A Look at Fixed Wire Testing

All business owners and managers should be fully aware that they need to have electrical testing undertaken within their premises on a regular basis. As well as having all their portable appliances tested, they also need to ensure that fixed wire testing is undertaken no less frequently than every five years. Fixed wire testing involves testing all the wiring which is hidden behind walls and ceilings, as well as those beneath the floors to ensure they are in good working order and therefore pose no threat to anybody who either works within, or enters your premises.

 

Although the legislation says that testing the fixed circuits should be undertaken every 5 years, it is also suggested that the testing of electrical circuits should be done more frequently than this. As portable appliance testing is usually carried out on an annual basis, many testing companies also carry out additional electrical testing on the fixed circuits whilst they are on your premises, usually by testing approximately 20% of the fixed lighting and mains circuits on each annual visit. This method means that the entire fixed electrical system will have been subject to the necessary testing over a five year period and is often more cost effective than having 5 annual visits for the PAT testing, plus an additional visit for the fixed wire testing.

 

If you're having your fixed circuits tested for the first time, you may well be anticipating maximum upheaval as all the electrical wiring which is hidden behind walls, floors and ceilings is revealed for inspection. You may have a vision of the plasterboard walls being removed, floorboards being lifted and false ceilings being taken down, however this could not be further from the truth. Although some disruption to your normal working practices is to be expected, it's not anything like having the building gutted.

 

Powering down the circuits being tested for a short period of time is necessary as the test electrician needs to send test currents through the system to check for any current or potential faults. This means that every inch of the fixed wiring does not need to be visually inspected and hence, the process is as quick and hassle free as possible. With proper planning and preparation, the electrical testing of your fixed circuits can be undertaken whilst certain departments are on their lunch break, on training courses or if possible, whilst the office or business is closed, over the weekend for example. However some testing electricians may charge more for testing your systems on the weekend than they would during the week. Proper planning and preparation will however minimise disruption to your normal working practises whilst this essential safety testing is carried out.