Testing

Fixed Wire Testing (from £7.00 per circuit) is a statutory responsibility for every UK workplace, detecting and reporting any factors impairing the safety of an electrical installation, as required by the Electricity at Work Regulation (1989)

All electrical Installations need to be maintained in a safe condition and therefore must be periodically inspected and tested by a skilled person. It is recommended in BS 7671 2018 as amended (Regulation 135.1) that every electrical installation is subjected to periodic inspection and testing.

Low voltage electrical wiring and switchgear can deteriorate over time, so inspection and testing ensure the compliance of your workplace with statutory responsibilities. The Report certifies the condition of an electrical installation meets the requirements of BS 7671 (2018) at the time of the inspection, irrespective of the age of the installation, each observation will describe a specific defect.

Call Southern Counties Services (SCS Ltd) for advice on how often your electrical installation requires Fixed Wire Testing and to discuss any related issues you may have. Either call us on 0208 417 0647 or via email on [email protected]

UK legislation places a legal responsibility upon employers for workplace electrical safety.
Making safe any electrical defects is a requirement by law with The Electricity at Work Act.

Unsatisfactory Certification.

If the certificate is assessed as Un-satisfactory, we will issue a quotation to rectify all observations and defects listed in the report. We can also offer a free quotation to price observations and defects listed in other companies Fixed Wire Test (EICR).

We understand that many companies work to strict budgets and would rather spread the cost up to 5 years.

Listed below are the options to carry out a Fixed Wire Testing:

1. Full 100% testing of all accessible electrical wiring
2. 20% per year testing of all accessible electrical wiring over 5 years
   1. Year 1 – 100% visual inspection + 20% testing of circuits
   2. Year 2 – 20% testing of circuits
   3. Year 3 – 20% testing of circuits
   4. Year 4 – 20% testing of circuits
   5. Year 5 – 20% testing of circuits
3. Sample Testing of whole installation based on the current condition of the installation.

Your building is at risk and your insurance may be invalid if your electrical installation is not maintained and a current Fixed Wire Test Inspection is not either out of date or not available.

What Is Thermal Imaging?

Thermal imaging is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that allows us to visualise and quantify changes in the surface temperature of electrical equipment. An infrared camera converts infrared radiation (heat) emitted from the surface of electrical equipment into electrical impulses. These impulses are mapped as colours which represent the various temperatures.

Why Is Thermal Imaging Important To Your Business?

Thermal imaging identifies equipment flaws and pinpoints any hot spots often invisible to the naked eye. When parts of your electrical systems begin to have problems, they give off heat usually a sign of electrical resistance or excessive friction. Abnormal temperatures can be easily identified and published.

What Are The Benefits Of Thermal Image Scanning?

Using thermal imaging as a vehicle to facilitate early detection of equipment failure will directly benefit you as follows:

• Cost savings – No other preventative method is as cost effective as thermal scanning. If you take the necessary precautions, thermal scanning will assist you in minimising your downtime, protecting your business.
• Non-destructive testing – We can easily identify heat related external anomalies without having to disconnect or destroy any equipment. We can also usually identify internal equipment failure.
• Minimises workplace hazards e.g. Reduces the possibility of fire
• Early detection of any potential faults

How Often Do Switchboards & Other Electrical Equipment Need To Be Scanned?

Frequently. The way you learn there is a problem in your electrical system is when it fails. The downtime can be costly and devastating to your business.

Before an electrical component burns up, it heats up. Early detection with infrared thermal scanning detects growing problems before they cause a system failure or fire. Maintenance personnel can correct the problem before the component fails.

Infrared thermography is used to perform inspections on electrical equipment because excess resistance on electrical apparatus indicates electrical faults such as:

• Loose connections
• Overloads
• Imbalanced circuits
• Faulty equipment
• Damaged switches
• Faulty fuses
• Other unwanted electrical conditions

Why Should Thermal Scanning Be Included As Part Of Your Regular Maintenance?

A thermographic scan detects problems that you can fix during scheduled maintenance windows and/or downtime. This enables your system to operate at maximum efficiency, improving the reliability and cost-efficiency of your business.

Thermal imaging should be used as a vehicle to facilitate early detection of equipment failure:

• Ensures a higher level of workplace safety
• Reduces the possibility of fire
• Reduces the chance of critical downtime
• Reduces the possibility of loss of production
• Assists you in meeting your OH&S guidelines
• Assists you in meeting your insurance obligations

Insurance companies recommend performing this type of diagnostic survey regularly. It is mandatory in some policies, as thermal imaging is recognised as a brilliant method of fire prevention.

How Can Be Smart Electrical Help?

We offer routine thermal scanning of electrical switchboards found within the workplace as part of an annual maintenance program. After an initial thermographic survey we will provide you with a detailed thermographic inspection report describing:

• Specific equipment and switchboards inspected
• Any areas of concern including failing components (if any)
• The extent of the defect
• Specific temperature variations recorded
• Proposal for repairs needed, prioritised in order of urgency.

Every business uses electrical appliances of some kind, making Portable Appliance Testing vital. At SCS Ltd, we offer competitive PAT Testing services to keep businesses safe and compliant in the most hassle-free way.

PAT Testing gives you peace of mind by identifying electrical faults and offering advice to make sure your business avoids dangerous accidents. A record of testing will help with any insurance claims and allow you to avoid nasty fines, so make sure you’re covered with SCS Ltd. Call 07830 211892 now for guidance on your PAT needs and a free, no obligation quote.

Your Legal Obligations

The Electricity at Work Regulations are in place to prevent death or personal injury caused by electrics in the workplace. Business owners without a record of safety measures will be liable in the event of an accident and may fail to claim insurance without proof of safe practices.

PAT Testing from SCS Ltd is a safety net of evidence when it comes to legal compliance. We’ll provide your legal paperwork at no extra cost, so you can feel at ease about all your electrical appliances.

Energy Efficient Commercial Lighting Services – Design – Supply – Install

1. We can offer more efficient lighting in your commercial, industrial or offices?
2. Energy survey of your entire electrical installation
3. Advice on your existing lighting could be wasting your business many thousands of pounds every year, be difficult to maintain, or even produce inadequate light for your working conditions.
4. We install LED lighting systems across London & the Home Counties as energy efficient lighting system specialists – we supply & install energy saving LED & other commercial & industrial lighting systems to save your business up to 80 % on lighting energy costs!

The industry currently varies greatly when submitting costs to carry out Fixed Wire Testing, which ranges between £29.00 per circuit and £9.50 per circuit. There is also a huge range of level of service that you are likely to receive, depending on whether you wish your electrical installation to be fully tested to the full requirements of BS7671 and the electrical safety of the installation is paramount or budget is the driving factor and you require the bare minimum to meet the minimum requirements of BS7671. Our budget cost per circuit is from £7.00 per circuit.

We also provide a price match guarantee and will match any other price for a like for like product.

1. Helping you verify the accuracy, safety and performance of your meters.
2. SUB-METER TESTING & VERIFICATION
   • Sub-meters are used by building owners to divide utility costs based on the usage rates of tenants. Sub-meters operate inside the main meter system and measure individual consumption of utilities in comparison to the overall amount used.
     
   • ALL SUB METERS FOR RE-CHARGING NEED TO BE MID APPROVED BY LAW – ALL SUB METERS FOR RE-CHARGING NEED TO BE MID APPROVED BY LAW