Test and inspection how long?

[liddley]

Hi guys,
Just wondering the amount of time you would expect an inspection and test to take. I've just started at another firm and I'm wanting to gauge whether I'm the slowest tester in the land or if they at taking the Mick with the time allowed.
For instance how long would you all set aside for this test. Three story terrace house brand new install full rewire. 14 circuits in split load board,property is empty no furniture. Good access to consumer unit. Just after a rough idea how long others would allow.

 

[westward10]

I assume this is an initial verification not a Periodic. Not something I have done for a while but there are two ways of doing this, one correctly by doing the essential dead tests then live tests or by doing a global IR then liven it up for Zs tests and rcd tests which is not the correct way but it happens. The latter could be done by the skin of ones teeth in an hour. You have two choices in this.

 

[liddley]

I'm glad it's not just me then that thinks it's a bit of an unrealistic ask. I agree with Dave OCD that doing the dead testing while installing the consumer unit is best. Otherwise you end up undoing every circuit again to test.

 

[liddley]

I'm glad it's not just me then that thinks it's a bit of an unrealistic ask. I agree with Dave OCD that doing the dead testing while installing the consumer unit is best. Otherwise you end up undoing every circuit again to test.

 

[Baker1988]

At my previous job i had about 4 hours for the test and inspect, and that was including paperwork (which was actually on a tablet) and i think that was a push you basically had to run every where none stop that is one of the main reasons i left.

1 hour is a stupid time scale to me how is it possible to do the tests correctly with only an hour, telk your boss to do one.

 

[Risteard]

I assume this is an initial verification not a Periodic. Not something I have done for a while but there are two ways of doing this, one correctly by doing the essential dead tests then live tests or by doing a global IR then liven it up for Zs tests and rcd tests which is not the correct way but it happens. The latter could be done by the skin of ones teeth in an hour. You have two choices in this.

Nothing wrong with global insulation testing. In fact if it isn't done this way then a mathematical formula will be required to verify compliance.

 

[Ian1981]

I don’t think he needs to rely upon a mathematical calculation for resistance in parallel as if it’s a new install his readings should be the max showing on his test instrument.
I say the word should tho.

 

[Ian1981]

I don’t think he needs to rely upon a mathematical calculation for resistance in parallel as if it’s a new install his readings should be the max showing on his test instrument.
I say the word should tho.

 

[Ian1981]

This dam website!

 

[Martyn Fletcher]

I must have it easy then. I did a 3 bed terraced a few days ago with a colleague and it took the two of us 3.5 hours including 30 minutes trying to find the blasted earth spike (buried). Admittedly it was a mix of copper and tin, there were earth faults everywhere and insulation breakdown between L1 and Ln which led to extended conversation and chuckles.

 

[Wilko]

With 14 circuits and a write up to do in one hour - what are they putting on the Cert. for continuity values, I wonder .

 

[Martyn Fletcher]

With 14 circuits and a write up to do in one hour - what are they putting on the Cert. for continuity values, I wonder .

I was sat next to a 7 year Spark a few weeks back who was filling out an EICR. When it came to the IR results he simply wrote >500MΩ all the way down without doing a single test. I'm glad I'm longer in the tooth than many apprentices that may sit with him and realised his 'mistake'.
We were out of that 3 bed flat in less than an hour. (shrug)

 

[westward10]

Nothing wrong with global insulation testing. In fact if it isn't done this way then a mathematical formula will be required to verify compliance.

No I agree, I think I worded that in a manner which gave the impression this was the incorrect way do do it. What I was alluding to was the correct sequence of dead tests not being carried out with the only one being the global IR test and all others confirmed when made live. Obviously ring final continuity are also dead tests but this is likely to just be end to end tests.

 

[Risteard]

No I agree, I think I worded that in a manner which gave the impression this was the incorrect way do do it. What I was alluding to was the correct sequence of dead tests not being carried out with the only one being the global IR test and all others confirmed when made live. Obviously ring final continuity are also dead tests but this is likely to just be end to end tests.

No problem. I thought maybe that's what you were suggesting but thanks for clarifying.

 

[Risteard]

I don’t think he needs to rely upon a mathematical calculation for resistance in parallel as if it’s a new install his readings should be the max showing on his test instrument.
I say the word should tho.

Well not necessarily. There are many perfectly legitimate reasons for a meter not to max out on insulation resistance testing. That doesn't mean that there's a problem simply because their meter doesn't arrive at a figure of 5000 Megohms (5000,000,000 Ohms) for example.

 

[uksrevivor]

This sounds like a typical get in get out and on to the next job testing company who are only interested in the amount of jobs you get done to earn them money. Personally i wouldn't worry about being the slowest tester on the firm because at least you can walk away knowing you have been thorough and that the installation is in a safe condition.
The worrying aspect is that you are certifying another persons work and that installer did not do the required pre energising tests or even the basic dead tests on his own installation. Me personally would be asking why im certifying an install that i have not done and why the electrician installing it did not test his own work. It all sounds a bit dodgy to me and i would not be putting my name to it.