Any electrical contractor constructing a new electrical installation, or altering or adding to an existing electrical installation, should issue an Electrical Installation Certificate, which is a safety declaration confirming that their work complies with the national safety standard. An electrical contractor reporting on the condition of an existing electrical installation should issue a Periodic Inspection Report detailing their findings and providing recommendations for any work that needs to be carried out. The certificate or report should be fully completed and signed

In less time than you may think, the electrics in your home can become damaged or worn through general wear and tear. It’s important to get them inspected and tested to check they’re still safe to use.  You should get checks done at least every ten years. If the electrics in your property have been checked before, a notice will usually be fixed on or near the fuse board recommending the next inspection date.  This might all sound dull but government statistics show unsafe electrical installations cause more than 750 serious accidents and 12,500 fires in homes each year.  If you are moving home, you need to know about the electrics in your new property. Be extra cautious if the property is old as it runs a higher risk of having faulty wiring. Don’t put your life or your investment at risk; get an electrical survey on your new home before you sign on the dotted line. 

According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), property surveys that do look at electrics only include a visual inspection of the electrics that are on show. RICS advise clients to be very cautious if the electrics look suspicious because of the potentially high costs of putting things right. You can’t see what’s behind the walls so it’s best to get a trained electrical engineer to inspect and test it.  An electrical survey, also known as a Periodic Inspection, looks for possible electric shock risks and fire hazards. The electrician will carry out tests on wiring and fixed electrical equipment, identify any faulty electrical work and highlight if safety measures (such as bonding) are present in the bathroom. After the inspection, you will be given an electrical survey report (Periodic Inspection Report). The report identifies the overall condition of all the electrics, stating whether it is satisfactory for continued use and any work which might need to be done.

Does your property need a complete rewire?
If your electrical survey has thrown up an unsatisfactory result, or the wiring in your home is very old and you need a rewire, follow these simple guidelines.  Start by preparing a brief of what you need and what you expect from the electrician. Contact at least three registered electricians (it’s advisable to use an electrician registered with a government authorised scheme such as the Elecsa or NICEIC, as rewiring must comply with Building Regulations) so that you can compare quotes.  Discuss the quotation with each contractor; the lowest price may not necessarily be the best. Don’t forget to ask if there is a charge for the quotation (Dragoman Solutions don’t charge for quotations), and discuss payment terms such as the deposit and/or stage payments before work begins.  Agree a timescale of the installation with a definite start and finish date. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – no reputable electrician will have a problem with that.

The job
1 Make a list of the number of sockets and lighting points you would like in each room
2 If you want wires concealed and accessories flushed in, make sure the electrician clearly understands this. Write it all down so it’s clear. (We would recommend that all cables are installed in plastic conduit)
3 If you plan to buy your own light fittings or accessories for the electrician to fit, check with the contractor that they are suitable
Rewire first, decorate later
Rewiring your home can be a messy job – it’s best to forget about decorating until it is finished. It can also cause major disruptions to the household as carpets and floorboards are up. You could also be without cooking facilities and hot water for some time so you should try to keep young children and pets out of the way. Or if you have confidence in your chosen electrician, you could take a holiday whilst the work is carried out (this may also result in a lower price as the contractor does not have to put the boards back, carpets down and get the circuits back on each night).  To minimise disruption set some ground rules with your electrician before work begins

• Get agreement that they will clear up after each day’s work (We will always do this)
• Get agreement that they will screw down all floorboards raised after completion (We always do this)

When your rewire and other installations are completed our electrician will give you an electrical installation certificate which confirms the work has been carried out, inspected and tested in accordance with BS 7671, the national safety standard for electrical installations.  Within 30 days of the work being completed, you will also receive a certificate that confirms that the work complies with Part P of the Building Regulations.  It is a legal requirement to comply with Building Regulations.  If, during the course of the work, you require alterations or additions to the installation, request a fixed price. Finally, check with our electrician if the local Public Supply Authority will be required to disconnect and re-connect the electrical supply to which there may be additional charges.

Part P of the Building Regulations
Part P of the Building Regulations for England and Wales was introduced by the government in January 2005, with an aim of reducing the number of accidents in the home related to faulty electrical installations. Similiar laws apply in Scotland. it is now a legal requirement for electricians, kitchen, bathroom and gas installers, and all other trades or individuals involved in carrying out domestic electrician work to comply with Building Regulations. Most electrical installations carried out in a property are now notifiable: In other words the local authority building control must be notified prior to the work being carried out. The exception is if it is carried out, and certified by a person registered with a government-authorised competent scheme such as Elecsa or NICEIC. Failure to comply with Part P is a criminal offence and local authorities have the power to require the removal or alteration of work that does not comply with regulations.

Portable Equipment Outdoors
In domestic premises, all sockets outlets, which may be used for portable equipment outdoors, should be protected by an RCD ( a safety device that switches off the electricity automatically when it detects an earth fault) to provide protection against electric shock.  Socket outlet installed below kitchen worktops may usually be considered to be unavailable for connection of outdoor portable equipment, and would therefore not be required to be RCD protected. It is wise to exclude socket outlets intended for refrigerators and freezers from circuits which require sensitive RCD protection.