service including the following:

Full Electrical Periodic Inspection and Testing

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.

Fixed Wire Testing

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.

Landlords Electrical Safety Inspection and Certificates

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.

P.A.T (Portable Appliance Testing)

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:

Computers, monitors and peripherals requiring mains power
Audio and telephone equipment requiring mains power
Kettles, microwave ovens and other kitchen appliances
Vacuum cleaners
Extension leads

Emergency Lighting Testing

Emergency lighting is required in all premises where people are employed. It is a life safety system and is required to assist the occupants in the event of an emergency. It will assist in the evacuation of a premises in the event of power failure.

It is a mandatory requirement to be installed where artificial lighting is installed. Lecway recommends a test procedure, the main points of which are shown below. 

Daily - Check indicator light and that all maintained luminaries are operating.
Monthly - An operational test for a short period (a maximum of one quarter or the rated duration).
Six-Monthly - Test for at least one hour for 3 hour rated systems.
Three Years - Test for full duration.
Subsequently - For self contained systems test yearly for the full duration.

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