Legal Requirements
The law requires that all business owners, their directors, managers and employees comply with "The Electricity at Work Regulations".
The law simply requires that all electrical systems must be maintained to be safe at all times.
No system or part of it may give rise to danger during either normal operation or under fault conditions.
Regulation 4(2)
"All systems to be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, danger". "System" means the wiring of an electrical installation and everything connected to it.
Regulation (29)
"It shall be a defence for any person to prove that he took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of that offence"
Test reports, together with other preventative maintenance documentation will form the basis of this proof and will provide your best defence against prosecution should the need arise.
Duty holders are responsible for setting up adequate maintenance programmes and must assess the needs and frequency requirement of testing, maintaining and monitoring electrical systems and equipment. Generally, the following test intervals may be applied for guidance purposes: -
Electrical installations (As outlined in 17th Edition I.E.E. regulations)
Type of Installation |
Maximum period between inspections |
Domestic
Commercial
Industrial
Churches (over 5 years old)
Places of public entertainment
Petroleum stations
Emergency lighting & Fire alarms |
10 years
5 years
3 years
1 year
1 year
1 year
1 year |
Why IEE, BS7671 and NIC EIC ?
IEE - Institution of Electrical Engineers
The IEE Wiring Regulations are the standard for electrical wiring in the UK and many other countries. To learn more about the IEE please click the link above.
BS7671 - Wiring Regulations
Wiring Regulations are fully supported by Shield Electrical Services Ltd (otherwise referred to as BS7671) and you can find more information by clicking the link above.
NICEIC - National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting
Shield Electrical Services Ltd are members of the NICEIC and this demonstrates to customers our commitment to quality and professionalism. The NICEIC is the industry's independent, non profit-making, voluntary regulatory body covering the whole of the United Kingdom .
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