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Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment in commercial facilities

kevinks

Hello everyone,

I have been looking at the relevant regulations and guidelines pertaining to the inspection and testing of electrical equipment, with a focus on the requirements for commercial installations in the UK. Based on my what I found, I have outlined below my current understanding of the applicable standards for various categories of electrical equipment and a few doubts as well:

  • BS 7671 Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR): This applies to all fixed electrical installations, which form part of the building’s infrastructure. A fixed installation would be distribution boards, socket outlets, switches, fixed wiring etc.
  • In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (PAT) (no legal requirement for PAT, but I am guessing this is a standard practice based on risk assessment): This is required for all equipment, whether movable or fixed, that is connected to the fixed electrical installation. Typical examples include kettles, heaters, desktop fans, microwave ovens, and hand dryers. My understanding of this one is currently based on information gathered from forums, including this one and the HSE Guidelines, as I have not yet received the ISITEE book I have ordered.
  • BS EN 60204-1 (Safety of Machinery – Electrical Equipment of Machines): This is applicable for inspections for control and automation cabinets, electric motors, and other types of machinery that are supplied by fixed installations. For motors fed from an MCC, it is my understanding that the EICR covers the installation up to the point where the motor terminals are wired in, whereas the motor itself is subject to the manufacturer’s instructions (IET Discussion). Similarly, the EICR will cover the supply up to the point at which it enters a control or automation cabinet, while the control wiring and components within the cabinet fall under the scope of EN 60204-1. One area of uncertainty remains regarding the inspection and testing requirements for individual components located within control and automation cabinets, such as Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). It is unclear whether these components must be tested individually, or if they are automatically covered by the testing of the panel as a whole, given that they are wired internally within the panel.

Additionally, I have not yet been able to determine the specific inspection and testing requirements applicable to server cabinets in a commercial setting. For example, in a server cabinet, I am assuming there will be PDUs and rack servers are connected to it via plugs into the PDU sockets. Is there a separate testing procedure? This article mentions about PAT testing all equipment in a server room. Is that really possible? Any help would be much appreciated. 

Thanks,
Kevin

  • Off the top of my head, the driving legislation would be the Health & Safety at Work Act, and more specifically the Electricity at Work Regulations. The basic requirement is to ensue that all systems are kept safe. How that's achieved is really up to the Duty Holder to decide - there's no simple list of dos and don'ts as what works best in one situation and what works best in another may well not be the same. There are often grey areas between fixed wiring and specific equipment that could be covered be covered by either an EICR or PAT (or something else) - just as long as something does and there are no gaps, it's up to you.

    Some places - where they have electrically qualified people doing regular maintenance - they don't even do formal EICRs - it can be acceptable to manage the risks by a controlled ongoing maintenance approach. It's all horses for courses.

       - Andy.

  • kevinks said:
    Is there a separate testing procedure?

    May well be, for earthing, in such facilities where BS EN 50310 (IEC 30129) applies.

    AJJewsbury said:
    Health & Safety at Work Act

    Yes, 100 %.

    More importantly, for individual pieces of equipment in workplaces, see Section 6.

    Manufacturers of equipment used in workplaces have a duty to provide information necessary to ensure the equipment remains safe ... this includes for specific information regarding maintenance and safety inspections. Sometimes, 'general rules and standards' cannot be used alone without the relevant manufacturer's information.

    When portable appliance testing first started to become more popular after the introduction of the Electricity at Work Regulations in 1989, a lot of equipment was damaged by use of inappropriate electrical safety test methods, or tests being carried out too frequently.

  • Regarding PAT, it's worth remembering where this came from, the clue is in the "P" - e.g. (to go to the extreme) a kettle that's moved around a lot, including near a stove, is quite likely to end up with a damaged lead or case and so to create a fire or shock risk. Equipment in a server room where non-one goes near the wiring so it never moves? Provided it's correctly rated that's pretty low risk, and as Graham says potentially more damage could be done by moving it around for PAT then leaving it alone. (Although personally I'd expect some form of routine visual inspection at the very least, to make sure e.g. that no-one had moved cables to positions where they were under strain, ventilation was still ok, people hadn't been adding new higher power servers, pesky rodents hadn't nibbled the wires etc etc etc.)

    The key is getting a competent person to do the risk assessment on your specific site to work out what's sensible and proportionate, the challenge is that you need someone who properly understands the risks. It's a really good and sensible question, sadly I think without a straightforward answer other than that. The article you pointed to is absolutely reasonable, but it is from a PAT company so has an element of a particular point of view.

  • kevinks said:
    Additionally, I have not yet been able to determine the specific inspection and testing requirements applicable to server cabinets in a commercial setting. 

    Appendix 7 of the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment gives guidance on the inspection and testing of 'Equipment Racks & Bays'.

    - Ross

  • Reg 4(2) of the EAWR 1989 is really a critical point for Duty Holders to consider. Of course its a risk assessment based on type and location of equipment and who the user is. So an item only ever used by an employee with suitable training would have a different risk from the exact same item that is used by a visitor or a member of the public, etc etc.

    From what I see and the in service inspection and testing 5th Ed COP really tries to highlight that risk assessment approach. 

    I know when I go to site or a premises my thought process is simply if its electrical then somebody has to inspect and test it so therefore to the Duty Holder question is Prove its safe?

    Common factor as I'm sure lots of people know is majority electrical contractors and electricians will carry out an EICR on the fixed wiring and that's it. They or another person carries out PAT* testing but only does equipment with a plug top on or if lucky from a FCU. IT and data storage equipment? questionable given impact on testing.

    Where it falls down is refrigeration plants, HVAC and say a large boiler house. Electrical contractor may do an EICR on the large power supply to the control panel for the boiler and that's that. All the cabling to motors, actuator's, pumps etc etc from that control panel never done as fingers point between people, so how can the duty holder ensure compliance with 4(2) if there is no written inspection regime, records of inspections and test results then how can the Duty Holder claim the electrical installation/equipment is safe?  

    point 9 in Reg 4(2) is quite clear "..Without effective monitoring duty holders cannot be certain that the requirement for maintenance has been complied with." and of course the EAWR does not have any voltage range, it covers any and all voltages. 

    Cheers GTB

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