OP
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FOR DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, INSPECTION & TESTING :
I being the person responsible for the Design, Construction, Inspection & Testing of the electrical
installation (as indicated by my signature below), particulars of which are described above, having
exercised reasonable skill and care when carrying out the Design, Construction, Inspection & Testing,
hereby CERTIFY that the said work for which I have been responsible is to the best of my knowledge
and belief in accordance with BS-7671:2008 , amended to .............(date) except for the departures, if any, detailed as follows ,
(vi) A Minor Works Certificate will indicate the responsibility for design, construction, inspection and testing of
the work described on the certificate.
(vii) A Periodic Inspection Report will indicate the responsibility for the inspection and testing of an installation
within the extent and limitations specified on the report.
(viii) A Schedule of Inspections and a Schedule of Test Results as required by part 6 should be issued with the
associated Electrical Installation Certificate or Periodic Inspection Report.
(ix) When making out and signing a form on behalf of a company or other business entity, individuals should
state for whom they are acting.
(x) Additional forms may be required as clarification, if needed by ordinary persons, or in expansion, for large
or more complex installations.
(xi) The IEE Guidance Note 3 provides further information on inspection and testing on completion and for periodic inspections ,
ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION CERTIFICATES NOTES FOR FORMS 1 AND 2 :
1. The Electrical Installation Certificate is to be used only for the initial certification of a new installation or
for an addition or alteration to an existing installation where new circuits have been introduced.
It is not to be used for a Periodic Inspection, for which a Periodic Inspection Report form should be used.
For an addition or alteration which does not extend to the introduction of new circuits, a Minor Electrical
Installation Works Certificate may be used.
The "original" Certificate is to be given to the person ordering the work (Regulation 632.1 . A duplicate
should be retained by the contractor.
2. This Certificate is only valid if accompanied by the Schedule of Inspections and the Schedule(s) of Test
Results.
3. The signatures appended are those of the persons authorized by the companies executing the work of
design, construction, inspection and testing respectively. A signatory authorized to certify more than
one category of work should sign in each of the appropriate places.
4. The time interval recommended before the first periodic inspection must be inserted (see IEE
Note 3 for guidance).
5. The page numbers for each of the Schedules of Test Results should be indicated, together with the total
number of sheets involved.
6. The maximum prospective fault current recorded should be the greater of either the short-circuit current or
the earth fault current.
7. The proposed date for the next inspection should take into consideration the frequency and quality of
maintenance that the installation can reasonably be expected to receive during its intended life, and the
period should be agreed between the designer, installer and other relevant parties
SCHEDULES (note 2)
The attached Schedules are part of this document and this Certificate is valid only when they are attached to it.
............ Schedules of Inspections and ............ Schedules of Test Results are attached
(Enter quantities of schedules attached)
GUIDANCE FOR RECIPIENTS
This safety Certificate has been issued to confirm that the electrical installation work to which it relates has been designed, constructed, inspected and tested in accordance with
British Standard 7671 (the IEE Wiring Regulations).
You should have received an "original" Certificate and the contractor should have retained a duplicate. If you were the person ordering the work, but not the owner of the
installation, you should pass this Certificate, or a full copy of it including the schedules, immediately to the owner.
The Certificate should be retained in a safe place and be shown to any person inspecting or undertaking further work on the electrical installation in the future. If you later vacate
the property, this Certificate will demonstrate to the new owner that the electrical installation complied with the requirements of British Standard 7671 at the time the Certificate
was issued. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations require that for a project covered by those Regulations, a copy of this Certificate, together with schedules is
included in the project health and safety documentation.
For safety reasons, the electrical installation will need to be inspected at appropriate intervals by a competent person. The maximum time interval recommended before the next
inspection is stated on Page 1 under "Next Inspection".
This Certificate is intended to be issued only for a new electrical installation or for new work associated with an addition or alteration or to an existing installation. It should not
have been issued for the inspection of an existing electrical installation. A "Periodic Inspection Report" should be issued for such an inspection ,
The Certificate is only valid if a Schedule of Inspections and Schedule of Test Results are appended ,
Excess earth leakage
The RCDs operating principle is to measure the current imbalance between that flowing into and out of a circuit down live and neutral wires. In an ideal world the current difference would be zero, however in the real world there are a various different types of equipment that will legitimately have a small amount of leakage to earth, even operating normally. If the RCD is protecting too many such devices then it is possible that the cumulative result of all these small leakages will be enough to either
• trip the RCD
• or by passing most of the RCD's trip threshold current, make the RCD excessively sensitive to any additional leakage currents
Appliances that typically exhibit high leakage currents
Dampness : Any device that handles water and electricity will be vulnerable to dampness getting into electrical connections or wiring harnesses. This can result in short term high levels of leakage that mysteriously vanish later (as the affected item dries out). Even condensation forming in equipment can cause this problem.
Split water heater elements. These cause gross earth leakage, and conduct it directly through the water being heated. Contrary to what we were taught about electricity and water in primary school, this does not cause electrocution in practice. Split elements can however cause overcurrent leading to overheating of electrical accessories.
DC Resistance tests :
First ensure that power is switched off at the main switch. Ensure all appliances are disconnected from the circuit. These tests require that you disconnect the circuit under test from the consumer unit. In the case of a Ring circuit remember to disconnect both legs of the ring. All tests are initially performed on the disconnected ends of the circuit.
There are a number of basic tests that you can do that will identify a great many of the fixed wiring faults that can cause nuisance tripping.
Test :
Live / Neutral Resistance
Purpose :
The first test is a simple resistance test between live and neutral. This test should be done using the highest resistance range on your multimeter. Normally with all the appliances disconnected you would expect to see an open circuit between live and neutral. If this is not the case then you either have something still connected, or you have a serious insulation resistance problem.
Live Earth Resistance :
This test should also indicate an open circuit with the multimeter on its highest resistance measuring range. Any non infinite reading here could be a direct indication of your problem. If you get a non infinite resistance reading, you may be able to track down the location of the fault by breaking the circuit up at strategic points ( typically by disconnecting part of it at an accessory position ).
Again this test ought to indicate infinite resistance. However it is possible that a very low resistance measurement could exist and yet the circuit still work some of the time (especially on systems with TN-C-S Earthing ). Unlike a low resistance reading on a Live to Earth test, this fault would not immediately trip a MCB or blow a fuse .
Neutral Earth Resistance :
Tracing the location of the short or bridge can again be done using the segmenting procedure described above, and also by careful low resistance measurements made in conjunction with expected cable resistances (or see the table in the IEE Wiring Regulations On Site Guide ).
A typical cause of this type of fault, is where a concealed cable has been damaged by a fastening being driven through it. (so if any shelves or pictures have been hung recently, there is a good place to start looking).
I being the person responsible for the Design, Construction, Inspection & Testing of the electrical
installation (as indicated by my signature below), particulars of which are described above, having
exercised reasonable skill and care when carrying out the Design, Construction, Inspection & Testing,
hereby CERTIFY that the said work for which I have been responsible is to the best of my knowledge
and belief in accordance with BS-7671:2008 , amended to .............(date) except for the departures, if any, detailed as follows ,
(vi) A Minor Works Certificate will indicate the responsibility for design, construction, inspection and testing of
the work described on the certificate.
(vii) A Periodic Inspection Report will indicate the responsibility for the inspection and testing of an installation
within the extent and limitations specified on the report.
(viii) A Schedule of Inspections and a Schedule of Test Results as required by part 6 should be issued with the
associated Electrical Installation Certificate or Periodic Inspection Report.
(ix) When making out and signing a form on behalf of a company or other business entity, individuals should
state for whom they are acting.
(x) Additional forms may be required as clarification, if needed by ordinary persons, or in expansion, for large
or more complex installations.
(xi) The IEE Guidance Note 3 provides further information on inspection and testing on completion and for periodic inspections ,
ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION CERTIFICATES NOTES FOR FORMS 1 AND 2 :
1. The Electrical Installation Certificate is to be used only for the initial certification of a new installation or
for an addition or alteration to an existing installation where new circuits have been introduced.
It is not to be used for a Periodic Inspection, for which a Periodic Inspection Report form should be used.
For an addition or alteration which does not extend to the introduction of new circuits, a Minor Electrical
Installation Works Certificate may be used.
The "original" Certificate is to be given to the person ordering the work (Regulation 632.1 . A duplicate
should be retained by the contractor.
2. This Certificate is only valid if accompanied by the Schedule of Inspections and the Schedule(s) of Test
Results.
3. The signatures appended are those of the persons authorized by the companies executing the work of
design, construction, inspection and testing respectively. A signatory authorized to certify more than
one category of work should sign in each of the appropriate places.
4. The time interval recommended before the first periodic inspection must be inserted (see IEE
Note 3 for guidance).
5. The page numbers for each of the Schedules of Test Results should be indicated, together with the total
number of sheets involved.
6. The maximum prospective fault current recorded should be the greater of either the short-circuit current or
the earth fault current.
7. The proposed date for the next inspection should take into consideration the frequency and quality of
maintenance that the installation can reasonably be expected to receive during its intended life, and the
period should be agreed between the designer, installer and other relevant parties
SCHEDULES (note 2)
The attached Schedules are part of this document and this Certificate is valid only when they are attached to it.
............ Schedules of Inspections and ............ Schedules of Test Results are attached
(Enter quantities of schedules attached)
GUIDANCE FOR RECIPIENTS
This safety Certificate has been issued to confirm that the electrical installation work to which it relates has been designed, constructed, inspected and tested in accordance with
British Standard 7671 (the IEE Wiring Regulations).
You should have received an "original" Certificate and the contractor should have retained a duplicate. If you were the person ordering the work, but not the owner of the
installation, you should pass this Certificate, or a full copy of it including the schedules, immediately to the owner.
The Certificate should be retained in a safe place and be shown to any person inspecting or undertaking further work on the electrical installation in the future. If you later vacate
the property, this Certificate will demonstrate to the new owner that the electrical installation complied with the requirements of British Standard 7671 at the time the Certificate
was issued. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations require that for a project covered by those Regulations, a copy of this Certificate, together with schedules is
included in the project health and safety documentation.
For safety reasons, the electrical installation will need to be inspected at appropriate intervals by a competent person. The maximum time interval recommended before the next
inspection is stated on Page 1 under "Next Inspection".
This Certificate is intended to be issued only for a new electrical installation or for new work associated with an addition or alteration or to an existing installation. It should not
have been issued for the inspection of an existing electrical installation. A "Periodic Inspection Report" should be issued for such an inspection ,
The Certificate is only valid if a Schedule of Inspections and Schedule of Test Results are appended ,
Excess earth leakage
The RCDs operating principle is to measure the current imbalance between that flowing into and out of a circuit down live and neutral wires. In an ideal world the current difference would be zero, however in the real world there are a various different types of equipment that will legitimately have a small amount of leakage to earth, even operating normally. If the RCD is protecting too many such devices then it is possible that the cumulative result of all these small leakages will be enough to either
• trip the RCD
• or by passing most of the RCD's trip threshold current, make the RCD excessively sensitive to any additional leakage currents
Appliances that typically exhibit high leakage currents
Dampness : Any device that handles water and electricity will be vulnerable to dampness getting into electrical connections or wiring harnesses. This can result in short term high levels of leakage that mysteriously vanish later (as the affected item dries out). Even condensation forming in equipment can cause this problem.
Split water heater elements. These cause gross earth leakage, and conduct it directly through the water being heated. Contrary to what we were taught about electricity and water in primary school, this does not cause electrocution in practice. Split elements can however cause overcurrent leading to overheating of electrical accessories.
DC Resistance tests :
First ensure that power is switched off at the main switch. Ensure all appliances are disconnected from the circuit. These tests require that you disconnect the circuit under test from the consumer unit. In the case of a Ring circuit remember to disconnect both legs of the ring. All tests are initially performed on the disconnected ends of the circuit.
There are a number of basic tests that you can do that will identify a great many of the fixed wiring faults that can cause nuisance tripping.
Test :
Live / Neutral Resistance
Purpose :
The first test is a simple resistance test between live and neutral. This test should be done using the highest resistance range on your multimeter. Normally with all the appliances disconnected you would expect to see an open circuit between live and neutral. If this is not the case then you either have something still connected, or you have a serious insulation resistance problem.
Live Earth Resistance :
This test should also indicate an open circuit with the multimeter on its highest resistance measuring range. Any non infinite reading here could be a direct indication of your problem. If you get a non infinite resistance reading, you may be able to track down the location of the fault by breaking the circuit up at strategic points ( typically by disconnecting part of it at an accessory position ).
Again this test ought to indicate infinite resistance. However it is possible that a very low resistance measurement could exist and yet the circuit still work some of the time (especially on systems with TN-C-S Earthing ). Unlike a low resistance reading on a Live to Earth test, this fault would not immediately trip a MCB or blow a fuse .
Neutral Earth Resistance :
Tracing the location of the short or bridge can again be done using the segmenting procedure described above, and also by careful low resistance measurements made in conjunction with expected cable resistances (or see the table in the IEE Wiring Regulations On Site Guide ).
A typical cause of this type of fault, is where a concealed cable has been damaged by a fastening being driven through it. (so if any shelves or pictures have been hung recently, there is a good place to start looking).
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