Electrical Inspection
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What is EICR Testing?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a necessary electrical test that thoroughly examines electrical wiring installation and systems. A qualified electrical engineer must undertake it because it’s mostly an inspection of what can’t be seen by the naked eye. Firstly, the electrician will need sufficient training to perform the EICR test procedure safely. Secondly, have the training and experience to identify any potential danger in the internal electrical wiring system.
Landlord EICR
EICR Electrical Testing is significant to business owners and landlords. This is because they are directly responsible for anyone on their property. It’s unclear what happens during the EICR tests, so it isn’t easy to know why it’s so important. This page is going to give a detailed description of the process. It provides information on the test and explains what the electrical engineer is explicitly looking for while completing the EICR test sheets.
The EICR Electrical Testing Procedure
The qualified engineer will be assessing the overall build quality, performance, and safety of an electrical installation. They will be looking out, especially for any deterioration or defects.
The first stage of the test is usually a visual assessment.
Equipment will be inspected to see if anything is clearly in need of repair or replacement. There might be breaks or cracks in the appliances. There may also be obvious signs of overheating, in which case the equipment will need replacing. In older properties, the distribution board may be a fuse cartridge, which would now be changed for an MCB board. This electrical upgrade offers far greater protection with RCD, and Earth leakage monitors that trip when a fault occurs.
Next, the qualified electrician will have to disconnect the electrical installation from the main power supply. Specific circuits will undergo dead testing to identify any wires that are inadequately connected. There will also be live electrical testing. These include a precautionary test to check that if there does happen to be a fault in the system, it will disconnect within the time limit. This test, in particular, highlights one of the most important reasons for EICR tests. It checks if components are in suitable condition to work as intended in the future.
The qualified electrician will also check whether the quality of the earthing and bonding is sufficient and whether the earth protection is sufficient. There will also be a further examination of the following equipment: switches, sockets, power outlets, light fittings, and any sockets installed in the property. The frequency of EICR testing varies with property type.
The EICR Report/EICR Certificate
Once the electrical testing has been completed, the approved contractor will provide the owner with an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), also known as an EICR certificate. The EICR is an important report that, from July 2020, is now a legal requirement and has become a standard requirement for landlords and business owners. It will contain organised and detailed feedback on the condition of your electrical installation and will either be classified as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. To see a typical outcome of an EICR test and the types of failures, click here to see an EICR test case study.
EICR Report
Legal Duties
In Scotland, it is the law for landlords to regularly undertake EICR tests on their property. This is because of the importance of guaranteeing the safety of their tenants from electrical accidents.
The government introduced legislative requirements on June 1, 2020, for landlords in the private rented sector in England. The government has proposed detailed regulations for enforcing mandatory five-year electrical safety checks in the private rental sector starting in July this year.
From July 1, 2020, all new specified tenancies require an electrical safety check to be in place.
From April 1, 2021, all existing specified tenancies require an electrical safety check to be in place.
When it comes to the condition of electrical equipment, it’s better to be safe and eliminate all risks. When performed by a qualified electrician, the EICR test is extensive and meticulously carried out. This will give you peace of mind about the safety of electrical wiring on your property.
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