All electrical installations will deteriorate with use and age. This means that they should be tested and inspected at regular intervals to ensure that they remain in a satisfactory condition to enable continued use.
These safety checks are often referred to as a “periodic inspection and testing” and once completed, you will be issued with an Electrical Installation and Condition Report or EICR.
There are a number of important reasons for a periodic inspection. It will reveal if there are electrical equipment or circuits that are overloaded, if there are any potential fire hazards or electric shock risks.
During the inspection, any defective electrical work will be identified, and any lack of bonding or earthing will be highlighted. Tests will also be performed on fixed electrical equipment and wiring to check that everything is safe.
A periodic inspection should be performed every ten years for owner occupied homes, every five years for rental homes, three years for caravans and annually for swimming pools.
Periodic inspections should also be carried out every time a property is being made ready for letting or if you’re selling or buying a previously occupied property.
Any periodic inspections and testing should only be carried out by an electrically competent person. A professional electrician will check the current condition of your electrics against the latest UK standards for the safety of electrical installations.
During the inspection, the electrician will check the adequacy of bonding and earthing, and examine the suitability of your switchgear and control gear.
For example, you may have an old fuse box that has cast iron switches, a wooden back or a mix of both that need to be replaced.
The electrician will also check the serviceability of sockets, light fittings, and switches.
These items may need to be updated or replaced, such as round light switches, black switches, skirting board mounted sockets, older round pin sockets or cables with a fabric coating that are hanging from your ceiling roses to your light fittings.
It is also important that the condition and type of your wiring system is checked.
For example, you may have cables that are coated in black rubber that were actually phased out during the 1960s. Older properties may have cables coated in fabric or lead that are even older and need to be upgraded to the longer lasting PVC used in modern cables.
Once the inspection has been completed, the competent person will issue the Electrical Installation Condition Report.
This will detail any observed deterioration, damage, dangerous conditions, defects or any non compliances with the current safety standards that could pose a threat.
If there is anything potentially dangerous or hazardous, the overall condition of your electrical installation will be declared “unsatisfactory.” This will mean remedial action will be required immediately to remove any of the risks that could harm the property occupants.
If you are in need of an EICR, you can rest assured that all our recommended electricians are equipped to help you.
They can not only perform the inspection necessary for the EICR but also conduct any necessary repairs to ensure that your property is free of hazardous electrics.
If you’d like to speak to our recommended electrician in your area, you can find them here.
I asked and I was given! Adam fitted security cameras and stunning lights for my garden, he also chased in new light fittings and electrical switches in our home. He will always be our electrician from now on! Top bloke and very confident with his trade. Thanks Keen Electrical, I will always recommend great tradesmen.
Chessington
Adam completed a full rewire of my property to a very high standard, he was very professional. Responded to enquiry quickly and was a fair price for his outstanding work he completed.
Epsom
Almost instant contact from the team and we got a date in the diary for a recce. Professional assessment and a competitive quote. Work not yet scheduled (by me) but I have every confidence it will be well executed.
Steve Bostock
Absolutely brilliant. Super service, good price exceptionally professional. Would highly recommend them and would not hesitate to use them again.
Mike Flanagan
This firm have done me an excellent job fitting a hob and oven, got the job done quickly and professional very friendly and trustworthy very quick to help from first phone call, would highly recommend.
Yvonne Gargett
Great work and reasonablÿ priced
Patricia
Just had Alan doing a job, repairing a cable. Louise, in the office, explained and organised everything so easily and let me know when Alan was on his way. Had to cut out the plaster, repair the cable, then replastered the wall. Everything working again. What a neat and tidy job and Alan was so helpful in explaining everything and what a friendly guy. It was a pleasure getting a professional job done so quickly and perfectly for such a reasonable cost. Highly recommend NGA Electrical Services and will definitely be giving them a call for future jobs.
Christine
Top class outfit, totally & highly recommend them, good reliable friendly service, fantastic customer service and support, and extremely fair reasonable pricing, first class workmenship.
Matt
Phoned for a quote was sorted in minutes, They sent steven out 2 days later who was brilliant and explained everything in detail,and supplied me with paperwork that I required for my charger within 24 hours Delighted.
Robert keenan
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