What is a Periodic Inspection Report / Electrical Installation Condition Report

A Periodic Inspection / Electrical Installation Condition Report is an inspection on the condition of an existing electrical installation, to identify (in order of priority) any deficiencies against the national safety standard for electrical installations. If you think your wiring is unsafe this is something you should have done.

A periodic inspection / Electrical Installation Condition Report will:

• Reveal if any of your electrical circuits or equipment is overloaded
• Find any potential electrical shock risks and fire hazards in your electrical installation
• Identify any defective DIY electrical work
• Highlight any lack of earthing or bonding

The electrician will test  wiring and associated fixed electrical equipment to check that it is safe. A schedule of circuits will also be provided, which is invaluable for a property.

Why is a periodic inspection / Electrical Installation Condition Report needed?

Every electrical installation deteriorates with use and age. It is important for the person responsible for the maintenance of the installation to be sure that the safety of users is not put at risk, and that the installation continues to be in a safe and serviceable condition.

When is a periodic inspection needed?

It is recommended that a periodic electricial inspection is carried out at least every:

• 10 years for a domestic installation
• 5 years for a commercial installation
• 3 years for caravans
• 1 year for swimming pools

Other instances when a periodic electrical inspection should be carried out are:

• When a property is being prepared to be let
• Prior to selling a property or when buying a previously occupied property

Who should undertake a periodic inspection?

Periodic inspections / electrical installation condition reports should be carried out by a competent electrician.

What happens during a periodic inspection?

The electrician will check the electrical installation against the requirements of BS 7671 - Requirements for Electrical Installations ( IEE Wiring Regulations) - as amended, which is the national safety standard for electrical installations, and contains around 850 Regulations. The periodic inspection will take into account all relevant circumstances including the following factors:

• Adequacy of earthing and bonding
• Suitability of the switchgear and controlgear e.g. consumer unit e.g. an old fusebox with a wooden back, cast iron switches, a haphazard mixture of such equipment is likely to need replacing
• Serviceability of equipment e.g. switches, socket-outlets and light fittings e.g. older round pin sockets, round light switches and braided flex hanging from ceiling roses to light fittings, black switches, sockets mounted in skirting boards may require replacing.
• Type of wiring system and its condition e.g. cables coated in black- rubber, black-rubber was phased out in the 1960s or cables coated in lead or fabric are even older and may need replacing (modern cables use pvc insulation)
• Provision of residual current devices for socket-outlets that may be used to plug in electrical equipment used outdoors
• Presence of adequate identification and notices
• Extent of any wear and tear, damage or other deterioration
• Changes in use of the premises which have led to, or might lead to, deficiencies in the installation.

The electrician will provide a periodic inspection report (PIR) as part of the periodic inspection.

What is a periodic inspection report?

A periodic inspection report (PIR) now called an Electrical Installation Condition Report is a formal method of recording the findings of the inspection, on at least three pages for domestic installations and six pages for larger installations.

The main purpose of a PIR is to report on the safety condition of an existing installation. Box E on page 1 should describe the overall condition as either 'satisfactory', in which case no immediate remedial work is required, or 'unsatisfactory' which means remedial work is required to make the installation safe to use. The following example is for a satisfactory installation: Where a PIR describes the installation as 'unsatisfactory', the next thing to look at is Box F on page 2 `Observations and Recommendations for Actions to be Taken'.

The following example is for an 'unsatisfactory' electrical installation:

This is where any departures from BS 7671 are recorded, and a code to indicate the urgency of the action needed is given.

• Code 1 Requires urgent attention
• Code 2 Requires improvement
• Code 3 Requires further investigation
• Code 4 Does not comply with BS 7671

Code 1 indicates a dangerous, or potentially dangerous, condition that requires urgent attention to make the installation safe. Once you have had an electrician do the necessary remedial work, an appropriate certificate would be issued to confirm that the remedial work has been carried out in accordance with BS 7671.

The electrician will give you a summary of the inspection in the report, which will give a clear indication of the condition of the electrical installation, taking into account all relevant circumstances.

What happens after a periodic inspection?

If the electrician reports any recommends or improvements to the installation, K&L will give you a fixed price quotation for the remedial work. The improvements do not necessarily have to be carried out by the electrician who provided the Periodic Inspection Report.