5 Yearly Fixed Wiring Testing The legal requirements are enshrined in the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and states that: All systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, as far as is reasonably practicable, danger. All systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger. Any equipment provided under these Regulations for the purpose of protecting persons at work on or near electrical equipment shall be suitable for the use which it is provided. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that to comply with the regulations, an inspection and testing programme should be undertaken at all places of work. The requirements for fixed installation testing are contained within the Institution of Electrical Engineers 17th Edition, Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2008).

A "condition report" or a "detailed electrical survey" isn't the same as a certificate of test and inspection in accordance with IEE Regs though!

One last comment/question, how competent is your IT chap with regard to the maintenance of low voltage fixed electrical installations, you could well have a 3 phase incoming supply, the fault current at the origin of your building will be in the region of 25kA. Also, if any maintenance has been done to the fixed building electrical installation, how do you know that this has been done competently? If accessories have been replaced, has the earth fault loop impedance at these replaced devices been verified? Have there been "any" changes to the installation since the original Electrical Installation Certificates were completed? What was the date to the first inspection on the original EIC's? If this has "expired" then you may find that the small print in your insurance policy allows them to get out of ANY claim. Oh and YES I do do this for a living!!! I'm about to set out on about my 12th EICR of the year tomorrow, without the EIC's, MWC's and other electrical works that I have done. Here is one now, who changes the failed fluorescent tubes in your office and how long after they fail? Most types of discharge lighting are a fire risk when they are fitted with a failed lamp, they can and do overheat. So do you "still" think that it is unnecessary?... I am open to further forum, PM or email discussions, or even by phone if you wish. You are located far enough away from me for it to be probably not financially viable for me to undertake the work for you, so there is no conflict of interest anyway.

Paul/ zimmy Just a quickie - as the 'old style' PIR's have been replaced by the EICR, does that mean that electricians should no longer be producing the resulting reports on the old style PIR documentation? If they are, are they still valid for insurance purposes?

Lots of info - thank you all again. I think I know where I'm at now: a) Get our building chaps to hunt up the original sign off (I don't know why they are not in H&S File?) b) Check dates etc. c) Check with our insurance company for their opinion d) If cert out of date or insurance company advises - get building blokes to reply to email. As my main job I do project development for environmental programmes, wish the forums available there were as comprehensive as this. Cheers

Paul said..."I suggest you ask your insurer, though it is doubtful they will understand the question." Very true.... Unfortunately insurers rarely have experts and we really do rely on you experts out there. Yep, we require inspection of fixed wiring - mainly for property protection since many fires arise from electrical faults. But consider the scenario - can we really possess all the expertise on electricity and the intricacies of which form is valid. Multiply that by all the other legal requirements - LOLER, CoSHH, PUWER, Noise Asbestos etc etc. People need to understand that whilst we do our best we are rarely expert in any field. In the main we are "generalists". There are odd examples where an insurer has someone who has a high level of knowledge and expertise - but that is the exception in my view. And lastly who really knows best? I would say it is someone who lives and breathes the subject every day. Someone who works in the field! Phil