Whether you’re a business, landlord or organisation, Fixed Wire Testing is essential to maintain the safety of your buildings and everyone inside them.
Here’s a quick guide to Fixed Wire Testing.
What is Fixed Wire Testing?
During Fixed Wire Testing, a qualified engineer (or team of engineers) will inspect and test all electrical installations and circuits in your premises. Multiple tests will be carried out on each distribution board, so circuits are required to be isolated for a short period of time while testing takes place.
You’ll be provided with an in-depth EICR Inspection Report, detailing the condition of each installation with a safety code. You’ll then know if any installations need remedial work to make them safe.
Is Fixed Wire Testing a legal requirement?
Fixed Wire Testing provides evidence that you are complying with multiple health and safety laws. This is also the case for insurance, with your EICR report demonstrating your compliance with the requirements of most commercial insurers.
Legislation that Fixed Wire Testing satisfies:
The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – employers are responsible for the health, safety and welfare of everyone in the workplace, including visitors, contractors, members of the public and employees.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 – all electrical systems must be maintained to prevent danger.
Find out more about your legal requirements when it comes to Fixed Wire Testing here.
How often should Fixed Wire Testing be carried out?
How often fixed wire testing should be carried out depends on the type of installation, how often it is used and the type of environment it is exposed to. Testing frequencies are specified by the IET Wiring Regulations.
Here are some of the testing frequencies for different buildings types:
Annual testing: Medical buildings, swimming pools/saunas, caravan parks, marinas, petrol stations, laundrettes, cinemas (front of house).
Testing every three years: Agricultural/horticultural, theatres, industrial units, leisure centres.
Testing every five years: Offices, hotels, restaurants, schools/colleges/universities, laboratories, community centres/churches/pubs, care homes, halls of residents.
Your installations can be tested all at once or on a rolling basis – this means that 20 or 33 per cent of your circuits could be tested per year to comply with three- or five-year testing frequencies.
Will Fixed Wire Testing disrupt your business?
Fixed Wire Testing doesn’t need to disrupt your business. At Intersafe, we work around your needs to minimise disruption to your organisation’s activities. We offer out of hours testing at no extra cost, and can test in segments to ensure that most of your building is operational at any one time.
Get in touch with Intersafe today to discuss your Fixed Wire Testing requirements.
