All electrical installations should be inspected and tested regularly to confirm their condition for continued use. Faulty and old wiring is one of the main causes for electrical fires.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, which cover electrical safety testing, place responsibility on the employer to protect the health and safety of employees and visitors to the workplace. This is legally enforced by the HSE (Health & Safety Executive). Obtaining an EICR (Electrical Inspection Condition report) is the best way for employers to demonstrate compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 as well as the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.
At Forest Electrical Services Ltd our engineers are qualified to meet the UK standard for the safety of electrical installations, IET Wiring Regulations (currently BS7671:2018) for the testing and inspection of domestic, commercial and industrial premises.
Commonly referred to as periodic inspection and testing, on completion you will be issued an Electrical Inspection Condition report (EICR). The report is a formal method of recording the findings of the safety inspection and may be requested by your insurance company.
How often should a periodic inspection required?
(Table extracted from IET Wiring Regulations (currently BS7671:2018)
| Type of Installation | Routine check | Maximum period between inspections and testing as necessary |
| General Installation | ||
| Domestic accommodation – general Domestic accmomdation – rented houses and flats | – 1 year | change of occupancy/10 years change of occupancy/5 years |
| Residential accommodation (Houses of Multiple Occupation) – halls of residence, nurses accommodation, etc. | 1 year | change of occupancy/5 years |
| Educational establishments | 6 months | 5 years |
| Industrial | 1 year | 3 years |
| Commercial | 1 year | Change of occupancy/5 years |
| Offices | 1 year | 5 years |
| Shops | 1 year | 5 years |
| Laboratories | 1 year | 5 years |
| Hospitals and Clinics | ||
| Hospitals and medical clinics – general areas Hospitals and medical clinics – medical locations | 1 year 6 months | 5 years 1 year |
| Buildings open to the public | ||
| Cinemas | 1 year | 1-3 years |
| Church installations | 1 year | 5 years |
| Leisure complexes (excluding swimming pools) | 1 year | 3 years |
| Places of public entertainment | 1 year | 3 years |
| Restaurants and hotels | 1 year | 5 years |
| Theatres | 1 year | 3 years |
| Public houses | 1 year | 5 years |
| Village halls/Community centres | 1 year | 5 years |
| Special and specific installations (for medical locations see above) | ||
| Agricultural and horticultural | 1 year | 3 years |
| Swimming pools | 4 months | 1 year |
| Caravans Caravan parks | 1 year 6 months | 3 years 1 year |
| Highway power supplies | as convenient | 6-8 years |
| Marinas | 4 months | 1 year |
| Fish farms | 4 months | 1 year |
| Emergency lighting | daily/monthly | 3 years |
| Fire alarms | daily/weekly | 1 year |
| Launderettes | monthly | 1 year |
| Petrol filling stations | 1 year | 1 year |
| Construction site installations | 3 months | 3 months |
Checks included in the inspection
The inspection will check compliance against the safety standards including checks on:
- Earthing and bonding adequacy
- Suitability of switchgear and controlgear installed
- Switches, sockets and light fittings installed
- General wiring installation – type & condition
- Appropriate RCD protection
- Adequate signage & identification
- Extent of wear and tear, damage or deterioration
- Any change of use that may overload the circuits
- Any potential risk of electric shock or fire hazard
On completion of your inspection an Electrical Inspection Condition Report will be produced (either in paper or digital form). If any non-conformities are detected, the report will be deemed as “unsatisfactory”, requiring remedial action to address the non-conformities and remove the risks identified during the inspection.
Contact us to discuss your requirements, seek advice or obtain a quote for an inspection or remedial works.