You have to carry out a 5 year certificated inspection of Fixed Electrical Installations i.e the wiring, distribution (fuse) boards, lighting etc. There are many other types of electrical testing that has to be carried out more frequently, emergency lighting for example and not forgetting portable appliances. Look up The 17th Edition of the Wiring Regulations BS 7671:2008 for guidance.

Guys thanks for your replies, very helpful. However just so that i am sure, (as i have been asked specifically) do the regs state that it is up to judgement i.e. risk assessment or does it give a definitive max period of 5 years??or indeed any other difinitive period. Got to bear in mind, the purse string holders don't want to be shelling out money if it does not specifically say a period ie. 5 years Thanks

Cooper Pete is indeed correct. 5 years is the interval as stated in the 17th ed, but not per se. The 'law' or legislation is not quite so specific and would offer this: All equipment must be in a safe condition and fit for use. See Regulation 4 (2) of the Electricity At Work Regulations 1989. Taking Pete's response on a bit further, and he is indeed correct as was the risk assessment response earlier. Frequencies will vary and the following from said 17th ed may help: - Commercial Installations - 5 years. - Industrial Installations - 3 years. - Buildings open to the public - 1 year. - External Installations - 3 years. - Caravan Parks - 1 year. - Fire Alarms - 1 year. - Short Term Installations - 3 months. - Site Installations - 3 months. Of course when you say about regs etc there is of course HSWA, EaW regs, Management regs, etc but when all is said and done as far as your question goes, see where you fit into the above list and make a judgement based on that. BS 7671 will give further information.

BS7671:2008 is not statutory legislation. It is welcomed & endorsed by HSE however. There is NO STATUTORY requirement to undertake a periodic inspection report (PIR) of an electrical installation to BS7671. The stat bits are EAWR & PUWER etc. BS7671 is merely guidance. The times specified are open to free modification by: 1. The designer of the installation, and the inspector/tester of the original install during initial verification. The initial period before the first recommended PIR will be on your electrical installation certificates (EIC) for the installation. I did one recently for an industrial install where I put down 1 year to the 1st inspection due to the nature of the premises use/abuse etc. 2 The person undertaking any subsequent periodic inspection. The recommended period to the next PIR will be on any subsequent PIR forms. The guidance goes on to say that if the installation is supervised and controlled by competent persons then the need for inspection & testing can be waived. There is actually a definition of a competent person in BS7671. The scope of a PIR is a very mute point, they range from the “drive by” to the correct. They should encompass the whole of the FIXED electrical installation. Machinery is NOT covered by BS7671 if it is built to other product standards or harmonised, new approach directives etc. I could go on and on as this is my area, I’m qualified to design & I&T elect installations amongst other things. BS7671 is guidance and thus best practice. The level of PIR you will get done may not even be worth the paper it is written on mind! IF you comply with BS7671 & associated guidance then you will have gone AFARP. If you have competent persons in charge & control of the installation you don’t need PIR’s. BTW to do a PIR you really must have PI insurance and be competent to do so, and a basic electrician would not be classed as competent in that situation, however, if they were employed full time and in control of the fixed install they could be competent in that aspect to negate the requirement for PIR’s in 7671. IF you nave no EIC’s or previous PIR’s then look for a hefty bill for your first PIR. It the quote makes no difference between the 1st PIR and subsequent ones in this situation, find another supplier because they are incompetent. Paul.

CFT, Yes re-reading my post it does appear to be aimed at your response, sorry, it was not. I wrote it as a general response to the thread based on the info you had already provided. Paul

guys, thanks very much, this is exactly what i was looking for , some very good responses. God love these forums. Coops