Frequently Asked Questions
How often do I need to carry out a Fixed Wiring Inspection (PIR)?
Frequency depends upon the type of installation, its use and operation, quality and frequency of maintenance and any external influences. BS 7671 recommends:
10 years - Domestic Installations
5 years - Commercial installations
3 years - Industrial & External Installations
1 year - Buildings open to the public, Caravan Parks
3 months - Short Term Installations & Site Installations.
The I.T. Department says I don't have to PAT test every year, is that correct?
The IET Code of Practice states: (www.theiet.org.uk)
| Premises | Type of Equipment | User Checks |
|
|
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial, including commercial kitchens | Stationary | weekly | None | 1 year | None | 1 year | ||||||||
| IT equipment | weekly | none | 1 year | none | 1 year | |||||||||
| Moveable | before use | 1 month | 1 year | 3 months | 1 year | |||||||||
| Portable | before use | 1 month | 6 months | 3 months | 6 months | |||||||||
| Handheld | before use | 1 month | 6 months | 3 months | 6 months | |||||||||
| Equipment used by the public | Stationary | Note+ | 1 month | 1 year | 3 months | 1 year |
| IT equipment | Note+ | 1 month | 1 year | 3 months | 1 year | |
| Moveable | Note+ | weekly | 6 months | 1 month | 1 year | |
| Portable | Note+ | weekly | 6 months | 1 month | 1 year | |
| Handheld | Note+ | weekly | 6 months | 1 month | 1 year |
Note+: For some equipment, i.e. children's rides, a daily check may be necessary.
How often should we test our Emergency Lighting?
BS5266 recommends:
User Checks
DAILY: Check indicator light and that all maintained luminaires are operating. Check that any previously recorded fault has been rectified. Record any faults.
MONTHLY: In addition to the daily test procedures you must simulate a mains failure of no more than ¼ of the rated duration.
Engineer Tests
SIX MONTHLY: Simulates a mains failure for a continuous period of one hour.
YEARLY: Simulates a mains failure for the full rated duration of the luminaire. Each emergency lighting installation should be tested and inspected to ascertain compliance with BS5266 Part I.
During each test, the lights should be checked for correct operation. After testing, the supply should be restored and then checked to ensure the system is charging correctly. A detailed test schedule and test reports are listed in BS 5266.
