Just because it WORKS, It doesn't mean its SAFE!

• Periodic Inspection Reports

• Portable Appliance Testing (PAT testing)

• Minor Works Certificates

• Electrical Installation Certificates

• NICEIC Certificates

• NIC Certificates

• Landlords Safety Checks

• Letting Agency Checks

• Mortgage Application Reports 

 

Each year, defective wiring or appliances cause over 12,500 fires in homes, resulting in 25 deaths and over 590 injuries. There are also over 500 injuries and 5 deaths caused by faulty electrical installations.

 

Recent surveys show that over 2 million homes in the UK need some kind of electrical repair. Older houses are especially at risk.

 

There are also 2,000 injuries and 30 deaths from electrocution in the home, many of which are due to DIY and amateur repairs.

 

That's why the Institution of Electrical Engineers recommends that home wiring installations are checked periodically, by a competent person.

 

What is a Periodic Inspection Report? PIR

All electrical installations deteriorate over time due to general wear and tear. An inspection and test of an electrical installation whether it be domestic, commercial or industrial is known as a Periodic Inspection Report - PIR for short.

A periodic inspection report is a report on the condition of an electrical installation - a report on how safe the electrics are. It is essentially an MOT for your properties electrics. The report is usually a three plus page document (depending on the size and type of the property to be inspected & tested) and consists of:

• Details of the electrical installation
• Items inspected and tested
• Observations & recommendations
• Test results

If you are considering buying a property then it would be wise to invest in a PIR before making your final decision, or if you are letting it then you want to know it's safe for your tenants, you want to know that the property you are buying or letting is electrically safe. A surveyors report will not tell you if a property is electrically sound, although they may recommend having a PIR.

 

Why Have a Periodic Inspection Report?

There are many things that are either not seen or known about the general state of an electrical installation and these should not be overlooked, Just because a light comes on when a switch is operated does not mean that it is 100% safe. A wire may be loose, a fuse or CB (Circuit Breaker) may be over rated and not protect the cable which may overheat (this especially happens when too many adaptors are used in one socket) or it could be a DIY attempt gone wrong, all of these could start a fire.

 

What is involved in a Periodic Inspection?

Firstly and most importantly an inspection of the electrics is carried out. Are there signs of damage, wear and tear or ageing components? The consumer unit or fuse board, main supply, earthing, sockets, switches and light fittings are checked to make sure the cables supplying them are installed properly and are suitable for the intended purpose and continued use. Cables that are concealed in walls under floors or in conduit or trunking however are not inspected, as this would not be practical. Any observations that are made during the inspection are noted and given a code, listed below:

• Code 1 requires urgent attention
• Code 2 Requires improvement
• Code 3 Requires further investigation
• Code 4 Does not comply with the current British Standard BS7671 - this does not mean it is dangerous.

 

Remedial Works

Your report will include details of any deviations from current standards together with a list of any remedial work deemed necessary. If required we will quote for remedial works, but you are under no obligation to get this work done by ourselves.