Sometimes it feels like the government is prying into our personal affairs with their many rules and regulations. One of such areas is the laws governing electrical test certificates. You might be wondering how these many laws translate into a safe and healthy environment for the citizens, after all, most of the operations will be done on your property and will not directly affect anyone else. So why should you get the approval of the government for any operation you’d want to carry out on your property?
Unlike other operations, electricity is very sensitive and if it is not set up properly, it could harm not only visitors but could also cause a serious fire that will spread to neighbouring houses. More so, if the electrical installations are not done properly, it could affect the electrical grid which is a risk the government is not willing to take. This is why they impose these rules on electrical installations. One way they do this is by making sure that every property has an electrical test certificate.
As a homeowner, you need to know a lot about the different types of electrical test certificate so you can accurately determine which one your property needs.
In this post, we’ve taken the time to explain all you need to know about the different types of electrical test certificate so you can make the right decision for your property.
What are the different types of electrical certificates?
Different types of electrical test certificate suit different buildings. If you hire an expert electrician to handle your electrical installations, he will know which electrical certificate will suit your property. However, if you’re going to be doing the electrical work yourself then you need to know the different types of electrical test certificate before you bring in a professional to inspect the work. It is ultimately your responsibility to make sure that the correct certificate is given after the installations are complete.
Minor electrical works installation certificate
As the name implies, this type of electrical test certificate is issued when minor electrical works are done. It certifies that the electrical operations have met the proper standards. This type of electrical test certificate can only be issued by electricians that are “Part P” registered.
Although these are minor electrical works, they still need to pass the part P notification. Part P laws are the laws that guide the proper installation of electrical structures on a property. A Part P notification is an electrical work that needs to be reported to the building control body. This is to ensure that the work was properly done.
Electrical Installation Condition Report.
An Electrical Installation Condition Report or EICR is a regular test/inspection of a building’s electrical system. It is advised that this type of electrical test certificate be carried out at least once in ten years for residential buildings and once in five years for rental buildings. For rental buildings, the test has to be carried out when a new tenant takes over the building. This type of electrical test serves a very important purpose in keeping you safe. This is because a lot of electrical faults will go unnoticed by a novice electrician and many other electrical faults will not just be noticed by the electrician even though he is a professional. This is why this test is important since it helps spot some of these faults.
Electrical Installation Certificate.
This type of electrical test certificate is given as proof that a new electrical equipment has been successfully installed and is in compliance with the Part P laws. This type of electrical test certificate is usually issued by the same electrician who carried out the task but you can conduct the operation yourself and have a Part P certified electrician inspect the job and issue the certificate. An electrical installation certificate is different from the condition report in that the condition report is given in respect of a specific work done and not the general work done on the property. Before the Electrical Installation Certificate will be recognized, a schedule of the inspections and tests should be attached to the certificate.
What can you expect to pay for an electrical test certificate?
The price for an electrical test certificate is not set in stone. Several factors that affect the cost of the certificate. Electricians have the discretion to fix their rate at whatever price they deem fit. Also, the size of the job will affect the cost of the certificate. The longer the task, the higher the cost. Also, if the previous wiring was poorly done, it will take more time to correct the shabby work done and get it up to standard.
Generally, you should expect to pay anything between £60 and £200. This price should cover for some circuits, while additional circuits will likely add to the cost.
An Electrical Test Certificate should be handled by a professional who knows what he is doing. If you need a competent and qualified electrician for your property but don’t know any then you’re in luck because myconstructor.co.uk has the best electricians around.
At myconstructor.co.uk we pride ourselves on delivering nothing but the best. We have organized services that will take that burden off your shoulders and give you that stress-free service you desire.
Furthermore, our prices are reasonable as our services are top tier. We are client-centric. Your satisfaction is our priority. Visit mycontructor.co.uk for a wonderful experience.
Still in doubt? You can hear directly from our past clients on Trustpilot. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals.
