We do the same, it's more managable for both parties in my experience. The key (assuming not new build) is starting from 100% checked first time round, and then 20% per year thereafter. As long as you start with 100% checked no part of the fixed installation will be left untested for more than 5 years. If you last tested the fixed installation nearly 5 years ago clearly implementing the 20% per year policy would leave 80% of the installation untested for 6 years, 60% for 7 years, 40% for 8 years etc. etc. untill the cycle is complete. Hope this makes sense.

thanks for the help guys Martin

Let them know Tony I'm sure they would apprecate your imput. I have to say that I din't see you offering any suggestions though, but from what you have stated so vividly you must have something worthy to pass on to us all. From what I've seen in the happy land of inspection, testing and certification of electrical installations they come up on top when push comes to shove.

Nah Zimmy, they fall well short of one I&T'er I can think of! ;) ;) ;) (How do you do a tongue in cheek smiley?) ;)

Probably a max of 5% of my clients carry out 3-5 yr installation tests. Personally I'm happy if they can demonstrate on-going maintenance (which is actually all H&S legislation requires). Installation checks are expensive and so a rolling programme, to me, would be an acceptable solution.

And most H&S people don't have much of a clue about electrical work. I see the effect of on-going maintenance. If anyone would like pictures of this let me know or look at the mag 'Professional Electrician' As ever H&S it goes along the line of 'Do the minimum' By the way, I did anyone from here kick off about the Emma Shaw case? Let me know will you I'm working on a project to find out why the HSE and others white washed the thing.

I am more than aware of the 'bigger picture' thanks. Electrical safety checks are not an option. I'm not sure why people in H&S treat electrical safety as if it were way down the list of 'things to do'. Even changing a double socket outlet should be tested for polarity and Zs and by this I do not mean using one of the pointless plug-in toys from Martindale or B&Q. That particular 'tool' should only be used by people who know what the thing does NOT do that is a lot, same goes for the so called 'volt sticks'. You will find that most if not all 'maintenance' people use them (and then of course they are not, for the most part qualified just classed as 'competent' by some equally unqualified person in H&S. So for ongoing maintenance... you pays your money.

We have our checks carried out for 1/3rd of the system every 3 years thereby ensuring the system is tested every 3 years. This is the recommendation from the IET and, as fixed installations are not easy to visually inspect, we are happy to take this stance. However, money is a consideration. I know that Zimmy is seeing this from an electricians perspective and so that is taking precedence, but the generalist or the consultant will have to eke the funds out to cover a myriad of issues and some of these may be more urgent or more immediately dangerous. So while it would be nice to throw money at issues, in a real world situation one has to make sure that EVERYTHING is maintained in a safe manner first and foremost and then do those things that are "best practice" afterwards with whatever budget is left.

Yes, its both acceptable and common place, or a 1/4 over 4 or 1/3 over 3 or 1/2 over 2 or the whole lot in one go. It's what you can justify/afford along with the rest of your 1,2,3,4,5 year overall risk reduction/legal compliance/statutory inspection/nice to have/best practise OHS&E continual improvement strategy/plan. It's no more or less important than anything else with the potential to cause harm.

Jane, What I want to know is do the people in charge of the building pass on the test documents to the H&S consultants. If electrical circuits are modified they should be tested. If they are tested they should have documents to verify this. Such as a minor works for a small alliteration and installation certificates for new circuits. Without this paper work there can be no means to verity that the works has been a) carried out and b) tested and hence good maintenance has been carried out as per H&S requirements such as 'safe to use'. jwk, at least you get the reports and that is a big plus. You seem to have a good in-house team. What I'm trying to find out is does this happen to consultants who are 'running' a few companies of such as shops and other concerns. Do these consultants have these documents passed to then in order to verify that the people they look after have safe electrical systems. I'm not after state secrets or anything :-)