The Institute of Electrical Engineers has set out suggested initial frequencies of inspection and testing of electrical equipment as shown below.

Equipment

use

Type of

equipment

User checks

Class I

Class II

 

 

 

Not recorded

unless a fault is found

Formal visual inspection (Note1)

 

Recorded

Combined inspection and testing

 

Recorded

Formal visual inspection

(Note 1)

 

Recorded

Combined inspection and testing

 

Recorded

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

Construction sites

110 V

equipment

S

none

1 month

3 months

1 month

3 months

IT

none

1 month

3 months

1 month

3 months

M (Note 2) 

weekly

1 month

3 months

1 month

3 months

P (Note 2)

weekly

1 month

3 months

1 month

3 months

H (Note 2)

weekly

1 month

3 months

1 month

3 months

Industrial including Commercial Kitchens

S

weekly

None

12 months

None

12 months

IT

weekly

None

12 months

None

12 months

M

before use

1 month

12 months

3 months

12 months

P

before use

1 month

6 months

3 months

6 months

H

before use

1 month

6 months

3 months

6 months

Equipment used by the

public

S

Note 3,4

monthly

12 months

3 months

12 months

IT

Note 3,4

monthly

12 months

3 months

12 months

M

Note 3,4

weekly

6 months

1 month

12 months

P

Note 3,4

weekly

6 months

1 month

12 months

H

Note 3,4

weekly

6 months

1 month

12 months

Schools

(Note 4)

S

Weekly

None

12 months

12 months

48 months

IT

Weekly

None

12 months

12 months

48 months

M

Weekly

4 months

12 months

4 months

48 months

P

Weekly

4 months

12 months

4 months

48 months

H

before use

4 months

12 months

4 months

48 months

Hotels

(Note 5)

S

None

24 months

48 months

24 months

None

IT

None

24 months

48 months

24 months

None

M

weekly

12 months

24 months

24 months

None

P

weekly

12 months

24 months

24 months

None

H

before use

6 months

12 months

6 months

None

Offices and Shops

 

S

None

24 months

48 months

24 months

None

IT

None

24 months

48 months

24 months

None

M

weekly

12 months

24 months

24 months

None

P

weekly

12 months

24 months

24 months

None

H

before use

6 months

12 months

6 months

None



Notes

  1. The formal visual inspection may form part of the combined inspection and tests when they coincide, and is to be recorded.
  2. >110V earthed centre-tapped supply. 230V portable or hand-held equipment is required to be supplied via a 30mA RCD and inspections and tests carried out more frequently.
  3. For some equipment such as children's rides a daily check may be necessary.
  4. By supervisor/teacher/member of staff.
  5. Equipment provided in hotels rooms is equipment used by the public. Equipment in hotels (in table) is considered to be equipment in hotels used by the hotel staff.
  • It is normally not necessary to test new items of equipment as the manufacturer has already tested them.
  • The information on suggested initial frequencies given above is more detailed and specific than HSE guidance, but is not considered to be inconsistent with it.
S Stationary Equipment

IT Information Technology Equipment

M Movable Equipment

P Portable Equipment

H Hand-Held Equipment