Inspection and Testing

[westward10]

Earthing is an Absolute Regulation under E&WR 1989. How do you verify this without testing.

 

[Pete999]

Is it against the law put the installation into service without inspection and testing ?

What Law are you speaking of dj, BS7671 the Regulations are not a legal document.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

So for what is Inspection and Testing if is not necessary? Where is the sense ?

I&T is necessary to show that the installation complies with both the design and the Regulations.
The Regulations are non-statutory, but if you are working in compliance with them, then I&T has to be done, to comply.

 

[Charlie_]

Have a read, everybody should be up to speed with this

 

[The Flyinhos]

@dj2102 My advice would be to treat any form of certification that you sign is like an insurance policy. It needs to be filled out correctly!!
The only time that it will really come into play is when something goes wrong. "why pay insurance??" you only need it when it goes wrong!!
If the building burnt down' or someone got a shock due to an electrical fault, who is the first to be questioned? The last sparks on site "it was ok until he had been".
When or if it hits court they will pull in top experts, the first thing they will want to see is the certs. If your certs are bang on, and you work is bang on, they will then look further down the line, ie last sparks before you. Making sure on EIC that "comments on existing install" is filled out with anything that you noticed could save you a lot of pain.
I always do the cert before I do the invoice, seems a lot less painful that way. It is part of the job and is not complete without it.

 

[spamwize2]

Industrial I&T is not a legal requirement they have guidelines to follow and if we dont follow them and someone gets hurt or killed then it falls under HSE act 1974 then we will be done.

 

[Charlie_]

Of course there is a legal requirement to test electrical systems

 

[spamwize2]

ok can you show me

 

[Charlie_]

Do you have a copy of eawr?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Do you have a copy of eawr?

I have a copy.
Can you tell me which Regulation or Provision states electrical systems must be inspected and tested?

 

[Charlie_]

To comply with a few regs testing and inspecting needs to be carried out..
Start with 4(1)

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Systems, work activities and protective equipment
4.—(1) All systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, danger.

(2) As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger.

(3) Every work activity, including operation, use and maintenance of a system and work near a system, shall be carried out in such a manner as not to give rise, so far as is reasonably practicable, to danger.

(4) Any equipment provided under these Regulations for the purpose of protecting persons at work on or near electrical equipment shall be suitable for the use for which it is provided, be maintained in a condition suitable for that use, and be properly used.

Can’t see anything there stating Inspection and Testing must be conducted.
Closest is Reg. 4-(2).

 

[Charlie_]

Apologies not had my coffee yet..
That’s right go for 4(2)

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Apologies not had my coffee yet..
That’s right go for 4(2)

Unfortunately ‘maintenance’ does not necessarily mean Inspection and Testing, and there is no timescale for when maintenance should be conducted.

 

[Intoelectrics]

Is it against the law put the installation into service without inspection and testing ?

No one is going to send you to jail for it. But! if somebody has an accident or a near miss, or there is a fire or any other action which ends up in an investigation, then you could be prosecuted for breaching the E&WR regulations or H&S regulations (which are statutory) for not ensuring the system was safe to use. In which case, to verify that it is safe then an I&T is required in accordance with the current BS7671 regulations.

Never the less, I'm concerned that anyone would put into service an installation that has not been tested properly. The whole point of the testing is to prove that it is safe to use. No matter how confident you are that it is installed correctly, mistakes are made, equipment can be faulty... why would you potentially risks someone's life for the sake of a few hours testing??
Short cuts are what get people injured or worse killed!