EXTENT AND FREQUENCY OF INSPECTION & TESTING

WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE INSPECTED AND TESTED?
All types of mains powered electrical portable, moveable, hand-held, stationary, fixed,  equipment for 'building-in', I.T. equipment and extention leads are required to be regularly inspected and tested.

It should be noted that provision of new appliance does not exempt the need for formal Inspection and Testing. Manufacturer's warranties only provide for repair or replacement of a faulty device, they do not guarantee that a new device is electrically safe.

Equipment Types
The following definitions are taken from the Institution of Electrical Engineer's Code of Practice;-

• Portable Appliance
  An appliance of less than 18gm in mass that is intended to be moved while in operation or an appliance which can easily be moved from one place to another, eg;- Toaster,
  Food Mixer, Vacuum Cleaner, Fan Heater
  
• Movable Equipment (sometimes called transportable)
  This is equipment that is either:
  18Kg or less in mass and not fixed, eg. Electric Fire, or equipment with wheels, castors or other means to facilitate movement by the operator as required to perform its intended use, eg. Air Conditioning Unit.
  
• Hand-Held Appliances or Equipment
  This is portable equipment intended to be held in the hand during normal use eg.
  Hair Dryer, Power Drill, Soldering Iron, Angle Grinder 
  
• Stationary Equipment or Appliances
  This equipment has a mass exceeding 18Kg and is not provided with a carrying handle eg. Refrigerator,Washing Machine, Dishwasher 
  
• Fixed Equipment/Appliances
  This is equipment or an appliance which is fastened to a support or otherwise secured in a specified location eg. Convector Heater, Water Heater, Heated Towel Rail, Production Machinery, Fixed Tools
  
• Appliances/Equipment for Building-In
  This equipment is intended to be installed in a prepared recess such as a cupboard or similar. In general,equipment for building-in does not does not have an enclosure on all sides because on one or more of the sides additional protection against electric shock is provided by the surroundings eg. Built-In Cooker, Built-In Dishwasher
  
• Information Technology Equipment (Business Equipment)
  Information technology equipment includes electrical business equipment such as computers and mains powered telcommunications equipment and other equipment for general business use eg. Mail Processing Machines, Electric Plotters, Trimmers, PCs, VDUs, Data Terminal Equipment, Telephones, Printers, Photo-Copiers, Power Packs 
  
• Extention Leads, RCD Extention Leads & RCD Adaptors
  The use of extention leads other than for temporary power supplies should be avoided were possible. RCDs are required to be checked for operation.

FREQUENCY of  INSPECTION & TESTING 

When should the equipment be inspected and tested?

The frequency of inspection and testing will depend on several factors, such as;-

• The Environment - equipment installed in a benign environment will suffer less damage than equipment used in an arduous environment. 
  The User - if users report damage as and when it becomes evident then hazards can be avoided. If equipment is likely to receive unreported abuse then more frequent inspection and testing is required.
  The Equipment's Construction - Class 1 equipment is dependant upon the connection with earth of the fixed installation.  
  The Equipment Type - Hand-held appliances are more likely to be damaged than fixed appliances. If they are Class I appliances then the risk of danger is increased as safety is dependant upon the continuity of the protective (earth) conductor from the plug to the appliance.  The initial frequency of inspection and testing should comply with the Institution of Electrical Engineer’s Code of Practice for the In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical equipment. 

   

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