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How often?

 

How often should I have my appliances tested?

 

We would like to highlight the revised edition of the IET Code Of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.
The 4th Edition, published in November 2012 includes revised guidelines about the frequency (how often) you may require your appliances to be tested.

As we test in accordance with the IET Code Of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment 4th Edition we can advise on the correct frequency of testing for the equipment on site in conjunction with a rolling risk assessment on site.
Your testing does NOT need to be tested annually unless there are specific risks that require it to be done so.

 

Table 7.1 reproduced with kind permission from the IET Michael Faraday house. www.theiet.org

 

IET CODE OF PRACTICE FOR IN-SERVICE INSPECTION AND TESTING OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT 4TH EDITION.

 

TABLE 7.1 FREQUENCY OF INSPECTION AND TESTING AS RECOMMENDED BY THE IET
   

 

 

 

TYPE OF PREMISES

 

 

 

TYPE OF EQUIPMENT 

 

 

 

USER CHECKS  
(not recorded unless a fault is found)

 

 

CLASS 1

 

 

CLASS 2

   
   FORMAL VISUAL INSPECTION
(Note 1)
(Recorded)
  COMBINED INSPECTION AND TESTING
 (Recorded)
  FORMAL VISUAL INSPECTION
(Note 1)
(Recorded)
  COMBINED INSPECTION AND TESTING
(Recorded)
       
       
       
       
 
CONSTRUCTION SITES 110V EQUIPMENT
(Note 6)
S NONE   1 MONTH   3 MONTHS   1 MONTH   3 MONTHS
IT N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A
M (note 2) WEEKLY   1 MONTH   3 MONTHS   1 MONTH   3 MONTHS
P (note 2) WEEKLY   1 MONTH   3 MONTHS   1 MONTH   3 MONTHS
H (note 2) WEEKLY   1 MONTH   3 MONTHS   1 MONTH   3 MONTHS
INDUSTRIAL INCLUDING COMMERCIAL KITCHENS
(Note 6)
S WEEKLY   NONE   24 MONTHS   NONE   24 MONTHS
IT WEEKLY   NONE   24 MONTHS   NONE   24 MONTHS
M BEFORE USE   6 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   6 MONTHS   24 MONTHS
P BEFORE USE   6 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   6 MONTHS   12 MONTHS
H BEFORE USE   6 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   6 MONTHS   12 MONTHS
EQUIPMENT USED BY THE PUBLIC
(Notes 3, 4, 6)
S WEEKLY   MONTHLY   12 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   24 MONTHS
IT WEEKLY   MONTHLY   12 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   24 MONTHS
M WEEKLY   WEEKLY   6 MONTHS   6 MONTHS   12 MONTHS
P BEFORE USE   WEEKLY   6 MONTHS   6 MONTHS   12 MONTHS
H BEFORE USE   WEEKLY   6 MONTHS   6 MONTHS   12 MONTHS
SCHOOLS
(Notes 4, 6)
S WEEKLY   NONE   12 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   48 MONTHS 
IT WEEKLY   NONE   12 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   48 MONTHS 
M WEEKLY   6 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   48 MONTHS 
P WEEKLY   6 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   48 MONTHS 
H BEFORE USE   6 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   48 MONTHS 
HOTELS
(Notes 5, 6)
S NONE   24 MONTHS   60 MONTHS   24 MONTHS   NONE
IT NONE   24 MONTHS   60 MONTHS   24 MONTHS   NONE
M WEEKLY   12 MONTHS    24 MONTHS   24 MONTHS   NONE
P WEEKLY   12 MONTHS    24 MONTHS   24 MONTHS   NONE
H BEFORE USE   12 MONTHS    24 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   NONE
OFFICES AND SHOPS
(Note 6)
S NONE   24 MONTHS   60 MONTHS   24 MONTHS   NONE
IT NONE   24 MONTHS   60 MONTHS   24 MONTHS   NONE
M WEEKLY   12 MONTHS    24 MONTHS   24 MONTHS   NONE
P WEEKLY   12 MONTHS    24 MONTHS   24 MONTHS   NONE
H BEFORE USE   12 MONTHS    24 MONTHS   12 MONTHS   NONE
 
KEY TYPE OF EQUIPMENT
S STATIONARY
IT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
M MOVEABLE
P PORTABLE
H HAND-HELD
 
Notes for Table 7.1

Note 1: The formal visual inspection may form part of the combined inspection and tests when they coincide, and is to be recorded.
Note 2: A 100v earthed centre-tapped supply. 230v portable or handheld equipment is required to be supplied via a 13mA R.C.D. and inspections and tests may need to be carried out more frequently. (e.g. a check of a portable R.C.D via it's manual test button)
Note 3: For some equipment such as children's rides or equipment in more onerous environments, a daily check may be necessary.
Note 4: By supervisor / teacher / member of staff.
Note 5: Equipment provided in hotel rooms is equipment used by the public. Equipment in hotels (row 5 in the table) is considered to be equipment in hotels used by the hotel staff.
Note 6: Hired equipment, in use for periods in excess of 1 week, should be included on an equipment register and a risk assessment carried out to determine the future frequency of inspections and testing, unless the equipment is covered by a suppliers lease and maintenance contract, providing the maintenance contract is robust and satisfactory.

  • Its is normally not necessary to test new items of equipment as the manufacturer has already tested them.
  • Battery-operated equipment less than 40 volts requires no visual or in-sevice inspection and testing. Note that specific guidelines for battery drills stc, used in mines, are not within the scope of this Code Of Practice.
  • The information on suggested initial frequencies given in this table is more detailed and specific than HSE guidance, but is not considered to be inconsistent with it.