Periodic 5 Year Electrical Test

5 Year Periodic Testing

Fixed Electrical Testing Regulations

BS7671:1992 (and amendments) Requirements for Electrical Installations

British Standard BS 7671 "Requirements for electrical installations" is the national standard in the United Kingdom for low voltage electrical installations. All Wyllie Maintenance Services electricians are fully qualified to the current edition of IEE wiring regulations BS 7671:2008.

The HSE state that 'installations that conform to the standards laid down in BS7671 are regarded as likely to achieve conformity with the relevant parts of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989'. Test frequencies vary depending upon type of installation, 5 years being the minimum recommended for commercial premises, and 3 years for industrial premises.

IEE Guidance Note 3 Inspection and Testing

All work is carried out in accordance with the British Standards and is supported with the relevant NAPIT certification. This ensures both your peace of mind and that your electrical installations comply with current legislation.

Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 came into force on 1st April 1990; their purpose is to require precautions to be taken against the risk of death or personal injury from electricity, in work activities.

In the main, the Regulations are concerned with the prevention of danger from electric shock, electric burn, electrical explosion or arcing or from fire or explosion initiated by electric energy.

All places of work covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act (shops, offices, factories, workshops, farms, garages, sports and entertainment centres, etc.) are covered under these new Electricity at Work Regulations.

The regulations convey principles of electrical safety, as applied to any electrical equipment, any work activity having a bearing on electrical safety - in other words they all apply to all electrical systems and equipment, in connection with work activities, whenever manufactured, purchased, installed or taken into use, even if its manufacture or installation pre-dates the regulations.

Who has Responsibilities

Duties rest with employers, the self-employed and employees to comply with the regulations and where the provisions relate to matters which are within their control, each becomes a ‘duty holder’.

The onus is on the ‘duty holder’ to assess the work activities which utilise electricity, or which may be affected by it. ‘Duty holders’ are required to have regard to all foreseeable risks (suitability, design, construction, siting, environmental effects, protection/precaution and installation) of electrical systems for specific tasks; not merely the prevention of electric shock.