The 18th Edition Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) are the controlling standard in the UK for ensuring the safety of electrical installations. The scope of the regulations includes the design, erection, inspection, testing and verification of electrical installations. Once this scope of work has been completed, it is important that the installation is documented and certified. This is a requirement of the regulations and must be completed by a qualified competent person.
Why do we need to document an electrical installation?
Certifying an electrical installation is necessary because it:
- Verifies that a qualified competent person has confirmed the installation as safe and in compliance with the 18th Edition regulations
- Provides formal evidence of this compliance which can be referred to as and when necessary
- Provides a statement to the client/customer that the work carried out is safe and compliant
- Maintains the integrity of work carried out by electrical contractors and records evidence of this
What documents and certificates are required by the 18th edition regulations?
There are two main documents required by the 18th Edition Regulations to certify a new electrical installation:
- Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) – This is for new installations and major additions or alterations to an existing installation (ie. it is legally defined as a new installation as per the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations). The certificate verifies that the work carried out complies with the requirements of BS7671 and is therefore safe to use. It also verifies that suitable inspection and testing has been carried out, the results of which must be provided with the certificate. The certificate includes the details of the installation and the extent of the work carried out. Along with the inspection and test results the certificate should be signed by the qualified competent person who carried out the work as a declaration of compliance.
- Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC) – This type of certificate covers minor works such as adding a socket or a light switch to an existing circuit. The definition of ‘minor works’ is included in the 18th Edition regs as ‘additions and alterations to an installation that do not extend to the provision of a new circuit.’ While the scale of work may be considered minor, the same risks to electrical safety exist, and hence there is a crucial need for certification to ensure the installation is safe and compliant. The MEIWC is a simpler document to the EIC but still contains essential information, and the signed declaration of the qualified competent person includes a statement that the existing installation has not been compromised by the minor works.
The client/customer has a right to request the appropriate certificate after an installation has been completed, and failure to provide one, or complete a suitable one, can result in regulatory fines and penalties for the contractor, as well as insurance issues and of course a risk of injury, fire and damage if the required work hasn’t been done in compliance with the regulations.
A third type of documentation is also in place as a result of the 18th Edition Regulations. This is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), which is essentially a periodical health check of a pre-existing electrical installation. This includes a detailed inspection and test of the system to identify any electrical hazards or any issues with the installation that could in the future cause a hazard, and therefore identifies where repair and maintenance work is required. A landlord must carry out an EICR when looking to rent out a property, while the installation is assessed, and the report is completed, against the requirements of the 18th Edition Regulations.
Template documents for completing an EIC, EICR and MEIWC are supplied by Test Instrument Solutions.
Please note that this section is for information purposes only. Anyone using equipment referred to in this section must be suitably qualified and/or experienced within the respective field. If in doubt before use, please consult a qualified electrician or engineer & thoroughly read all instruction booklets.