Inspection / Compliance Testing
South West Electrics is capable of performing building inspections and testing on a number of fixed wiring installations, prioritising safety and minimising disruption to your day-to-day. This includes the following compliance checks:
- Ensuring any new or existing work meets building compliance regulations in line with current government legislation, acquiring certification of compliance for both safety and energy efficiency standards.
- Compliance testing of emergency lighting for commercial building use, performed annually or as required by government legislation.
- Portable appliance testing (PAT) to evaluate the safety of electrical equipment – performed at regular intervals and taking into consideration the nature and frequency of work.
- Performing thermographic surveys to receive comprehensive thermal imaging evaluations of housed electrical equipment. This involves a thermal camera non-disruptively investigating a site in order to identify potential overheating issues, such as faulty distribution boards and circuit breakers.
- Extensive power quality management evaluations, identifying concealed problems with energy supply and the connected appliances or machinery. Monitoring energy in this way allows for increased safety and cost-efficiency on industrial sites.
- General consultancy within a project, including newly introduced legislation and up-to-date compliance and safety procedures.
Safety and reliability are at the core of every project we undertake, and we take immense pride in the thorough nature of the inspections and tests we carry out – whether that’s whilst we’re on site or long after an initial installation is completed – we work with a business to keep checks to a minimum disruption time without compromising on safety.
Notably, our engineers are also qualified to carry out power factor correction (PFC) maintenance – servicing which should be carried out at least once per year on capacitors to monitor their efficiency. These checks can produce substantial savings in electricity bills, and are just one example of the quality of life services South West Electrics can provide.
- Energy Monitoring – finding areas of waste energy usage can have significant impacts on the sustainability, safety and cost of the energy supply to your home. These inspections can result in bespoke energy reduction and management strategies, with our technicians highlighting areas of concern and possible solutions to make your site as sustainable as possible.
- Thermographic Surveying- these tests use thermal imaging cameras to detect anomalies and identify problematic areas in building features such as fuses, switchers and electrical cabinets, before they develop into more damaging, costlier faults. By streamlining this process, we can better communicate and resolve issues to save you both time and money, whilst keeping you and your property safe.
- PAT Testing – portable appliance testing is the visual examination and practical testing of electrical appliances. The South West Electrics team are well-versed in conducting these tests on appliances commonly found in commercial, industrial and residential locations, as frequently as is required for the various sectors.
- Fixed Appliance Testing – in contrast to PAT testing, fixed appliance testing monitors any electrical equipment permanently wired into buildings. The importance of the safety of such appliances cannot be understated – any inspection South West Electrics carry out is of the highest level of detail and thorough enough to detect non-visual and potential issues.
- Fixed Wiring – recommended to be carried out every 5 years, or 3 years for high risk environments, these compliance tests check that your electrical installations and circuits meet current regulations in both home or workplace safety. We can also produce reports on the effects of external influences on your installations and recommend changes to enhance the lifespan of your work.
- Emergency Lighting Inspection – used in situations where the main power supply is cut or regular illumination fails, these systems are regularly relied on in dangerous instances. Testing is therefore rigorous and thorough, simulating failures and inspecting the circuit as a whole to identify and issues and ensure systems meet provisions.
- Power Factor Correction (PFC) Service and Maintenance – power factor correction equipment can remain in place for years at a time, meaning it is subject to testing in the same way as any other electrical appliance. Recommended to take place annually, South West Electrics can run diagnostics on capacitors to ensure your building still receives their efficiency and safety benefits.
- Private Rented Scheme (PRS) Checks – Attending your property in person, a member of the South West Electrics team reviews both the performance and safety of the electrical installation network of the building, as opposed to the standard PAT testing more commonly carried out. Depending on your current documentation, we will then produce the necessary Electrical Installation Certificate or Electrical Installation Condition Report for your records.