How To Prepare for a Successful Electrical Compliance Audit
Electrical compliance audits are extremely important for the safety of your workplace and all your staff. Think of them as holistic wellness checks for your business’s electrical infrastructure, safety documentation and policies, helping you spot potential dangers early and making sure you’re in line with UK regulations. The question is, how can you make sure that yours goes well?
The key is in the prep and making sure you carry out your audits regularly. Regular inspections help prevent the risk of fire and electric shock, as well as equipment failures that could turn out to be more dangerous (and expensive) if you leave them.
In this blog, we’ll go into more detail about what you can expect from your electrical compliance audit and common issues you might encounter, as well as how our experienced electrical division at Midland Fire can help get your electrical systems up to spec.
What Is an Electrical Compliance Audit?
An electrical compliance audit is a structured assessment of a company’s electrical safety. It looks at whether electrical systems, procedures, documentation and maintenance practices meet the required legal standards and best-practice guidelines. The audit may also recommend corrective actions to make your working environment safer.
These audits are important as they protect your staff as well as your property and business assets, and they can help you catch issues before they turn into big problems, saving you time and money. They also demonstrate to your workforce that their safety is important to you, which can help boost morale, and measures like this can also lower your insurance premiums.
Your Legal and Regulatory Obligations
It’s also important to keep in mind your legal obligations as an employer or landlord. Whilst there’s no hard and fast rule on how often you complete a commercial electrical safety audit, the audit itself will identify if you’re in line with UK regulations. These include:
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 & Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 – These acts state the rules around electrical safety in the workplace, including the necessity for regular EICR and PAT testing, maintaining systems and equipment correctly, and keeping accurate documentation of all work carried out.
- BS7671 Wiring Regulations – These regulations define installation and testing standards.
- Insurance obligations – Many insurers require evidence of up-to-date electrical system assessments and safety measures.
Only a NICEIC approved contractor, such as Midland Fire, can issue the recognised certification that you need to keep your business fully compliant.
Key Components of an Electrical Compliance Audit
You can expect an auditor to carry out the following:
- Physical inspection of system performance and equipment condition, covering elements such as cables, containment, protective devices and panels.
- Documentation review to check EICR, EIC and PAT testing records, maintenance schedules and previous remedial actions.
- Risk assessment and non-compliance identification which notes potential hazards and issues like deterioration which could affect compliance.
- Safety procedure evaluation, checking electrical safety policies and any staff training in place.
- Safety system integration checks to confirm other building safety systems like emergency lighting and fire alarms are connected correctly.
Preparing for an Electrical Audit
With these steps in mind, here’s what you can do to prepare for a smooth and successful electrical compliance audit at your business:
- Get your most recent EICR and PAT testing records ready as well as any other relevant documentation, as auditors will want to see them.
- Do your own pre-audit checks to spot issues like damaged cables, missing labels, overloaded sockets or outdated equipment so that you can organise any repairs.
- Clear access to electrical panels, plant rooms and key equipment so inspectors don’t waste time and nothing is missed.
- Make sure your staff are up to date on their safety training, and tell them the audit’s happening so they’re ready to answer any questions.
- Check that any outstanding remedial actions have been completed and documented so you have no unexplained loose ends which could cause delays.
Common Problems Found During Audits
Finding and resolving electrical safety issues at your business is the whole point of carrying our regular audits. This then stops these issues leading to accidents or costly equipment failure. Common issues can include:
- Overloaded or unlabelled circuits
- Outdated wiring or distribution boards
- Missing RCD protection
- Poor grounding
- Damaged insulation or overheating components
- Temporary or DIY wiring
- Lack of testing records or safety documentation
- Lack of staff training
- No maintenance schedules in place
After the audit, you’ll receive a detailed report which outlines areas of compliance and issues which need to be resolved. It’s then up to you to get these issues fixed (which is also something our team can help with) and keep all your records safe to make sure that your business is safe and compliant.
Why Choose Midland Fire for Your Electrical Safety Checks?
We are a trusted NICEIC approved contractor with extensive experience in electrical testing and certification. Choosing Midland Fire for your audits and assessments will give you peace of mind that your commercial property and all your electrical installations and appliances are safe and fully compliant.
Our electrical division can provide fully comprehensive assessments and issue commercial EICR reports, and we provide electrical installation, upgrades, commissioning and repairs too.
Plus, as our name suggests, we also offer a full range of fire safety services and security services. Our friendly team is on hand to advise you and offer expert guidance on how to meet the safety and security needs of your business.
At Midland Fire WE PROTECT. Contact us today for your free consultation.
Your Burning Questions Answered
How often should electrical compliance audits be carried out?
There’s no legal requirement for how often you should be carrying out an electrical compliance audit, but most UK businesses do one every year. This is risk based, so if your workplace is a high-risk environment or you have older equipment, audits can be carried out more often.
How often should a commercial EICR be done?
That depends on your electrical installation. Typically, an EICR should be carried out every five years (or sooner if the building’s use or occupancy changes). High-risk environments like industrial sites may need more frequent checks. Check out our website for more information.
How often should commercial PAT testing be done?
There are no legal requirements for how often PAT testing should be carried out, but it’s recommended that you get your appliances inspected at least once a year, or more for high-risk equipment.
Do I need a NICEIC approved contractor?
Yes, it’s strongly recommended. Using an NICEIC approved contractor for your electrical installation, testing and commissioning services ensures all work is carried out by a qualified professional who meets industry-recognised standards. It’s the best way to guarantee your workplace is safe and fully compliant with current regulations.
Can Midland Fire handle remedial works too?
Absolutely, Midland Fire can take care of all necessary remedial works to bring your workplace up to full compliance.
