Electrical Checks & Inspections
How safe is your wiring
Electrics do wear out!. It is recommended that a domestic electrical installation should be checked at least every 10 years, or on change of occupier. If your electrical installation has been checked, you will probably find an inspection report close to the fuse board.
There are statistics published by the government that state unsafe electrical installations cause over 750 serious accidents and 12,500 fires in homes each year.
Periodic Inspections
A periodic inspection should find any potential problems with your electrical installation. These should be detailed to you on a report, along with any recommendations to make your wiring safe.
Older wiring is not always unsafe
If your wiring is old, it does not mean it is unsafe. It may not meet current regulations, but that does not mean you have to have the wiring updated.
For example, you may have an old fuse board fitted with rewirable fuses. Some people will say that these now have to be replaced with a new fuseboard with circuit breakers. Though a fuse board with circuit breakers would be much better, there is no problem with rewirable fuses if they are installed and maintained correctly.
Additions and alterations have to meet the current regulations
If you have any additions or alterations to your installations, these will need to meet the current regulations.
This may mean upgrading your earth and fitting a Residual Current Device, (RCD). An RCD is a protective device that limits the amount of current that can flow in a circuit.
Remember
- Get a quote for any work, even for a wiring check
- Use a registered Electrician or Electrical Contractor, we recommend an NICEIC registered electrician.
- Discuss payment terms, deposits or stage payments. If possible don't pay until the work is complete.
- Ask questions, reputable companies would welcome them.
