Keeping Your Business Compliant: Electrical Inspections and Testing Explained

Keeping Your Business Compliant: Electrical Inspections and Testing Explained

Monday 24 June

As a business, your electrical equipment is a crucial part of day-to-day operations. While it can be easy to dismiss inspections, if everything appears to be working smoothly, this is not the best idea!

Regular electrical inspections and testing keep your business compliant with regulations and ensure your facility and staff are safe. Aside from this, they also identify inefficiencies which can be rectified to improve your infrastructure to meet profit and sustainability goals.

Although you can recognise the importance of inspections, it can be hard to understand the ins and outs of inspections and the best practices for your business. Here are a few frequently asked questions which can help break this down:

What does an electrical inspection involve?

The 2 common types of electrical inspections are initial inspections and periodic inspections. An initial inspection assesses the status of new electrical installations while periodic inspections are carried out to monitor existing equipment. 

There are 3 grades of inspection:

Visual: Used to identify defects which can be seen visually without the need for additional tools or downtime. Broken or cracked switches, improper labelling and discolouration from overheating are all simple visual cues which can indicate defects.

Close: This grade is similar to visual however it covers faults which involve further inspection such as the additional use of instruments or the removal of covers and panels to assess the internal condition of the equipment.

Detailed: A comprehensive evaluation of the installation which may involve the dismantling of parts, advanced testing or viewing the equipment in use.

These levels of inspection are adapted to your equipment and operations. They will be used accordingly to provide an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) which reports the findings of the inspection and details any remedial work required.

Are inspections and testing a legal requirement?

While the law doesn’t state that electrical inspections specifically are a requirement, The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 state that duty holders must maintain systems to prevent danger. 

Electrical inspections and testing carried out by a credible electrical contractor can help businesses fulfil this requirement and serve as evidence that actions have been taken to avoid harm to employees and the public.

How often should inspections and testing be done?

It’s recommended that inspections and testing should be carried out every 5 years for commercial and industrial businesses. For companies with hazardous areas, this should be shortened to every 3 years due to the increased risk of fire and explosion present. 

Who can conduct inspections and testing?

An electrical inspection must be carried out by a qualified and competent registered electrician. They must possess legitimate qualifications, have plenty of experience in electrics and have the skills and knowledge to carry out an inspection. By choosing a good electrical contractor you can gain peace of mind and they can advise you on any further work required.

This is where we come in!

At SR Electrical Services, we can help you improve safety by carrying out an electrical inspection tailored to your business and the industry you operate in. 

We have over 20 years of experience helping businesses across many sectors, especially those with hazardous areas. With our variety of both hazardous area electrical services and safe area electrical services, we are fully equipped to get your facility compliant and safe. 

If you would like any advice on the above points or are unsure where to get started, get in touch with our team and we would be happy to help!