provided in the IET publication Guidance Note 3 Inspection & Testing and this provides detailed information of the PI&T process, a list of ‘routine checks’ and a table with suggested recommended initial frequencies of inspection of electrical installations that can be applied for both the routine checks and the inspection and testing of fixed wiring and equipment.


monitoring and maintenance of the installation and all its constituent equipment can also provide an eff ective method of preventative maintenance where operated by one or more skilled person competent in such work!


Frequency of routine checks, inspection and testing and keeping records The frequency of routine checks and inspection and testing is an important part of ensuring that preventative maintenance measures implemented are adequate and something that the duty holder should consider carefully. There are however no specifi c timescales given for such activities in the Electricity at Work Regulations, or in any other statutory legislation, and the decision on what may be appropriate is something that the duty holder will need to establish. This should ideally involve a risk assessment process with the input from other competent persons. For example, where the duty holder


adopts a new electrical installation or an addition or alteration to an existing installation, the designer responsible for it should have provided them with a


recommendation for initial PI&T on the Electrical Installation Certificate. Thereafter, for future inspection and


testing of the fixed wiring a time interval should be recommended by the inspector undertaking the subsequent PI&T and recorded on the Electrical Installation Condition Report. Note that although the Electricity at


Work Regulations do not actually require a record of maintenance to be kept, this is something that is strongly recommended and such records should be kept throughout the lifespan of an installation. These include relevant electrical certification associated with maintenance and repairs such as Electrical Installation Certificates, Electrical Installation Condition Reports and records of the in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment. Where such records are kept, they can be an important source of information for the duty holder when deciding how often routine checks and inspection and testing should be carried out. They would also be useful as a defence in court to demonstrate compliance with the law in the event of prosecution. Some guidance related to what may


constitute suitable routine checks and time intervals for inspection and testing is


Minimum routine checks The suggested routine checks may be all that is necessary before deciding to reopen particular premises. However, the duty holder should also check on the availability of previous records of maintenance including any previous PI&T and ISITEE and take account of the length of time that the premises have actually been closed. It may be that in certain instances it is more appropriate to carry out a full periodic inspection and test, especially if previous records cannot be located or do not exist or the premises have been closed for a significant length of time. In some instances, it may also be that specific insurance company requirements and licensing requirements will require this anyway.


Other considerations


Although the initial frequencies given in Table 3.2 (see page 30) often form the basis for the time intervals given by installation designers – and are commonly applied by the duty holder for initial routine checks or inspection and testing of premises – remember this is only a recommendation and not necessarily the whole picture or consideration to ensure that the premises are in safe condition. The decision on what is appropriate for future inspection and testing should also include consideration of the following: ●Who will be using the installation or equipment, e.g. ordinary persons, children, people with disabilities, instructed persons or skilled persons? ●How old is the installation or equipment and what condition is it in? ●What is its frequency of operation? ●Are there any specific maintenance requirements, e.g. those given in manufacturer’s instructions and any necessary for maintaining the


Continued on page 30 >>> CABLEtalk JUNE/JULY 2020 29


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