NAPIT’s Technical Development Engineer, Richard Townsend, provides detail on the organisation’s latest publication dedicated to initial and periodic inspection and testing of electrical installations.
With the recent addition of a publications department at NAPIT, we felt it was high time that of all the experience, knowledge, and understanding of our senior technical team was put to good use so we could give some solid advice and guidance back to the industry.
Until now, all NAPIT’s publications have centred around its core business, that being site-based guidance for electricians (On-site Solutions), periodic inspections (EICR Codebreakers and Landlords Private Rented Sector Guide), and understanding risk assessments (Risk Management Code of Practice).
The one book missing from this list, and enforcing what NAPIT stands for, is a definitive, purpose-written publication covering how to inspect and test an installation, either from an initial verification or periodic perspective.
What’s new?
NAPIT’s technical authors have put together a publication – Guide to Initial Verification and Periodic Inspection and Testing of Electrical installations – that covers everything you need to know about how to carry out an initial or periodic inspection and test a circuit.
Back to basics: what is test equipment?
The book goes into detail to explain all the separate pieces of test equipment we use. Often taken for granted is a multifunction tester, and we mustn’t forget that individual test equipment was where it all started and is still of great value now.
Many electricians new to inspection and testing find it difficult to understand the different tests and instruments that give the required measurements. The best way to deal with this is to breakdown each piece of test equipment and the tests they’re used for – something that is covered in the publication in easy-to-read steps.
Next steps: what are the tests?
After the test equipment, the most daunting part of the testing process is understanding the different tests, when to apply them, and how to do them. The new guide gives an in-depth explanation of all the individual pieces of test equipment required to comply with BS 7671, plus a few extras that are important to have, or at least know how to use.
Along with individual pieces of test equipment, we also cover the more familiar multifunction installation testers (MFTs) that are most common in our industry today. There are also many different test types required by BS 7671, and we explain what all of these are, how to carry out each one, and when to use them.
Time to inspect
After explaining all of the different tests and their respective pieces of test equipment, we need to look at the different inspections. Although we technically inspect before we test, we need to know what the tests are before we start, which is why we explain them first.
There are essentially two inspections to carry out before any testing takes place:
1. Initial verification inspection
2. Periodic inspection
Different inspection schedules cover the two inspections, and although mostly similar, some distinct differences need to be understood. All these differences and schedules are dealt with in detail to give the user an in-depth understanding of the two inspection types and how to carry them out.
Pre- inspection and testing
Before any inspection or testing is carried out, there are a few things we need to confirm for either initial or periodic inspections. Initial verification is a very different process to periodic, and so are the outcomes and the certificates/reports that are produced on completion.
We explain all these differences and the legislation that needs to be taken into account before any work starts. Especially where periodic inspection is concerned, the work that needs to take place before the inspection and any testing starts is very important and can’t just be skipped.
Who is it for?
As we all never stop learning, the new guide has been written to support those just starting off in inspection and testing, those undergoing any training courses which are specifically for inspection and testing, or for the experienced inspector or tester. It complies fully with BS 7671:2018 + Amd 1 and is a ‘must-have’ toolbox book for any electrician.
Order NAPIT’s Guide to Initial Verification and Periodic Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations by clicking here
