As an approved electrician, one of the most important tasks is to carry out electrical testing of a domestic premises. Electrical testing is necessary to ensure that the electrical installation of a property is safe and complies with the relevant safety standards. In this article, we will discuss the process of electrical testing of a domestic premises and the steps involved in the process.
Preparation for Electrical Testing
Before carrying out electrical testing,(also known as EICR) it is important to prepare for the process. The following are the steps involved in preparing for electrical testing of a domestic premises:
Obtain permission from the owner/landlord: As an approved electrician, it is important to obtain permission from the owner/landlord of the property before carrying out electrical testing. This is necessary to avoid any legal issues that may arise.
Obtain access to the property: It is important to obtain access to the property to carry out electrical testing. The owner/landlord should provide access to the property and ensure that the electrician is able to carry out the testing without any interruption.
Gather relevant documents: The electrician should gather all relevant documents related to the electrical installation of the property. This includes previous electrical testing reports, electrical installation certificates, and any other relevant documents.
Obtain necessary equipment: The electrician should ensure that they have all the necessary equipment to carry out electrical testing. This includes test equipment such as a multimeter, insulation resistance tester, and a loop impedance tester.
Switch off the power supply: Before carrying out electrical testing, it is important to switch off the power supply to the property. This is necessary to ensure that the electrician is safe while carrying out the testing.
Electrical Testing Process
Once the preparation is done, the electrician can begin the process of electrical testing. The following are the steps involved in the electrical testing process:
Visual inspection: The electrician should carry out a visual inspection of the electrical installation of the property. This includes checking the condition of cables, switches, sockets, and any other electrical equipment.
Testing of earthing and bonding: The electrician should test the earthing and bonding of the electrical installation. This is necessary to ensure that the electrical installation is adequately grounded and that all conductive parts are correctly bonded.
Continuity testing: The electrician should carry out continuity testing to ensure that there is a continuous path for the flow of electrical current. This includes testing the continuity of all cables, including protective conductors and bonding conductors.
Insulation resistance testing: The electrician should carry out insulation resistance testing to ensure that there is no breakdown of insulation between conductors or between conductors and earth. This includes testing the insulation resistance of all cables and equipment.
Polarity testing: The electrician should carry out polarity testing to ensure that the polarity of the electrical installation is correct. This includes testing the polarity of all sockets and switches.
Earth loop impedance testing: The electrician should carry out earth loop impedance testing to ensure that the impedance of the earth loop is within the required limits. This includes testing the impedance of all protective conductors.
RCD testing: The electrician should carry out RCD testing to ensure that the RCDs are functioning correctly. This includes testing the operation time, current rating, and tripping current of all RCDs.
Functional testing: The electrician should carry out functional testing to ensure that all electrical equipment is functioning correctly. This includes testing all switches, sockets, and other electrical equipment.
Verification: Once all the testing is complete, the electrician should verify that the electrical installation complies with the relevant safety standards. This includes
