Whats a 'Periodic'?

[tan8856]

Weve just moved to a new house and would like to get the electrics checked out to see they are safe/in order. Ive been told by an electrician that I need a 'Periodic' done.

I cant find anything on the net about periodics in domestic properties. What does it entail? What will they check? Ive heard it can take a few hours to do a 4 bed property and its certainly expensive (around £270 inc vat). Do they check every socket, every light switch & fitting.... how about our garden lights?

Thanks

 

[RF Lighting]

Have a look at the similar topics box at the bottom of this page

V

V

V

V

 

[tan8856]

I did but none of them details what it entails

 

[Pensdown]

What does it entail? What will they check? Ive heard it can take a few hours to do a 4 bed property and its certainly expensive (around £270 inc vat). Do they check every socket, every light switch & fitting.... how about our garden lights?Thanks

I'm not in the mood to type all night so I'll start with the 1st 1/2 hour on site and let others continue.

The sparks should start by carrying out a basic visual inspection for their own safety.

They will be looking at the main earthing arrangements and the presence of any RCD's. Then they should inspect for exposed conductors, damaged cables and anything else that might represent a hazard to themselves whilst on site. This will include the wiring in any sheds, garages, out buildings and the garden.

Once they are happy that they are not at risk they will start the inspection and report.

 

[Spark123]

The full name for it is a periodic inspection and test, this produces a Periodic Inspection Report often shortened to PIR.
You can discuss the extent of the inspection with the person, generally they will inspect a % of each circuit, if anything looks new they may look at that too.
It can take a few hours yes, depends how deep you want them to delve. The deeper they look the more accurate the report will be.
At the end of it you should recieve a Periodic Inspection Report.
As for cost, cant see, can't quote

 

[Taylortwocities]

The Electrical Safety Council have an on line 'best practise' guide to PIRs.

It details what the inspection entails. Its aimed at the person doing the inspection but the first 2/3 pages will give you a good overview.

http://www.esc.org.uk/pdfs/business-and-community/electrical-industry/BPG4_08.pdf

 

[plugwash]

Afaict it includes

* checking insulation resistance, EFLI and protective device ratings for all circuits
* testing that all RCDs are behaving within acceptable parameters (note: just because a RCD trips on the test button doesn't mean it is within acceptable parameters)
* looking over the install for obvious problems
* checking inside a sample of accessories (and if a problem is found in one or more of the sample accessories checking the rest)

I may have missed some things but these are the main ones afaict.

A few hours is probablly about right time wise, price will vary depending on area.

 

[ericmark]

Sample paper work also at http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/4000000001253.html and http://www.theiet.org/publishing/wiring-regulations/forms/index.cfm both have explanation notes.

Most people feel an electrician doing the test should hold a C&G2391 but there is no rule or regulation to say he has to have any qualifications it just says he must be able to do the job.

So to ensure you have best chance of getting a good inspection and test I would suggest you use a registered electrician then they have to follow the procedure laid out by the over seeing body.

Also it means they will be insured.

 

[ncoups]

isit mandatory to have a PIR done when changing tenants in a rented accomadation?

 

[Taylortwocities]

If you let property in Engalnd & Wales you must ensure that electrical equipment and system is safe.
The electrical safety regulations are enforced by the Health & Safety Executive.
There is currently no statutory requirement to have annual safety checks, or on change of tenant, on electrical equipment as there is with gas, but it advisable to do so.
You should ensure that tenants are given copies of operating and safety instructions for ALL equipment in the premises.

See http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/electrical_safety.htm

 

[ncoups]

what would the urgency be (1-4) of a ring circuit having a break, and what about if the CU has no rcd protection?

 

[rebuke]

Assuming it's not a TT installation, I'd have thought (note I'm not a qualified spark etc, so these are just opinions, don't take them as fact) that no RCD protection would be a 4, as it's not to current regs, but that doesn't mean it's inherently dangerous. If there's an electric shower, then that not having an RCD might be a 2...

Ring circuit having a break would have to be a 1 or a 2, I'd probably go for a 1, since at that stage the protection measures are no longer adequate (cable probably can't take the fault current, and EFLI may no longer be sufficient etc)...

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I cant find anything on the net about periodics in domestic properties.

CLICK.

 

[ericmark]

Interesting what ncoups says. It was always recommended that an inspection report is carried out on change of occupant but I had no idea that it's now mandatory!
Is this something to do with new buyers pack?
And if mandatory is there also some mandatory qualification that person doing the inspection report must have? It would seem odd to make it mandatory without also making it mandatory to hold C&G 2391 or some other written qualification to say you can do the work.
Under Part P as it stands anyone doing notifiable work can make out their own design inspection and test report and it is then up to the county councils building control as to if they accept the results or have their own tests done.
I know this is not Part P work but seems odd that anyone can do it for Part P but some one who is qualified to an unspecified level needs to do it on change of owner.

As it was it did worry me that a first year apprentice could complete an inspection report. I would have thought there would have been a higher insurance premium for those inspecting other peoples work as the risk of missing something is a lot higher than with your own work.

If there is a special insurance required then it would be good to expand so those reading can ask to see the documents before the work is completed.

 

[ericmark]

As to a hunt for Periodic there are so many things that use that name I can see a problem. In Maths it refers to something to do with bending moments and can refer to anything with set time even wave form of AC current.
A Log Periodic is a type of aerial.
Had however one looked for a Periodic Inspection Report then I am sure you would find all about it. Although the first I clicked on gave an actual report for someone living in Aldershot.

As with a lot of short forms it causes confusion and when referring to a PIR my son though I was talking about an alarm system.

May be we need to create an electrical dictionary so people will under stand what a FCU, RCD, RCCB, MCB, RCBO all mean?

Bet that would be re-creating the wheel and there is already one available?