Services

A periodic inspection is an inspection and test carried out by competent persons, such as registered electricians to check whether your wiring is in a satisfactory condition. On completion, Robinsons Electrical Services will issue an Electrical Installation Condition Report detailing any observed damage, deterioration, defects, dangerous conditions and any non-compliance with the present-day safety standard that might give rise to danger.

Rented property

If you are a landlord The Electrical Safety Council recommends that you have all appliances such as electric kettles, fridges and washing machines provided as part of a tenancy agreement tested by a registered electrician at the beginning of each tenancy and at regular intervals during any long-term tenancies.

What electrical appliances are included in Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)? Portable and movable equipment can include most movable appliances from kettles, toasters, vacuum cleaners, irons, fan heaters through to washing machines, fridges, tumble dryers and electric cookers in domestic rented accommodation.

Commercial property

If you run a commercial business, what equipment needs to be PAT tested and how often does this need to be done? The Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (ISITEE) splits electrical equipment into the following categories:

• Stationary equipment: refrigerators
• Information technology equipment: computer, fax machines, modems, telephones, printers
• Movable (or transportable) equipment (less than 18 kg and not fixed: electric fire or equipment with wheels, castors etc. to facilitate movement to perform its intended use, example: compressor or air-conditioning unit)
• Portable equipment (equipment that is less than 18 kg and is moved in operation, example: fan, table lamps, kettle, toaster, vacuum cleaner)
• Hand-held equipment (portable equipment intended to be held in the hand in normal use: electric drills)

The frequency and range of inspection and tests will depend upon whether the equipment is categorised as Class I (equipment that is required to be earthed) or Class II (equipment provided with double or reinforced insulation).

Often older properties and properties undergoing significant adaptation require a full or partial rewire. A full rewire means replacing all of the cables for the sockets, lights etc in your accommodation. A partial rewire means just replacing a single circuit e.g. downstairs sockets only. Robinsons Electrical Services are well qualified to do this work as well as replacing existing sockets, light fittings and consumer units with modern, or customer ordered, replacements. We would carry out a test and inspection of the work to confirm that there are no faults before issuing New Electrical Installation Certificate to confirm that the electrical installation work carried out and tested in accordance with BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations).

Most consumer units, at some point, will need to be upgraded to include an RCD. Robinsons Electrical Services would remove and dispose of the existing consumer unit and replace it with a BS7671 compliant unit. We would test the new board and the electrical circuits and issue a New Electrical Installation Certificate to confirm compliance with BS 7671 (current IET Wiring Regulations).

Robinsons Electrical Services would replace the existing fittings with new customer ordered fixtures. Should the fittings be drastically different, e.g. tube lighting to normal bulbs we would carry out a test on the individual circuit involved and issue a Minor Works Certificate to confirm that the work had been done correctly in accordance with BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations).

Should you wish to have, for example, a security light installed and you did not have one before, Robinsons Electrical Services would install a new electrical circuit with an additional circuit breaker and install the new fixture to the desired location. Robinsons Electrical Services would then test the new circuit and issue an Electrical Installation Certificate to confirm that the work had been done correctly in accordance with BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations).

If you are considering having additional sockets, or existing ones moved, this may require extending the existing circuit. Robinsons Electrical Services first inspect and test the existing circuit to confirm that it is capable of being extended to carry the additional load and that there are no faults on the existing circuit. If we find that the circuit cannot carry the additional load or that there are faults, we would advise you of the work required with an estimated cost before carrying out any more work. If no problems are found, then we would fit the additional sockets, or move the existing ones. On completion we would then test the circuit and issue a Minor Works certificate to certify that the work had been done correctly in accordance with BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations).

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