OK we have now had all our electrical appliances inspected & tested. There could still be a danger. What danger? How do   we know the electrical installation is safe?

The simple answer is we don't.

We must also maintain the fixed wiring of the electrical installation to the British Standard of BS 7671. Failure to do this could result in property damage due to fires & death due to electrocution.

To comply with the law & to reassure ourselves our electrical installation is safe, we must at regular intervals have the electrical installation inspected & tested. BS 7671 calls for Periodic Inspection & Testing of all electrical installations.

Periodic Inspection & Testing is necessary because all electrical installations deteriorate due to wear & tear, damage, corrosion, overloading, misuse or simply the installation may not have been carried out correctly.

Insurance Companies, Mortgage Lenders & Licensing Authorities can insist on a Periodic Inspection & Testing certificate at any time. Additionally immediately before a building is let a periodic inspection & test should be carried out.


  The maximum frequency of Periodic Inspection & Testing is laid down in BS 7671. Some examples are noted below :-

  Domestic
  Commercial (offices,shops etc)
  Industrial (factories, workshops etc)
  Restaurants & Hotels
  Places of Public Entertainment
  Launderettes
  Emergency Lighting 		10 Years
5 Years
3 Years
1 Year
1 Year
1 Year
3 Years

  Once the Periodic Inspection & Testing is completed, a report on the condition of the installation together with any test   results will be forwarded to the client.