I'm a safety advisor for a small company who are due a building fixed wiring check, I've covered PAT testing but not a building fixed wiring check before. I wondered if anyone has a pre commencement checklist of things to do? I've checked the contractors credentials, communicated with I.T. and relevant department heads but still feel I've missed something. Would anyone be able to offer any suggestions to help settle that nagging itch! Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Badger

Hi Barrie Access to distribution boards (moving the junk out of them) Notify the fire service if the building is alarmed Notify any intruder alarm company involved Plan for any out of hours work rather than have a load of limitation on the report (as Paul notes) Can people be moved from any places that testing is being carried out? Lighting points above desks etc. Stair ways may need to be closed for a short time for inspections/tests of lighting points. Talk to the contractor and find out what he/she needs access to.

Barrie, Unfortunately it's not that simple! It never is with electricity as it is so able to kill. You are saying 100%, of what and to do what, visual or testing? What percentage of the "socket end" are they going to sample, and will that be an inspection sample or a testing sample? I don't agree with a testing sample TBH, as if you sample test, then you cannot correctly complete the forms to comply with BS7671. You can sample inspect, but, IF you find issues, then BS7671 guides you to increasing the sample, and if you find further issues to increase the sample again, then, again if there are more issues. Are there any records for the installation? If not then they should not even start I&T until they have adequate records. Next, I have never thought about what I would want, because it is not normally a condition I can negotiate. However, as Flashman says, those points are valid. Basically anything you can do do make the Inspectors life easier and quicker should make it cheaper and more comprehensive for you. In my experience the insurance companies are getting more "savvy", and so they should be, but, this is not stopping the "drive by" or "made up" results inspections from still happening, it is just that they have to make up more results.

20 fittings ... Yes I know = 2 fittings. It should have read 10 fittings!!! It is early ;-)

In addition to all of the above. I was in the process of trying to sort out one for a hospital (a real major job). I am not sure the size of the building you are having surveyed, but all I can suggest is that the better the planning the "easier" it will be. This includes consultation/communication with employees. One thing that may help would be thermographic surveys of DBs. Whilst this does not form compliance to regs it does help you plan your fixed wiring installation. It can be used to spot issues almost immediately and rectify problems and hopefully avoid the C1/C2 issues. You can then have the full survey carried out knowing that the final report will have any C1 or C2 finding already addressed.

Well, glad you put the disclaimer in there Barrie, as there are a lot of factual errors on that site!

One other comment Barrie, once they have the EICR completed, and the remedial works done, then they should be pedantic about getting EIC's or MWC's for any further electrical works that they have undertaken, and keep records of any maintenance done which does not attract the requirement for certification under BS7671. Finally, I would warn them to check the conditions of their business insurance, is it this that is instigating the EICR? If so, the terms may well require that any C1 defects are remedied immediately, C2's within say a month, and it may even go as far as to require C3's to be rectified. If they fall foul of that, bearing in mind that there will be a formal indelible record in the way of the EICR, then they will be possibly uninsured, or have claims refused. I know of one case where an insurance claim was refused because it was a term of the policy that the company undertook PAT in accordance with the HSE guidance & IET CoP. They didn't, the claim was nothing to do with portable appliances, but, the company was in breach of the terms, thus claim refused.

A walk around by a competent electrical inspector armed with previous test reports should identify any problem areas that mat take priority during the inspection prior and testing. If 'sampling' is to take place he/she may suggest particular distribution boards. Within these boards and number of circuits may be identified as 'sample' circuits. If these circuits have signs of degradation since the last report then the circuit sample size should be increased to the point where a full scale inspection and test is recommended. However, the accessory sample of each circuit inspected and tested should be a minimum of 10%. Some people have a so-called 'rolling program' where a number od circuits are tested each year until all circuits have bee tested. On large inspections/tests such as hospitals, Marinas and comprehensive schools the I would (if I had to make a choice) test the power boards as a priority. I would, as others have said, aske the insurance people first. I would however listen (and if needed ask questions) to the advice of the people you propose to engage for the inspection. If all else fails, you could always send me a PM if you have any doubts and I will do my best to guide you. Free of charge as it happens.