Our daily activities now would not be the same without electrical equipment. We use them in our homes and offices to make work easier and run our businesses more efficiently.
However, we cannot disregard the potential threat to our safety and that of our property in the event that something goes wrong. To reduce danger in the workplace and maintain continuing safety, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is advised for all commercial and industrial facilities.
However, we are aware that there may be misunderstandings regarding what your report means, what it includes, and how frequently it should occur.
Why electrical testing and inspection is so important?
The following are a few reasons why this kind of electrical testing and inspection is very much necessary.
- It will encourage improvement in product design
- It will reduce any risk of injuries or damage during use
- Ensures you are fully compliant with legal requirements
- Results in improved credentials of test results
- It will provide you with a higher degree of confidence.
How can you get an electrical inspection?
These services are provided by numerous electricians and electrical businesses. It is possible that this service is already provided by your present electrical company.
However, because an EICR is a safety check, we suggest you must get this done by a specialised independent electrical inspection business.
This is because it might not be in the existing incumbents’ best interests to bring up any problems, errors, or flaws resulting from their own efforts.
What tests are done?
A qualified and competent electrical test engineer will do the following:
- Discuss the extent and limitation of testing before starting
- Walk through the entire installation with staff and identify areas of interest
- Perform visual inspection of the installation
- Test any circuits available
- Highlight all faulty electrical installations
- Check for any outdated installations
- Any immediate dangers will be identified and fixed as a priority
What is an EICR?
Your inspection should be performed by a qualified electrician to ensure that your workplace and employees are as safe as possible by detecting potential hazards and reducing risk of harm or property damage.
The frequency between inspections is subject to the engineers’ discretion, however the engineer will perform Fixed Wiring Testing, Periodic Inspection, or Electrical Safety Certificate all these are other names for an EICR.
It provides a precise picture of the state of your electrical systems at the time of inspection.
How often your business must undertake an electrical inspection?
It is crucial that you renew your EICR for your commercial/industrial premises according to the interval specified on your prior report in order to remain in compliance with UK law and regulation.
For your reference, some of the normal intervals between inspections are listed below:
- Domestic premises (owned): 10 Years
- Rented domestic premises: 5 Years or after change of tenancy
- Commercial premises: 5 Years
- Industrial premises: 3 Years
Since you use appliances virtually every day, you must be aware that electrical safety is one of the most crucial needs. We sincerely hope that this essay has helped you better understand the value of electrical testing.
