Electrics in a new build house

641.1 Every installation shall, during erection and on completion before being put into service, be inspected and tested to verify, so far as is reasonably practical, that the requirements of the Regulations have been met.


Who inspects his* own work during erection? Surely good workmanship involves doing the correct things in the correct order and checking before, for example, screwing a socket to the wall.


As it happens, today I wanted to test a bit of circuit before re-plastering it because it would have been a PITA to have ripped it apart if subsequent testing was not satisfactory. However, isn't it normal practice to install a complete circuit and then test it?


Imagine a perfectionist self-builder (we have one in the family)! He* might contract with an electrician to test, inspect and (most importantly) certify his work. Being a perfectionist, he would call in the electrician to inspect each stage of the work, e.g. before installing a ceiling or floor. Is this realistic? ?


My feeling is that if an electrician is called in to provide inspection and testing, the phrase "reasonably practicable" comes into operation as far as inspection is concerned. Otherwise, why do we have three-signature EICs?


*Before anybody thinks that I am sexist, please see S.6 of the Interpretation Act 1978.

641.1 Every installation shall, during erection and on completion before being put into service, be inspected and tested to verify, so far as is reasonably practical, that the requirements of the Regulations have been met.


Who inspects his* own work during erection? Surely good workmanship involves doing the correct things in the correct order and checking before, for example, screwing a socket to the wall.


As it happens, today I wanted to test a bit of circuit before re-plastering it because it would have been a PITA to have ripped it apart if subsequent testing was not satisfactory. However, isn't it normal practice to install a complete circuit and then test it?


Imagine a perfectionist self-builder (we have one in the family)! He* might contract with an electrician to test, inspect and (most importantly) certify his work. Being a perfectionist, he would call in the electrician to inspect each stage of the work, e.g. before installing a ceiling or floor. Is this realistic? ?


My feeling is that if an electrician is called in to provide inspection and testing, the phrase "reasonably practicable" comes into operation as far as inspection is concerned. Otherwise, why do we have three-signature EICs?


*Before anybody thinks that I am sexist, please see S.6 of the Interpretation Act 1978.