Posted By ClaireL
Just a quickie to make sure I'm right (or wrong!)

I'm thinking guidance on frequency of electrical installation checks for hotels is yearly. Is that right?

Posted By ClaireL
Yes. Fixed wire. Commonly referred to as the electrical installation.

Posted By John D Crosby
Hi Claire
If the hotel has an Entertainments Licence e.g. for music and dancing, that licence usually requires an annual inspection and testing to prove the system is safe. This testing must be carried out by a competent organisation and a certificate issued.
Take care
John C

Posted By John D Crosby
Hi Ron
The annual inspection was always a requirement for premises with certain licences, in particular an Entertainments Licence. The requirement was set by Local Authorities who deemed that it was necessary to ensure safety in such premises. It was not so easily challenged as the LA would just refuse to renew the license whilst the challenge was being made which effectively meant that it was cheaper to comply. The rules do vary from one LA to another but this one seemed to be common to all. No-one ever convinced me of the need for annual testing.
John C

Posted By CFT
Claire

The IEE Wiring Regulations are non-statutory, and are a code of practice widely recognised and accepted throughout the UK,compliance with the IEE is 'likely' to achieve compliance with relevant aspects of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 which as you know say you will but not how often.

IEE guidance note 3 'suggests' 3 yearly for Hotels; this however should not be seen as definitive on the subject of a Hotel, as there is bound to be some Hotels with stages, lighting etc which should be classed as a more frequent requirement.

You won't find anywhere where it says 'you must inspect/test etc your fixed wiring installation annually/12 monthly' and so on, apart from perhaps just one place!

The terms of your insurance policy from the under writers; it is likely but not definite that you will be required to test/inspect annually, in which case you don't have a lot of choice other than to do it.

My own thoughts on your question, and related to anyone else thinking about this type of inspection, is to break it down into 20% sections and cover the entire premises over a 5 year period; this is a common practice throughout industry and does 'slightly' off-set the cost to annually rather than a large 5 yearly; personally I prefer the annual system and have this in place throughout the plethora of commercial premises I look after (no Hotels though)

Places of Public Entertainment may be of interest to you as part of the Hotel may be just that, and will then be considered annually for that part; as with 'most' descriptive requirements, the final decision comes down to the person/s responsible for achieving compliance either to legislative or best practice means.

The answer therefore (as far as guidance goes) is yes and no;-)

CFT

Posted By CFT
Hi Paul

Don't worry, your not being pedantic; I should have said 'places of public entertainment' per se, and not given the impression I was making reference to anything other than just that.

CFT

Posted By CFT
Claire

3 yearly.

CFT

Posted By Paul Leadbetter
CFT

Is the three-yearly interval from guidance note 3 to BS7671? My copy states five yearly (hence my response).

Paul

Posted By ClaireL
aaggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

Posted By ClaireL
I am only a consultant to the hotel. They don't believe they have ever had their electrics checked and so the insurers don't really appear to be on the ball on that one!!

Most of the premises I deal with are factories where 5 year checks are the norm. I seemed to remember that Hotels required more frequent checks.

In this case it would appear many people are equally unsure.

Oh well. I have said 5 yearly now. Fingers crossed.