Periodic Inspection Reporting -
Recommendation Codes for Domestic and Similar
Electrical Installations ,
In General Terms : The Recommendation Codes should be Used as Follows :
Code (1) ( Requires Urgent Attention )
This code is to be used to indicate that danger exists ,
Requiring urgent remedial action .
The persons using the installation are at risk . the person ordering the report should be advised to take action without
Delay to remedy the observed deficiency in the installation , or to take other appropriate action ( such as switching off –
And isolating the affected parts of the installation ) to remove the danger . the inspector should not wait for the full report
To be issued before giving this advice .
As previously indicated . some certification .
Registration and membership bodies make available “ Dangerous Condition “ notification forms to enable inspectors to record ,
And then to communicate immediately to the person ordering the report , any Dangerous condition discovered ,
Code (2) ( Requires Improvement )
This code is used to indicate that the observed deficiency requires action to remove potential danger .
The person ordering the report should be advised that ,
Whilst the safety of those using the installation may not be at immediate risk , remedial action should be taken as soon as possible
To improve the safety of the installation ,
Code (3) ( Requires further investigation )
It would be unusual to need to attribute a Recommendation Code 3 to an observation made during the periodic inspection of a domestic or similar installation ,
However , the code could be used to indicate , that the inspector was unable to come to a conclusion about an aspect of the installation or . alternatively . that the observation was outside the agreed purpose , extent or limitations of the inspection ,
But has come to the inspectors attention during the inspection and testing
The person ordering the report should be advised that the inspection has revealed an apparent deficiency which could not , due
To the agreed extent or limitations of the inspection , be fully indentified , and that the deficiency should be investigated as soon as possible .
A Recommendation Code 3 would usually be associated with an observation on an aspect of the installation that was not foreseen
When the purpose and extent of the inspection , and any limitations upon it , were agreed with the client .
The purpose of periodic inspection is not to carry out a fault-finding exercise .
But to assess and report on the condition of the installation within the agreed extent and limitations of the inspection .
Code 4 ( does not comply with the current issue of BS-7671 )
This code is to be used to indicate that certain items have been identified as not complying with the Requirements of the current issue of BS-7671 , but that the users of the installation are not in any danger as a result ,
The person ordering the report should be advised that the code is not intended to imply that the installation is unsafe , but
That careful consideration should be given to the benefits of improving those aspects of the installation ,
General requirements :
Where you observe a real and immediate danger that puts the safety of those using the installation at risk, you
should give a Recommendation Code 1 (requires urgent attention). You should also advise the customer
immediately (preferably in writing) that urgent work is necessary to remove the danger. This action is
necessary to satisfy the duties imposed on the inspector
and others by the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
A Code 2 recommendation should be given where
the observed deficiency requires action to remove potential danger. In that case the customer should be
advised that, whilst the safety of those using the installation may not be at immediate risk, action should
be taken without delay to remove the potential danger to make the installation safe.
We believe it would not be reasonable to report that the condition of the installation is ‘satisfactory’ if any
observation in the report has been given a Recommendation Code 1 or Code 2 according to Best
Practice Guide No. 4,
The recommended interval until the next inspection should be made conditional upon all the observations
with a Recommendation Code 1 or Code 2 being put right to make the installation safe.
It would be unusual to give a Recommendation Code 3 (requires further investigation) to an observation made
during the periodic inspection of a domestic or similar installation. Where a Code 3 is justified, and there is no
Recommendation Code 1 or 2, you should consider your overall assessment of the condition of the
installation carefully before deciding whether to record it as ‘satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory’ in the report.
Dangers :
During the inspection, you should identify any dangers that might occur during testing, and take appropriate
safety precautions. Where it is necessary to inspect live parts inside equipment the supply to the equipment
must first be isolated, proved dead and locked off, prior to access
Dangerous conditions
If you identify a dangerous condition, you should contact the customer urgently to get permission to
carry out any necessary work to make the condition safe. While waiting for permission, you should make
every effort to reduce the risk of danger to people, animals and property. If necessary the area of danger
should be blocked off and appropriate warning notices fitted.
Disturbance to the installation of the property and its owner (or occupier) :
Any inspection and testing should be done without disturbing the electrical installation or the occupier of
the dwelling more than is necessary. Where it is necessary to disconnect part or all of an installation to
carry out a test, you should do this at time agreed with the owner (or occupier).
Questions :
You may need to ask the homeowner about:
• diagrams of the electrical installation;
• records of previous electrical installation
inspections and tests;
• the electricity supply, for example, the location of
the consumer unit and meter; and
• earthing arrangements, for example, the location
of any protective bonding clamps (such as at the
stopcock for the water main or gas supply).
Usually the homeowner will not have this information,
and you will need to carry out some exploratory work so
inspection and testing can be done safely and
effectively. This work will include gathering information
about circuits, switchgear and controlgear.
Changes :
You should make a note of any known changes, either
in environmental conditions, the structure of the
building or any alterations or additions affecting the
suitability of the present installation, such as whether or
not the method of wiring is still suitable for its present load or environment
Visual inspection of electrical equipment :
You should make a thorough visual inspection of all electrical equipment that is not concealed, including
the accessible internal condition of an appropriate sample of all equipment. (Normally, for each circuit, a
sample of at least 20% to 30% of the accessories or points is necessary.)
The condition of the equipment and of any damage found should be noted and recorded in the report. The
condition of all electrical equipment and materials
sample of at least 20% to 30% of the accessories or points is necessary.)
The condition of the equipment and of any damage found should be noted and recorded in the report. The
condition of all electrical equipment and materials
should also be noted, taking into account any information from the manufacturer. The notes should cover:
• safety
• wear and tear
• corrosion
• damage; excessive loading (overloading)
• age
• external influences (such as mechanical impact or presence of water), and
• if the equipment is suitable for the installation.
You should assess condition of the equipment, together with any changes made to the building or its services
which affect electrical safety.
• Switchgear.
• Luminaries.
• Socket-outlets.
• Other electrical points (such as lighting and cooker points).
Any sign of overheating, overloading or damage to the insulation, armour, sheath or conductors needs to be noted.
Flexible cables and cords :
Where a flexible cable or cord forms part of the fixed wiring installation, your inspection should include:
• an examination of the cable or cord, for damage or faults
• an examination of the terminations and anchorages for damage or faults, and
• evidence of correct installation and extra
protection against mechanical damage and heat,
for example, by using heat-resistant sleeving.
Accessories and switchgear You should make a thorough internal visual inspection
of the accessible parts of a sample of accessories and switchgear to assess their electrical and mechanical condition.
However, every switching device that is a part of the installation under inspection will need to be inspected if the sample inspection shows up:
• results that are noticeably different from any results recorded previously
• results that are noticeably different from those expected, or
• poor conditions (for example, fluid in the accessories or switchgear, or worn or damaged
mechanisms), unless there is clear evidence of how the damage to the equipment occurred.
Protective devices :
You should confirm that protective devices, such as circuit-breakers, fuses and RCDs are:
1. in the correct position
2. in good working order
3. suitable for the type of earthing system
4. of the correct type, size and overload rating (or setting) for the circuits that they protect
5. easy to access for normal operation, maintenance and inspection, and
6. labelled correctly.