Tuesday 10: 57 am.
Fixed Testing Intervals
Frequency of Periodic Inspection & Testing
The frequency of periodic inspection and testing must be determined taking into account:
- the type of installation
- its use and operation
- the frequency and quality of maintenance
- the external influences to which it is subjected
The table below provides guidance on the frequency of formal inspections of electrical installations as well as routine checks.
| Type of Installation | Routine Check | Maximum Period between inspections and testing as necessary |
Reference (see notes below) |
| General installation | |||
| Domestic | N/A | change of occupancy/10 years | N/A |
| Commercial | 1 year | change of occupancy/5 years | 1,2 |
| Educational establishments | 4 months | 5 years | 1,2 |
| Hospitals | 1 year | 5 years | 1,2 |
| Industrial | 1 year | 3 years | 1,2 |
| Residential accommodation | at change of occupancy/ 1 year | 5 years | 1 |
| Offices | 1 year | 5 years | 1,2 |
| Shops | 1 year | 5 years | 1,2 |
| Laboratories | 1 year | 5 years | 1,2 |
| Buildings open to the public | |||
| Cinemas | 4 months | 1 year | 2,6,7 |
| Church installations | 1 year | 5 years (quinquenially) | 2 |
| Leisure complexes | 4 months | 1 year | 1,2,6 |
| Places of public entertainment | 1 year | 5 years | 1,2,6 |
| Restaurants and hotels | 4 months | 1 year | 1,2,6 |
| Theatres | 4 months | 1 year | 2,6,7 |
| Public houses | 1 year | 5 years | 1,2,6 |
| Village halls/Community centres | 1 year | 5 years | 1,2 |
| External installations | |||
| Agricultural and horticultural | 1 year | 3 years | 1,2 |
| Caravans | 1 year | 3 years | N/A |
| Caravan parks | 6 months | 1 year | 1,2,6 |
| Highway power supplies | as convenient | 6 years | N/A |
| Marinas | 4 months | 1 year | 1,2 |
| Fish farms | 4 months | 1 year | 1,2 |
| Emergency lighting | daily/monthly | 3 years | 2,3,4 |
| Fire alarms | daily/weekly/monthly | 1 year | 2,4,5 |
| Laundrettes | 1 year | 1 year | 1,2,6 |
| Petrol filling stations | 1 year | 1 year | 1,2,6 |
| Construction site installations | 3 months | 3 months | 1,2 |
Reference Key
- Particular attention must be taken to comply with S1 1988 No 1057. The Electricity Supply Regulations 1988.
- S1 1988 N0 635 The Electricity at Work Regulations.
- See BS5266: Part : 1988 Code of practice for the emergency lighting.
- Other intervals are recommended for testing operation of batteries and generators.
- See BS 5839: Part 1: 1988 Code of practice for system design installation and servicing.
- Local Authority Conditions of Licence.
- S1 1995 No 1129 (Clause 27) The Cinematography (Safety) Regulations
Information taken from IEE guidance note 3