About This Web Site

Introduction

Fixed Installation Testing or Periodic Inspection and Testing forms an important part of any Health & Safety system.

This website is intended as a guide to both the legal implications and to the technical requirements and practicalities of the Fixed Testing.

The Health & Safety Executive reports that for 2006/7 just over 7% of all workplace fatalities were caused by contact with electricity or electrical discharge.

The Electricity at Work Act, 1989 states that all electrical systems and equipment used in the working environment should be in a safe condition. The Health & Safety Executive recommend that in order to comply with the regulations an inspection and testing programme should be undertaken at all places of work.

In addition to these legislative requirements many other organisations such as Insurance Companies place an obligation on their clients to carry out Periodic Testing.

Periodic Inspection & Test is a service offered by a number of specialised companies. It is recommended that only companies who are registered with either the NICEIC or the ECA are contracted, as these registrations offer an assurance of the quality of work that will be performed.
Only suitably qualified Electricians should carry out testing.

The frequency at which Fixed Installation Testing should be carried out is determined by the usage of a particular building.

Periodic Testing can cause disruption to the users in a building and for this reason is something that requires careful planning. A survey of an installation prior to the commencement of any testing will help to ensure that any Workplace Disruption will be kept to a minimum.

In practice it is often advisable to arrange for Inspection and Testing to take place outside of normal working hours.

At the end of any testing programme a detailed Periodic Inspection Report must be provided detailing extent and results of the Inspection and Testing and listing any recommendations for remedial actions that should be taken to ensure compliance with current standards.
Reports should be kept for the lifetime of an installation.

Please follow the links on this page for further information on all aspects of Fixed Installation Testing including the legislation and regulations, qualifications required, the testing process and reporting and remedial actions.