Our Guide To Electrical Inspection Preparation
Electrical inspections are essential to ensure the safety, efficiency, and compliance of electrical systems within your home or business. Not only is it essential to check whether your electrical systems are operating as they should, but it is also part of UK regulations for your electrics to be efficient making inspections even more vital.
From routine checks to a more formal inspection, such as during property sales or as part of a construction project, being well-prepared can save you time and money. Electrical inspection preparation is incredibly important to ensure that the assessment is effective and this guide will share how it should be done.
Using our experience as professional electricians, SCV Electrical provides a step-by-step guide to electrical inspection preparation so you can get things started on the right foot.
What Is An Electrical Inspection And Why Do I Need One?
An electricial inspection is a thorough assessment of your property’s electrical systems, including circuit breakers, fuses, wires, and any fixtures, to ensure they function correctly and align with current safety regulations. Inspections may also involve individual appliances to ensure they are compatible with your current set-up and complaint.
During these inspections, a professional electrician will look for potential hazards and wear and tear within your electrical systems, such as overloaded circuits or faulty wiring. They will also determine whether your set-up is compliant with the current safety regulations and electrical codes.
By working with a professional engineer for these inspections, not only can you guarantee the most accurate results from the assessment, but you will receive official documents to record the findings and results. Professional electricians, such as our team, can also offer any necessary repairs or upgrades.
Electrical inspections must be performed regularly to ensure that your property remains compliant with the current regulations. These regulations, both nationally and locally, are subject to change and is it vital that your property keeps up to date with any upgrades.
By being in line with current regulations, you can also reduce the risks of electric failures and fires as your systems operate efficiently.
Steps To Electrical Inspection Preparation
Now that you understand the importance of electrical inspections, it is time to book your next one. Ahead of the electrician visiting your home or business, there are several things you should do for electrical inspection preparation to ensure the assessment runs smoothly:
1) Understand The Scope Of The Inspection
The first step in electrical inspection preparation is to understand what is going to take place and the scope of your specific assessment. There are several types of electrical inspections, from routine checks to complete system assessments, and the necessary preparation for each will vary.
Understanding the scope of your upcoming inspection will make it easier to determine what kind of electrical inspection preparation is needed and how to best get your property ready.
To determine this, speak to your electrician or refer to the local building code to see what will be covered, so you know which areas need attention ahead of time.
2) Perform A Preliminary Self-Inspection
Performing your own checks ahead of the official assessment is a great method of electrical inspection preparation. This gives you a good idea of your system’s current state and prepares you for any issues that may arise during the checks.
Anything that you can get resolved during your electrical inspection preparation can prevent issues later on during the official report. During your own assessment, look for common hazards such as damaged outlets, overloaded circuits or extension cords, flickering lights, and loose wiring.
These can indicate that there are underlying issues within your electrical system and these should be addressed when working with a professional. It is a good idea to seek out any repairs immediately to avoid further hazards.
3) Research Current Electrical Codes And Regulations
A large part of electrical inspections is determining whether a property is compliant with current regulations, which is why research is incredibly useful during preparation.
As part of your electrical inspection preparation, you should take some time to read up on the current regulations and electrical codes, as these will determine whether your property is safe. Seeing what is currently required of your property will help you determine whether you will pass the inspection and what kind of work is going to be required.
It is important to note that there are different regulations for residential and commercial properties. Some things to look out for when researching regulations and determining whether your property is compliant include:
- Minimum gauge requirements are met for wiring. This is different for both residential and commercial properties
- All electrical panels and circuit breakers are properly labelled and accessible, as they will need to be assessed by the electrical
- Outlets near water sources, such as in the kitchen or by the bathroom, are protected by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)
If you are unsure about where your property stands in terms of the current electrical codes, this will be addressed by professionals during the inspection. However, learning what you can and ensuring your property is compliant during your electrical inspection preparation can help save time and stress.
4) Make Sure Your Property Is Accessible
A key part of electrical inspection preparation is clearing the clutter, as this can interfere with the work of the electrician and make the inspection more difficult to complete.
Inspectors need to have access to all areas of the property where electrical components are, including the main electrical panel, outlets, switches, and appliances. To make this easier for them, ensure that a large portion of time during your electrical inspection preparation is spent clearing the clutter and removing any obstacles from the area. This includes furniture, boxes, and anything else that may be blocking electrical panels, outlets and plugs.
For larger properties, such as commercial spaces, it is also a good idea to keep blueprints and electrical records on hand as this can make it easier for the inspector to find what they need.
The electrical inspection preparation you do now can help save time and hassle during the assessment.
5) Upgrade Outdated Systems And Equipment
If you suspect that any part of your electrical system is damaged or outdated, or this is determined during your self-assessment, now is the time to get it repaired.
Upgrading and repairing equipment during your electrical inspection preparation can help save time and money when the official assessment comes around. It will also ensure that your property is deemed compliant and will pass the inspection.
Although upgrades such as replacing outdated fuse boxes with modern circuit breakers or replacing insufficient outlets with newer ones may seem like a large expense at first, it will save you money in the long run. These will need to be done at some point, and when deemed unsafe during your electrical inspection you may have only a short period of time to get things done.
This is why it is best to do any repairs and upgrades as part of your electrical inspection preparation and give your property the best chance to succeed ahead of time.
6) Ensure Essential Safety Features Are In Place
During an electrical inspection, the safety of your overall property will be assessed as this plays a role in how effective electric systems are.
As part of electrical inspection preparation, you need to ensure that the required safety features are in place across your property and are compliant.
This includes fire alarms and smoke detectors, as well as surge protectors and carbon monoxide alarms all of which need to be in place and fully functional across your premises.
7) Prepare Questions For the Inspector
Throughout your electrical inspection preparation, you should have been gathering information about your home or business. You may have questions regarding your current electrical systems, any required upgrades, as well as ongoing maintenance all of which can be brought to
the inspector following their assessment.
Taking some time before the inspection to consider the questions you want to ask ensures that you are getting the most out of this appointment. Electricians can recommend the best upgrades and repairs to make your systems more efficient, as well as deliver the ongoing maintenance to keep it this way.
Use the inspection as an opportunity to talk one-on-one with the professionals and learn as much about your property as possible.
Conclusion
Electrical inspections are vital to ensure the safety, efficiency and compliance of homes and businesses. These are official inspections performed by qualified engineers to determine whether your electrical systems, outlets, wiring and appliances are in optimal condition.
To ensure that this inspection goes smoothly, there are several steps of electrical inspection preparation you should follow. From performing a preliminary inspection to handling paperwork, preparing for the inspection ahead of time will make the process hassle-free for everyone involved.
Contact Us Today
Whether you require an electrical inspection or repairs, SCV Electrical can help. We offer a range of services and our team is always available to help. Contact us today to learn more.
