Posted By Dave Morris
We've recently been requested by our insurance company to ensure we have a certificate to prove our electrical installation (the sockets and wiring etc.) has been inspected by an NICEIC or ECA registered contractor. We are a small industrial premises with a refinery, workshops and office facilities. We have on-site time served electricians who are competent to inspect our installations but are not NICEIC accredited.

I believe NICEIC contractors are recommended under the Building Regulations for domestic 'dwellings' but not industrial premises for which I believe we must comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

Would my Colleagues agree?

Posted By Ken Taylor
You would, of course, need to persuade your insurers of the acceptability of your people.

Acceptable certification would probably be requested and, in any event, you will need evidence of the inspection/examination in case it is needed as evidence should something go seriously wrong at some stage.

One disadvantage in using your own employees for any form of certification is that it can become rather difficult to sue them if they don't do the job properly and someone incurs loss as a consequence.

Posted By Christopher Kelly
I think you could more than justify use of your own personnel, particularly if you demonstrate that they do earth, bonding, static inspections as well.

I used to work for an insurance company and we specified that inspections must be done by a time-served, qualified electrician. We liked it if people were NICEIC but we didn't make a fuss unless we had some doubt over competence or were worried about the management of the company influencing the electrician or setting other priorities.

Regards,
Chris