Niceic Periodic Inspection Report

NICEIC Periodic Inspection Report forms are accountable documents. Unused copies should be kept secure by the Qualified Supervisor. A record of each report used should be made on the record sheet provided. Unused sets of obsolete forms must be destroyed to prevent their misuse.

Periodic inspection report general information
Detailed guidance on the completion of this and other NICEIC forms for certification and reporting is included in the revised, edition of the NICEIC Inspection, Testing and Certification book.

The NICEIC Periodic Inspection Report is intended to be used only for the purpose of reporting on the condition of an existing electrical installation. The report should identify, so far as is reasonably practicable and having regard to the extent and limitations recorded in Section D, any damage, deterioration, defects, dangerous conditions and any non-compliances with the requirements of the national standard for the safety of electrical installations which may give rise to danger. It should be noted that the greater the limitations applying to a report, the less its value to the recipient.

The report must not be used instead of an Electrical Installation Certificate or a Domestic Electrical Installation Certificate for certifying a new electrical installation, or as a substitute for a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate for certifying an addition or an alteration to an existing installation.

An NICEIC Periodic Inspection Report must not be used to report on the condition of electrical installations in potentially explosive atmospheres (hazardous areas) unless the Approved Contractor holds an appropriate extension to enrolment for such work.

The report form marked ‘Original’, including any additional schedule(s) of circuit details, test results and additional pages, is to be given to the person ordering the inspection, as indicated by Regulation 631.2. The report form marked ‘Duplicate’ is to be retained by the Approved Contractor and made available for review by NICEIC.

For installations having more than one distribution board or more circuits than can be recorded on Pages 5 and 6, one or more additional pages of the Schedule of Circuit Details for the Installation and Schedule of Test Results for the Installation (ISN) will be required. Where the installation work includes one or more distribution (sub-main) circuits, details of the circuit(s), and the related test results, must be recorded on continuation schedules. Continuation schedules are available separately from NICEIC.

The additional pages are to be given the same unique serial number as the other pages of the report, by first striking out ‘ICN’ and then adding the remainder of the unique serial number in the space allocated. Superseded versions of the continuation schedules must not be used in conjunction with these reports. The page number for each additional schedule is to be inserted, together with the total number of pages comprising the report (eg Page 7 of 8).

This report form has been designed for compilation by hand.

Irrespective of the method of compilation of the report, it remains the responsibility of the compiler of the report to ensure that the information provided in the report is factual, and that the declaration of the condition of the electrical installation to which the report relates is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances.

The total number of pages which make up the report must be inserted in the box provided at the foot of each of the pages on the right-hand side.
Completing the Report

Periodic inspection report Page 1
Section A (Details of the Client) provides space for such client details.

Section B (Purpose of the Report) is to enable the purpose of the report to be clearly identified. For example, the main purpose of the report is to identify, as far as is practicable, any factors impairing the safe functioning of the electrical installation. This section may also identify the purpose in terms of expectations of interested parties such as a mortgagee, insurance company or licensing authority.

Section C (Details of the Installation) provides space for recording the details of the installation, and is self-explanatory.

Section D (Extent of the Installation and Limitations of the Inspection and Testing) must fully identify the extent of the installation covered by the report and any agreed limitations on the inspection and testing. The Approved Contractor should have agreed all such aspects with the client and other interested parties (eg licensing authority, insurance company, building society) before carrying out the inspection and testing. NICEIC will assume that comprehensive inspection and testing of the whole of the electrical installation, without limitations, has been carried out unless otherwise clearly indicated (including the reasons for these limitations) in Section D.

A declaration of the overall condition of the installation must be given by the inspector in Section E (Declaration) of the report, reiterating that given in Section G which should summarise the observations and recommendations made in Section F. The inspection, testing and assessment by the inspector must be reviewed and confirmed by the NICEIC registered Qualified Supervisor. The signatures are to be those of the competent person undertaking the inspection of the installation and of the Qualified Supervisor of the NICEIC Approved Contractor or Conforming Body, who should review each report. Where the Qualified Supervisor carries out the inspection personally, the Qualified Supervisor should sign in both places.

A list of observations and recommendations for urgent remedial work and for corrective actions necessary to maintain the installation in a safe working order should be given in Section F, where appropriate. For further guidance on the recommendations, please see the reverse of page 2 of each of the report forms.

Periodic inspection report Page 2

Section F(Observations and Recommendations for Actions to be Taken) includes two boxes at the top, in one of which the report compiler is required to enter a ‘Yes’ or a ‘/‘ to indicate, as appropriate, that ‘there are no items adversely effecting electrical safety’ or ‘the following observations and recommendations are made’. In the latter case, the observations and recommendations are to be listed with a Recommendation Code 1, 2, 3 or 4 (see reverse of page 2 of the report forms for further guidance on the recommendations). Only one Recommendation Code is to be given for each recorded observation. At the bottom of the Section, two boxes are provided for recording the items which, in the opinion of the report’s compiler, need urgent remedial work and those items requiring corrective action, respectively.

Where an Approved Contractor classifies a recommendation as ‘requires urgent attention, the client is to be advised immediately, in writing, to satisfy the duties imposed by the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. This can also be achieved by the issue of an NICEIC Electrical Danger Notification Certificate to the client. It should be noted that, where an existing or a potential danger is observed that may put the safety of those using the installation at risk, Recommendation Code 1 (requires urgent attention) must be used.

If the space available on the form for recording recommendations is insufficient, additional numbered pages are to be provided as necessary. Additional pages must also be identified by the unique Periodic Inspection Report serial number.

Section G (Summary of the Inspection) must be completed with an accurate description of the general condition of the installation, together with the date(s) of the inspection and a one-word overall assessment of the installation ie ‘satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory’. If the space available on the form for the summary of the inspection is insufficient, additional numbered pages are to be provided as necessary. Additional pages must also be identified by the unique Periodic Inspection Report serial number.

It would not be reasonable to indicate a ‘satisfactory’ assessment if any observation in the report had been given a Code 1
or Code 2 recommendation.

Periodic inspection report Page 3
Section H (Schedules and Additional Pages) facilitates the recording of all pages containing the schedules and additional pages. For installations having more than one distribution board or more circuits than can be recorded on Pages 5 and 6, one or more additional pages of the Schedule of Circuit Details for the Installation and Schedule of Test Results for the Installation will be required. The page number for each additional schedule is to be inserted, together with the total number of pages, in the appropriate boxes.

The appropriate time interval before re-inspection of the installation becomes due is to be inserted in Section I (Next Inspection). lEE Guidance Note 3 gives guidance on the maximum recommended intervals for various types of premises, but due account must be taken of the present condition of the installation.

Your recommendation for the interval to the next inspection is conditional upon all items which have been given a
Recommendation Code 1 and Code 2 being remedied without delay and as soon as possible respectively (see Section F).

Additionally, your recommendation for the interval to the next inspection is also to be conditional on all items which have attracted a Recommendation Code 3 being remedied as soon as practicable.

Section J (Details of the Approved Contractor) is self-explanatory.

The completion of Section K (Supply Characteristics and Earthing Arrangements) is straightforward, except as regards the number of supplies, which must be identified in the box even where there is only one. Where the installation can be supplied by more than one source, such as the public supply and a standby generator, the higher or highest values of prospective fault current, I, and external earth fault loop impedance, Ze, must be recorded in the boxes provided for this purpose. Where a number of sources are available to supply the installation, and where the data given for the primary source may differ from other sources, an additional page must be provided which gives the relevant information relating to each additional source.

The completion of Section L(Particulars of installation at the Origin) is again straightforward, except where a number of sources are available to supply the installation. Where the data given for the ‘Means of Earthing’ and the ‘Main Switch or Circuit Breaker’ relating to the primary source may differ from that of other sources, the relevant information must be recorded for each additional source.

Periodic inspection report Pages 4, 5, and 6 onwards
All boxes on the Schedule of Items Inspected and the Schedule of Items Tested are to be completed, as appropriate for the particular installation. To indicate that an inspection or test has been carried out and that the result is satisfactory, insert a ‘Tick”. To indicate that an inspection or test has been carried out and that the result is unsatisfactory, insert a ‘X’. It is unlikely that all items will apply, and the range of applicable inspections and tests will depend on the particular installation covered by the report. If an inspection or a test is not applicable, ‘N/A’ should be recorded in the box. Exceptionally, where a limitation on a particular inspection or test has been agreed with the client, and has been recorded in Section 0, the appropriate box(es) must be completed by inserting ‘LIM’, indicating that an agreed limitation has prevented the inspection or test being carried out.

A separate Schedule of Circuit Details for the Installation and Schedule of Test Results for the Installation are to be provided for each distribution board forming part of the electrical installation covered by the report. Continuation schedules are available separately from NICEIC for this purpose, if required. Superseded versions of the continuation schedules must not be used in conjunction with these reports.

For distribution boards not connected directly to the origin of the installation, the higher or highest values of lpf and Z must be recorded on the Schedule of Test Results for the Installation, for each distribution board. Additionally, the higher or highest values of earth fault loop impedance (Zs) must also be recorded for all final circuits.

Periodic inspection report further guidance
For further guidance on completing the report, refer to the practical advice and guidance in the NICEIC Inspection, Testing and Certification book, the current edition of BS 7671, and lEE Guidance Note 3.

The purpose of periodic inspection is to determine, so far as is reasonably practicable, whether an electrical installation is in a satisfactory condition for continued service. This report provides an assessment of the condition of the electrical installation identified overleaf at the time it was inspected, taking into account the stated extent of the installation and the limitations of the inspection and testing.

The report is issued in accordance with the national standard for the safety of electrical installations, British Standard 7671 (as amended) - Requirements for Electrical Installations.

Where the installation incorporates a residual current device (RCD), there should be a notice at or near the main switchboard or consumer unit stating that the device should be tested at quarterly intervals. For safety reasons, it is important that you carry out the test regularly.

Also for safety reasons, the electrical installation will need to be re-inspected at appropriate intervals by a competent person. The recommended maximum time interval to the next inspection is stated on page 3 in Section I (Next Inspection). NICEIC* recommends that you engage the services of an Approved Contractor for this purpose. There should be a notice at or near the main switchboard or consumer unit indicating when the next inspection of the installation is due.

Only an NICEIC Approved Contractor or Conforming Body is authorised to issue this NICEIC Periodic Inspection Report form.

The report consists of at least six numbered pages. The report is invalid if any of the pages identified in Section H are missing. The report has a printed seven-digit serial number, which is traceable to the Approved Contractor to which it was supplied by NICEIC.

For installations having more than one distribution board or more circuits than can be recorded on Pages 5 and 6, one or more additional Schedules of Circuit Details for the Installation, and Schedules of Test Results for the Installation (pages 7 and 8 onwards) should form part of the report.

This report is intended to be issued only for the purpose of reporting on the condition of an existing electrical installation. The report should identify, so far as is reasonably practicable and having regard to the extent and limitations recorded in Section D, any damage, deterioration, defects, dangerous conditions and any non-compliances with the requirements of the national standard for the safety of electrical installations which may give rise to danger. It should be noted that the greater the limitations applying to a report, the less its value.

The report should not have been issued to certify that a new electrical installation complies with the requirements of the national safety standard. An ‘Electrical Installation Certificate’ or a ‘Domestic Electrical Installation Certificate’(where appropriate) should be issued for the certification of a new installation.

This report should not have been issued for electrical work in a potentially explosive atmosphere (hazardous area) unless the Approved Contractor holds an appropriate extension to NICEIC enrolment for such work.

You should have received the report marked ‘Original’ and the Approved Contractor should have retained the report marked ‘Duplicate’.
If you were the person ordering the work, but not the user of the installation, you should pass this report, or a full copy of it including these notes, the schedules and additional pages (if any), immediately to the user.

The ‘Original’ report form should be retained in a safe place and shown to any person inspecting or undertaking further work on the electrical installation in the future. If you later vacate the property, this report will provide the new user with an assessment of the condition of the electrical installation at the time the periodic inspection was carried out.

Only one Recommendation Code should have been given for each recorded observation.

Periodic inspection report Recommendation Code 1
Where an observation has been given a Recommendation Code 1 (requires urgent attention), the safety of those using the installation may be at risk.

The person responsible for the maintenance of the installation is 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 part(s) of the installation) to remove the potential danger. The NICEIC Approved Contractor issuing this report will be able to provide further advice.

NICEIC make available dangerous condition’ notification forms to enable inspectors to record, and then to communicate to the person ordering the report, any dangerous condition discovered.

Periodic inspection report Recommendation Code 2
Recommendation Code 2 (requires improvement) indicates 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 to the level provided by the national standard for the safety of electrical installations, BS 7671. The NICEIC Approved Contractor issuing this report will be able to provide further advice.

Items which have been attributed Recommendation Code 2 should be remedied as soon as possible (see Section F).

Periodic inspection report Recommendation Code 3
Where an observation has been given a Recommendation Code 3 (requires further investigation), the inspection has revealed an apparent deficiency which could not, due to the extent or limitations of this inspection, be fully identified. Items which have been attributed Recommendation Code 3 should be investigated as soon as possible (see Section F).

The person responsible for the maintenance of the installation is advised to arrange for the NICEIC Approved Contractor issuing this report (or other competent person) to undertake further examination of the installation to determine the nature and extent of the apparent deficiency.

Periodic inspection report Recommendation Code 4
Recommendation Code 4 [does not comply with BS 7671 (as amended)] will have been given to observed non-compliance(s) with the current safety standard which do not warrant one of the other Recommendation Codes. It is not intended to imply that the electrical installation inspected is unsafe, but careful consideration should be given to the benefits of improving these aspects of the installation. The NICEIC Approved Contractor issuing this report will be able to provide further advice.

It is important to note that the recommendation given at Section I Next Inspection of this report for the maximum interval until the next inspection is conditional upon all items which have been given a Recommendation Code 1 and Code 2 being remedied without delay and as soon as possible respectively.

It would not be reasonable to indicate a satisfactory’ assessment if any observation in the report has been given a Code 1 or Code 2 recommendation.

Section D addresses the extent and limitations of the report by providing boxes for the Extent of the electrical installation covered by this report and the Agreed limitations, if any, on the inspection and testing. Information given here should fully identify the scope of the inspection and testing and of the report. The Approved Contractor should have agreed all such aspects with the person ordering the work and other interested parties (eg licensing authority, insurance company, building society etc) before the inspection was carried out.

A declaration of the overall condition of the installation should have been given by the inspector in Section E of the report. The
declaration must reflect that given in Section G, which summarises the observations and recommendations made in Section F.
A list of observations and recommendations for urgent remedial work and corrective action(s) necessary to maintain the
installation in a safe working order should have been given in Section F, where appropriate. For further guidance on the
recommendations, please see the reverse of page 2.

Where the installation can be supplied by more than one source, such as the public supply and a standby generator, the number of supplies should have been recorded in the box entitled Number of Supplies, in Section K Supply Characteristics and Earthing Arrangements on page 3 of the report, and the Schedule of Test Results compiled accordingly.

Should the person ordering the periodic inspection (eg the client, as identified on Page 1 of this certificate), have reason to believe that the report issued by the Approved Contractor does not reasonably reflect the condition of the electrical installation reported on, the person should in the first instance raise the specific concerns in writing with the Approved Contractor. If the concerns remain unresolved, the client may make a formal complaint to NICEIC, for which purpose a standard complaint form is available on request.

The complaints procedure offered by NICEIC is subject to certain terms and conditions, full details of which are available upon application. NICEIC does not investigate complaints relating to the operational performance of electrical installations (such as lighting levels), or to contractual or commercial issues (such as time or cost).