This website is best viewed in Internet Explorer 8 or above. You are currently using an old version of Internet Explorer. Please click on this link to update your browser.
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 |
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 |
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.