What is Fixed Wire Testing?
Fixed wire testing is a professional and routine test that is performed on your electrical setup to ensure everything is working properly and up to electrical safety standards, including the safety and quality of electrical appliances. This type of testing is also commonly referred to as a Periodic Inspection Report or Periodic Electrical Testing Birmingham.
Here at RJ Electrical Contractors, our team of electricians use advanced equipment and technology to perform fixed wire testing, which involves sampling and testing the electrical installations on a site for any defects or abnormalities from expected electrical standards.
What do we look for during our fixed wire test in Birmingham?
Our fixed wire electrical test is designed to check the efficiency and safety of your electrical system. Using advanced technology and years of experience within the electrical industry, our team can spot potential problems and offer a solution. Here’s what we look for:
Overload Testing: This involves checking the electrical equipment and circuits for signs of overload.
Earthing and Bonding: We assess your earthing and bonding system and highlight any risks due to ineffective connections.
Switches, Sockets and Light Fittings: We offer a full service to your switches, sockets and light fittings. Some items such as old pin sockets and mounted skirting board sockets need replacing for safety and functionality reasons.
Fire Hazards and Electrical Shock Risks: Our team check your property for potential fire hazards and electrical shocks risks.
Defective Work: We highlight any defective electrical work.
Switchgear and Control Gear Suitability: All switch and control gear is checked for suitability and we can replace old equipment such as fuse boxes with wooden backs with new, modern alternatives.
Wiring Systems: We check the type and condition of the wiring systems. Older properties may have lead, fabric or rubber coated cables which need replacing with modern PVC insulated cables.
Compliance Notices: We check your property has the necessary and up to date notices.
How Do We Test?
UK Safety Standards: All tests are carried out to the UK safety standard for electrical installations, BS 7671 – Requirements for Electrical Installations (IET Wiring Regulations). This is a comprehensive standard covering all electrical aspects of installations and provides our engineers with the latest technological advances and safety protocols.
Three Stage Testing Process:
1. Inspection:
The first stage of testing involves a visual check of the electrical installations as part of a periodic electrical test to inspect and assess the condition of the electrical installations. During this process, our team of expert electricians check the physical condition of the cables, switches, sockets and other elements of the electrical installations looking for signs of wear and tear, damage or any other abnormality. They ensure all electrical installations and components comply with the current standards BS 7671.
2. Operation:
Once the inspection of the electrical installations is complete, the next stage is operational testing.
During this operation test, the electrical installations are assessed by our expert electricians in normal operating conditions, to check the efficiency and effectiveness of the electrical installations. A supply test is undertaken to check the circuit breakers, RCDs (Residual Current Devices) and other disconnector devices to ensure they are functioning correctly and operate within acceptable safety levels.
3. Defect Report:
The final stage of the fixed wire testing process is to produce a defect report. During the inspection and operational stages, if any shortcomings or abnormalities are found, they are detailed and listed in the electrical installation condition report and a full list of recommended works is provided to the client. We offer an honest and reliable service to our clients, highlighting exactly what needs to be done to put right any deficiencies and ensure your electrical installations are up to standard and provide a safe and efficient service.
Get in Touch:
Who Can Carry Out Fixed Wire Testing?
When considering fixed wire testing, it is vital to ensure the contractor you use is experienced and NICEIC Approved. The safety of your property depends on a thorough and expertly carried out test. Using a contractor who is not up to date with the latest testing techniques or who does not have an approved accreditation could potentially put lives at risk.
RJ Electrical Contractors are NICEIC Approved Contractors.
What is the NICEIC?
National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) is the leading voluntary regulatory body for electrical contractors in the United Kingdom. All NICEIC Approved contractors have been assessed to ensure they have the necessary skills, resources and Electrical Installation knowledge to comply with the relevant technical standards, codes of practice and rules of the Schemes they are registered to. NICEIC Accredited customers can have confidence that they are dealing with a reputable and compliant company.
What is the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)?
The Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a report that details the safety of the electrical installations within a property and must be carried out by a qualified and experienced electrician. After satisfactory periodic electrical testing, an electrical condition report is issued to ensure that all electrics are in a safe and satisfactory condition for continued use.
The EICR identifies any deficiencies against the national safety standard for electrical installations and advises on any remedial work needed. It must be remembered that the EICR is not to be used as a means to diagnose any faults, but to report on the condition of the electrical installation; to establish that they are in a condition which is safe, and do not pose a hazard or risk.
How Often Do I Need to Have an Inspection?
As a responsible commercial property owner or public access building owner, you have a duty to ensure the electrical safety standards of your building. This isn’t just good practice – it’s the law and should be a primary consideration for any property manager or business owner within Birmingham.
As a Landlord in Birmingham, you need to be aware that there are certain standards that need to be met to protect both your property and the people within it. Electrical safety standards are no ‘optional extra’ that can be overlooked – they must be adhered to.
One of the best ways to achieve this is through regular fixed wire testing and periodic electrical inspection. Not only does this ensure all electrical systems are safe and up to standard, it also significantly reduces the risk of any electrical accidents occurring in the first place. Periodic electrical inspection also ensures compliance with legal requirements, helping landlords meet their obligations and maintain the safety of their properties.
Minimising Electrical Hazards and Ensuring Compliance with Regulations
We adhere to the highest possible safety and compliance standards when carrying out any of our services. Electrical installations deteriorate with age and usage, which is why testing is important to ensure safety within a property.
Emergency lighting testing is crucial to ensure compliance with safety standards, providing back-up lighting during power cuts and meeting legal obligations. We recommend that electrical installations are tested at regular intervals to ensure they remain in a satisfactory condition. This should form part of a proactive strategy to ensure your installations comply with all relevant health and safety regulations and do not result in any potential legal action.
RJ Electrical Contractors are qualified, accredited and offer an extensive range of services to suit your needs. Our team of professionals will work to any deadline and stay within budget to provide a customer-focused service from initial enquiry through to completion. We are able to carry out fixed wire testing on clients throughout Birmingham so you know you are in safe hands with RJ Electrical Contractors.
Key Take Aways: The Role of Periodic Inspection in Ensuring Electrical Safety
Electric testing is important and as a landlord it forms part of your legal responsibility. Before you let out a property, you must ensure that the electrical installations are in proper working order and are safe for anyone to use. This protects your tenants and ensures your investment is as safe as possible and reputable as the property you are selling to tenants or buyers.
The inspection and testing of electrical installations is vital during the construction phase of any building or property as well as when it is completed and in use.
FIXED WIRE TESTING AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT BIRMINGHAM
- Acocks Green
- Alum Rock
- Ashted
- Aston
- Aston Cross
- Austin Village
- Balsall Heath
- Balti Triangle
- Bartley Green
- Beech Lanes
- Billesley
- Birches Green
- Birchfield
- Birmingham City Centre
- Boldmere
- Bordesley
- Bordesley Green
- Bournbrook
- Bournville
- Brandwood End
- Brindleyplace
- Bromford
- Browns Green
- Buckland End
- California
- Camp Hill
- Castle Vale
- Chad Valley
- Chinese Quarter
- Churchfield
- Cofton Common
- Cotteridge
- Deritend
- Digbeth
- Doe Bank
- Driffold
- Druids Heath
- Duddeston
- Dudley
- Eastside
- Edgbaston
- Erdington
- Falcon Lodge
- Five Ways
- Four Oaks
- Fox Hollies
- Frankley
- Garretts Green
- Gib Heath
- Gilbertstone
- Glebe Farm
- Gospel Oak
- Gosta Green
- Gravelly Hill
- Great Barr
- Greet
- Grimstock Hill
- Gun Quarter
- Hall Green
- Hamstead
- Handsworth
- Handsworth Wood
- Harborne
- Harts Green
- Hawkesley
- Hay Mills
- High Heath
- Highgate
- Highter’s Heath
- Hill Hook
- Hill Wood
- Hockley
- Hodge Hill
- Jewellery Quarter
- Kents Moat
- Kings Heath
- Kings Norton
- Kingstanding
- Kitts Green
- Ladywood
- Lea Hall
- Lee Bank
- The Leverretts
- Ley Hill
- Lifford
- Little Bromwich
- Lodge Hill
- Longbridge
- Lozells
- Lyndon Green
- Maney
- Maypole
- Minworth
- Mere Green
- Moor Green
- Moseley
- Nechells
- New Frankley
- New Oscott
- Newton, Great Barr
- Newtown
- New Town Row
- Northfield
- Old Oscott
- Over Green
- Peddimore
- Parkhall
- Pelham
- Perry Barr
- Perry Beeches
- Perry Common
- Pheasey
- Pype Hayes
- Queslett
- Quinton
- Reddicap Heath
- Rednal
- Ridgacre
- Rotton Park
- Roughley
- Rubery
- Saltley
- Sarehole
- Selly Oak
- Selly Park
- Shard End
- Sheldon
- Shenley Fields
- Shenley Green
- Short Heath
- Showell Green
- Small Heath
- Smithfield
- Soho
- Southside
- South Yardley
- South Woodgate
- Sparkbrook
- Sparkhill
- Springfield
- Spring Vale
- Stechford
- Stirchley
- Stockfield
- Stockland Green
- Streetly
- Sutton Coldfield
- Ten Acres
- The Parade
- Theatreland
- Thimble End
- Tile Cross
- Tower Hill
- Tudor Hill
- Turves Green
- Tyburn
- Tyseley
- Vauxhall
- Wake Green
- Walker’s Heath
- Walmley
- Ward End
- Warstock
- Washwood Heath
- Wells Green
- Weoley Hill
- Weoley Castle
- West Heath
- Westside
- Wiggins Hill
- Whitehouse Common
- Winson Green
- Witton
- Woodcock Hill
- Woodgate
- Wolverhampton
- Wylde Green
- Yardley
- Yardley Wood
