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What is a Periodic Inspection Report ? PIR
A periodic inspection report is a report on the condition of an electrical installation, it is not as sometimes mistakenly known a safety certificate but a report on how safe the electrics are. It is essentially an MOT for your properties electrics. The report is usually a five page document (depending on the size of the property to be inspected & tested) and consists of
- Details of the electrical installation,
- Items inspected and tested and
- Observations & recommendations.
Why Have a Periodic Inspection Report ?
As with cars the electrics within a property degrade due to general wear and tear and age or what was safe working practice 40 years ago is not today, therefore it is advisable to have a PIR completed on a property to check to make sure it’s ‘road worthy’.
There are many things that are either are not seen or known about the general state of an electrical installation and these should not be overlooked, Just because a light comes on when a switch is flicked does not mean that it is 100% safe. A wire may be loose, a fuse or MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) may be over rated and not protect the cable which may overheat (this especially happens when too many adaptors are used in one socket) or it could be a DIY attempt gone wrong, all of these could start a fire.
What is involved in a Periodic Inspection ?
Firstly and most importantly an inspection of the electrics is carried out. Are there signs of damage, wear and tear or ageing components? The consumer unit or fuse board, main supply, earthing, sockets, switches and light fittings are checked to make sure the cables supplying them are installed properly and are suitable for the intended purpose and continued use. Cables that are concealed in walls under floors or in conduit or trunking however are not inspected, as this would not be practical, however they are tested to identify any degrading of the cables continuity or insulation (plastic / rubber coating).
Any observations that are made during the inspection are noted and given a code, listed below:
- Code 1 Requires urgent attention
- Code 2 Requires improvement
- Code 3 Requires further investigation
- Code 4 Does not comply with British Standard 7671 this does not mean it is dangerous
After the inspection a test of the installation is carried out and the results noted on the report.
When Should I have a Periodic Inspection Report ?
If you don’t have a PIR for your property then it would be advisable to have one done sooner rather than later. But generally a Domestic property should have a PIR every 10 years or change of occupancy. The frequency that a PIR should be carried out on other types of properties varies dependant on use and can be anything from 1 –5 years.
How much does a PIR cost ?
The cost varies dependent on the size of the property being inspected.
For properties within Meopham and the surrounding villages we would charge :-
Small premises with total of four or less rooms £120
Medium sized premises with total of six or less rooms £150
Large premises with total of eight or less rooms £210
Very large premises with total of ten or less rooms £255
Please note that our prices are very competitive. When comparing prices make sure that you confirm a full PIR will be carried out a formal report similar to this supplied on completion. It has been known for electrical companies to carry out a less formal "inspection" and then supply a letter detailing the defects, which has no value and is not recognised within the wiring regulations or building control.
Are there cheaper alternatives ?
We would be happy to carry out a quick inspection of existing or new wiring for which we would charge our normal hourly rate.
