By james howard domestic • inspection and testing 0 Comments

Electrical condition report when moving home – JHE Electrical Contractors

Condition Reports explained

You cannot see electricity. Cables are usually hidden inside our walls, and consumer units are often hidden in cupboards, so it is not surprising that we forget to check the condition of our electrical installation for damage or wear and tear.

Faulty and old wiring is one of the main causes or electrical fires in the home. You can reduce the risk of a fire by checking the condition of your cables, switches, sockets and other accessories regularly.

How old is my electrical installation?

Clear signs that can help you tell the age of equipment in the electrical installation in your home include:

  • Fixed cables coated in black rubber (stopped being used in the 1960s).
  • Fixed cables coated in lead or fabric (used before the 1960s).
  • A fuse box with a wooden back, cast iron switches, or a mixture of fuse boxes (used before the 1960s).
  • Older round pin sockets (or light switches), braided flex hanging from ceiling roses, brown (or black) switches, or sockets mounted in or no skirting boards (used before the 1960s).
  • Light switches on the walls or in bathrooms (used before the 1960s).

However old your electrical installation is, it may get damaged and will suffer from wear and tear. So you should get an electrician to check its condition at least every 10 years or when you move into a new property.

What is the aim of a condition report?

The five main aims of a condition report are:

  1. Record the results of the inspection and testing to make sure the electrical installation is safe to be used until the next inspection (following any work needed to make it safe)
  2. Find any damage and wear and tear that might affect safety, and report it
  3. Find any parts of the electrical installation that do not meet the IET Wiring Regulations
  4. Help find anything that may cause electric shocks and high temperatures
  5. Provide and important record of the installation at the time of the inspection, and for inspection testing in the future.

 Types of condition report

In general, there are two types of domestic electrical installation condition report:

  • Visual condition report – this does not include testing and is only suitable if the installation has been tested recently.
  • Condition report – this is what we would normally recommend, as it tests the installation and would find any hidden damage.

Who should produce your condition report?

You can find a registered electrician to carry out your periodic inspection here

By james howard domestic • electrical safety • inspection and testing 0 Comments

Electrics and the Elderly – JHE

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  • Research carried out by NICEIC and ELECSA revealed that:
    ·       24 million* adults in the UK have an elderly relative living on their own.
    ·       50% of us hold the opinion that the elderly are more at risk from the electrical dangers in our homes,
    ·       75% have never helped their relative to have their home safety checked by an electrician.
    ·       80% have never been concerned by the safety of the electrical appliances in their elderly family   member’s home.
  • “We want to encourage those looking out for an older relative or neighbor to have a quick check of the home and make sure there is nothing there that could potentially lead to something awful occurring.
  • “They could also be plugging these appliances into an electric supply around the home that might not have been checked in decades or perhaps never at all.
  • “With people over 65 statistically more likely to be involved in a fire caused by faulty electrics this is obviously concerning. During the colder months the elderly are more likely to be plugging in electrical appliances such as heaters or electric blankets, many of which could be old and potentially dangerous.
  • “While up to 50% of people will be making regular calls on a relative or neighbour this winter, less than 20% of those would think to take a quick check of the electrics to make sure everything is ok.
  • Yet research by NICEIC and ELECSA has revealed that although many of us will be looking in on an elderly relative or neighbour this winter, the one thing that could be getting overlooked is a quick check on the state of the electrics.
  • The UK’s leading registration body for electricians is urging people to think electrics when they carry out their checks on the elderly this winter.
  • Proportionately, older people suffer more fatal and non-fatal injuries from electrically-related house fires than the rest of the population. People over 65 are particularly at risk because they often live in old or poor-quality housing that contains faulty electrics or old appliances.
  • NICEIC and ELECSA have produced a checklist, of what to look out for to reduce the risk of an electrical fault. This quick visual check includes:
  • Ensuring that plug sockets are not damaged or scorched. Any scorch marks around a socket are indication that something is not right and that you should call a registered electrician to investigate further.
    ·       Checking that any leads or cables are not damaged or frayed
    ·       Checking that lights are working correctly and there is no signs of visible damage
    ·       Checking that sockets are not overloaded or that too many extension leads are in use.
    ·       Check that the main fusebox (consumer unit) has RCD protection fitted. An RCD (Residual Current Device) will trip should it detect an overload in the circuit.

    By carrying out these simple checks people will be able to reduce the risk of fire or spot something that could potentially lead to a problem in the future. If they see something that doesn’t seem to be working properly or may need further investigation we always suggest they call their local registered electrician. A registered electrician will be able to rectify any faults or carry out an Electrical Inspection Condition Report (EICR) which will identify any potential issues that could lead to further problems. Faulty electrics in the home account for 20,000 house fires each year, causing upwards of 70 fatalities.

  • Leading electrical charity Electrical Safety First advises that homeowners get an EICR carried out at least every 10 years.Most electrical issues in the home are easily preventable by ensuring a home is regularly checked by a suitable, registered electrician. 
By james howard domestic • electrical safety • inspection and testing 0 Comments

Tenants – stay safe in your rented home

  • Every year around 70 deaths and 350,000 injuries in UK homes are caused by faulty electrics and electrical equipment.  Almost half of all domestic fires are caused by electricity. And if you live in a privately rented property, statistics show that you are at a higher risk of electric shock.
  • By law, your landlord must ensure that electrical installations and wiring are maintained in a safe condition throughout the tenancy.
  • Ask your landlord for a report confirming that the electrical installation has been assessed and is safe to use (called an Electrical Installation Condition Report, previously referred to as a Periodic Inspection Report or PIR). Electrical Safety First recommends that a periodic inspection and test of the electrical installation should be carried out by a registered electrician at least every five years or on change of tenancy.

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