Testing and commissioning

chapter 8
Unit 2 outcome 2
It is important that electricians are not just able to construct; they should
also be able to recognise faults and take action to help prevent them. As such,
using the correct means to test and inspect material is vital. Not all faults
will be easily visible. Some will be concealed and only take effect over a long
period of time. Regular inspection, tests and maintenance will limit such
faults. Testing should take place not only at the completion of work but also
during the installation process.
On completion of work, you will need to have the work commissioned and
certified. This is to make sure that it matches the specifications and meets all
requirements of safety. In many cases you will not be the one carrying out these
tasks. However, it is important that you know what they involve.
On completion of this outcome the candidate will be able to:

• state the purpose of inspection and commissioning and the

factors to be considered
• identify the purpose and conditions of periodic inspection
• list relevant sources of information to facilitate testing and
inspection
• list items associated with visual inspection prior to
commissioning and identify instruments suitable for use
• explain the importance of test instruments, calibration and
documentary evidence
• describe how to carry out common tests
• explain the need to comply with test values
• describe the certification process
• describe the requirements of testing and procedures for
dealing with documentation and clients.

323
 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

The purpose of inspection and commissioning Co

Onc
On completion of this topic area the candidate will be able to state the purpose of for t
inspection and commissioning and the factors to be considered. requ
will
Initial verification procedures are a
Did you
In order to make sure that this work is carried out satisfactorily the inspection P
know? and test procedure must be carefully planned and carried out and the results
●

c
The requirements for correctly documented. p
periodic inspection We inspect and commission material after the completion of work for three key ● C
and testing are given in reasons to ensure: m
BS 7671 Chapter 62
● compliance with BS 7671 c

● compliance with the project specification (commissioning) As c

be c
● that it is safe to use. mea
info
Compliance with BS 7671 take
BS 7671 Part 6 states that every electrical installation shall, either during
The
Remember construction, on completion, or both, be inspected and tested to verify, so far as is
the d
reasonably practicable, that the requirements of the Regulations have been met.
of a
All electrical items must In carrying out such inspection and test procedures, precautions must be taken
be tested before finally to ensure no danger is caused to any person or livestock and to avoid damage to
being put into service Sa
property and installed equipment.
The
BS 7671 requires that the following information be provided to the person carrying of a
out the inspection and test of an installation: requ
● the maximum demand of the installation expressed in amperes per phase and,
cond
● the number and type of live conductors at the point of supply
Did you ● the type of earthing arrangements used by the installation, including details of
The
know? equipotential bonding arrangements
resp
and
For commercial or ● the type and composition of circuits, including points of utilisation, number and for u
industrial installations, size of conductors and types of cable installed (this should also include details of
Whe
the requirements of the ‘reference installation method’ used)
envi
the Electricity Supply ● the location and description of protective devices (fuses, circuit breakers etc.)
Regulations 1988 and ● T
the Electricity at Work ● details of the method selected to prevent danger from shock in the event of an earth e
Regulations 1989, both fault, e.g. earthed equipotential bonding and automatic disconnection of supply
● T
of which are statutory the presence of any sensitive electronic devices.
● f
instruments, should also
be taken into account It is important to remember that periodic inspection and testing must be carried out ● T
on installations to ensure that the installation has not deteriorated and still meets all c
requirements. Tests will also need to be carried out in the event of minor alterations m
or additions being made to existing installations. r

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

● The person carrying out the tests should check that test leads including probes ● O
and clips are in good condition, are clean and have no cracked or broken i
insulation. Where appropriate the requirements of GS38 should be observed, a
including the use of fused test leads. u
i
Competence of the inspector i
A final consideration when carrying out inspection and tests is the competence of Both
the inspector. Any person undertaking these duties must be skilled and experienced to li
and have sufficient knowledge of the type of installation. It is the responsibility of the the d
inspector to: com
● ensure no danger occurs to people, property and livestock prot
buil
● confirm that test and inspection results comply with the requirements of BS 7671 chec
and the designer’s requirements and
● express an opinion as to the condition of the installation and recommend not
remedial works they
● make immediate recommendations, in the event of a dangerous situation, to the It is
client to isolate the defective part. the m
for t
Factors to be considered shou
Isolation desi

Isolation is covered in detail at Level 2. Op

Test instruments It is
com
All test equipment must be regularly checked to make sure it is in good and safe equ
Remember working order.
A go
If you are checking the equipment yourself, the following points should be noted. devi
You must ensure that
If you have any doubt about an instrument or its accuracy, ask for assistance; test with
your test equipment is
calibrated; this indicates instruments are very expensive and any unnecessary damage caused by ignorance pock
that the instrument is should be avoided. resp
working properly and
providing accurate Voltage indicating devices Sy
readings. If you do not Instruments used solely for detecting a voltage fall into two categories.
do this, test results could
Prio
be void ● Some detectors rely on an illuminated lamp (test lamp) or a meter scale (test prep
meter). Test lamps are fitted with a 15 watt lamp and should not give rise to danger info
if the lamp is broken. A guard should also protect it. com
Prec
or su
meth
confi

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Construction (Design and
Management) Regulations 1994 both state the requirements for the provision Pe
of such information to be included in the operation and maintenance manual
Remember On c
prepared for the project. This should also contain a description of how the
installation is to operate and include copies of distribution board details, identifying and
Many industrial
processes have very the circuits, the protective devices, the wiring system and the installation methods
complicated control as well as the technical data for all items installed, such as switchgear, luminaires
Pu
systems and may require and any special control systems that may have been incorporated. Initi
the supplier of the In a
control panel as well as Sources of information facto
the client to be present and
Initial verification is intended to confirm that the installation complies with
when commissioning is regu
the designer’s requirements and has been constructed, inspected and tested in
carried out
accordance with BS 7671. The
Sources of information will be covered in greater detail later in this chapter on ● c
pages 341–345. o
e
Marking and labelling ●

i
We covered the importance of marking and labelling at Level 2. To recap quickly,
● c
labelling should show the origin of every installation and indicate:
t
● differences in voltages
● i
● earthing and bonding connections o
● residual current devices. The

Contact with relevant parties ● L

a
The testing and inspection procedure needs to be a planned activity as it will affect
Did you others living in, working in or passing through the installation. If disruption to
m
know? others is to be kept to a minimum they will need to be advised of when, and in what ● L
areas, the activity will be taking place. They will also need to know the amount of m
For certain installations
where there are increased time that the supply may be disrupted. For other contractors it may be necessary to ● T
risks or occupation by provide them with temporary supplies, derived from other sources, to enable them to
● I
members of the public, continue their work activities.
c
such as in cinemas, public
Following the inspection and testing of all new installations, alterations and a
houses, restaurants
additions to existing installations an Electrical Installation Certificate, together with a r
and hotels etc. the local
schedule of test results, should be given to the person ordering the work. Included on
licensing authority Do
the test certificate is a recommendation as to when the installation should be
may impose additional Or
requirements, especially
re-tested; this will need to be shown to the client to draw it to his or her attention.
in the area of regular Hi
inspection and testing Ch
Co
Or

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Both
Educational premises 5 years
and
Hospitals 5 years chec
Hotels 5 years Exe
Laboratories indi
5 years
an a
Offices 5 years freq
Public houses 5 years use.
Restaurants 5 years
Rou
Shops 5 years
Elec
Village halls/community centres 5 years betw
Agricultural/horticultural 3 years occu
Caravans 3 years take
suita
Cinemas 3 years
any
Emergency lighting 3 years
In a
Industrial 3 years form
Leisure complexes 3 years the n
Places of public entertainment to in
3 years
Theatres 3 years Ac
Caravan parks 1 year De
Fire alarms 1 year
In
Fish farms 1 year
Launderettes 1 year
Marinas 1 year
Petrol filling stations 1 year
Residential accommodation 1 year
Or if change of occupancy
Swimming pools 1 year
Construction sites 3 months Op
Table 8.01 Frequency of inspection

In the case of an installation that is under constant supervision while in normal use,
such as a factory or other industrial premises, periodic inspection and testing may be
replaced by a system of continuous monitoring and maintenance of the installation, Tabl
provided that adequate records of such maintenance are kept. The
When carrying out the design of an electrical installation, and particularly when are g
specifying the type of equipment to be installed, the designer should take into account insp
the likely quality of the maintenance programme and the periods between periodic prov
inspection and testing to be specified on the Electrical Installation Certificate. dism

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

dismantling of equipment or disconnection of cables could produce a risk of a

introducing faults that were not there in the first place. o
In summary, the inspection should ensure that: 2. I
● the installation is safe c
c
● the installation has not been damaged t
● the installation has not deteriorated so as to impair safety n

● any items that no longer comply with the Regulations or may cause danger 3. R
are identified. f
i
In practical terms the inspector is carrying out a general inspection to ensure that
b
the installation is safe. However, the inspector is required to record and make
n
recommendations with respect to any items that no longer comply with the current
a
edition of the Regulations.
4. C
Statutory and non-statutory documentation a
d
These include the following
5. V
1. The Electricity Supply Regulations (1988).
p
2. The Electricity at Work Regulations. m
3. BS 5266 Pt. 1 Code of Practice for emergency lighting systems (other than cinemas). o
Other Regulations and intervals cover testing of batteries and generators. E
p
4. BS 5839 Pt. 1 Code of Practice for the design, installation and servicing of fire
alarm systems. 6. A
o
5. Local authority conditions of licence.
a
6. SI 1995 No 1129 (clause 27) The Cinematography (Safety) Regulations. r
b
The inspection process
7. S
In new installations, inspection should be carried out progressively as the installation a
is installed and must be done before it is energised. As far as is reasonably o
practicable, an initial inspection should be carried out to verify that: t
● all equipment and material is of the correct type and complies with applicable b
British Standards or acceptable equivalents i
i
● all parts of the fixed installation are correctly selected and erected
8. P
● no part of the fixed installation is visibly damaged or otherwise defective
c
● the equipment and materials used are suitable for the installation relative to the c
environmental conditions. c
The following items must be covered in an inspection. c
●
1. Connection of conductors: Every connection between conductors and
equipment or other conductors must provide durable electrical continuity and

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

● Barriers. Where live parts are protected by barriers or enclosures, these should Pr
be checked for adequacy and security. Have all covers, lids and plates been
Whe
securely fitted?
be n
● Obstacles. Protection by obstacles provides protection only against an Note
intentional contact. If this method is used, the area shall be accessible only struc
to skilled persons or to instructed persons under supervision. Obstacles can pres
include a fence around a transformer sub-station and barbed wire fencing on
power pylons. A ca
nece
● Out of reach. Placing out of reach protects against direct contact. Increased out
distance is necessary where bulky conducting objects are likely to be handled Spec
in the vicinity. The requirements for this method are given more fully in com
appendix 3 of the Memorandum of Guidance to the Electricity at Work Act. plan
9. Fault protection: Fault protection as defined by BS 7671 is the contact of persons For
Did you or livestock with exposed conductive parts which have become live under fault begi
know? conditions. An exposed conductive part is a conductive part of equipment which reas
can be touched but is not live although it can become live under fault conditions. lives
Typical earthing Examples of exposed conductive parts could include metal trunking, metal be m
arrangements for conduit and the metal case of an electrical appliance, e.g. a classroom overhead acce
domestic installations are projector. Earthing provides protection against this type of fault. We also need shou
shown diagrammatically to check that extraneous conductive parts have been correctly bonded with imp
in the IEE On-Site protective conductors. An extraneous conductive part is a conductive part that is insp
Guide. For other types liable to introduce a potential, generally earth potential, and not form part of an
of installation the
whe
electrical installation; examples of extraneous conductive parts are metal sink tops
appropriate size of The
and metal water pipes. The purpose of the bonding is to ensure that all extraneous
earthing and bonding and
conductive parts which are simultaneously accessible are at the same potential.
conductors should rega
Methods of fault protection are given in BS 7671 as:
be determined in
accordance with BS 7671 ● earthed equipotential bonding and automatic disconnection of supply ● s
Chapter 54 (most common) ● w
● use of class II equipment ● c
● non-conducting location The
● earth-free local equipotential bonding influ
plum
● electrical separation.
an in
10. Protective devices: Have they been set correctly for the load? If rewirable fuses
● c
have been fitted, has the correct size of fuse wire been used? If a socket is to be
s
provided for outdoor equipment, has a 30 mA rated RCD been fitted?
● c
11. Checks on documentation: Diagrams, schedules, charts, instructions and any
other information must be available if inspection and testing is to be carried out ● c
in a satisfactory manner. a

12. Checks on warning notices: These should be fixed to equipment operating in ● c

excess of 250 volts where this voltage would not normally be expected. o
● c
p

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Periodic testing Ins

Periodic testing is supplementary to periodic inspection and the same level of testing Insu
as for a new installation is not necessarily required. the s
or a
When the building being tested is unoccupied, isolation of the supply for testing
neut
purposes will not cause a problem, but where the building is occupied, then testing
be c
should be carried out to cause as little inconvenience as possible to the user. Where
link
isolation of the supply is necessary, then the disconnection should take place for as
testi
short a time as possible and by arrangement with the occupier. It may be necessary
to complete the tests out of normal working hours in order to keep disruption to BS 7
a minimum. How
requ
The following tests (where applicable) should be applied:
Whe
● continuity of all protective conductors (including equipotential bonding
equi
conductors and continuity of ring circuit conductors where required)
item
● insulation resistance min
● polarity met

● earth electrode resistance Po

● earth-fault loop impedance Pola
● operation of devices for isolation and switching ● p
● operation of residual current devices
● s
● operation of circuit breakers.
● s

Detailed test procedures ● c

s
Continuity of protective conductors and equipotential ● a
bonding conductors
Whe
Where the installation can be safely isolated from the supply, then the circuit
sinc
protective conductors and equipotential bonding conductors can be disconnected
redu
from the main earthing terminal in order to verify their continuity.
cont
Where the installation cannot be isolated from the supply, the circuit protective 100
conductors and the equipotential bonding conductors must not be disconnected then
from the main earthing terminal, as under fault conditions extraneous metalwork the s
could become live. Under these circumstances a combination of inspection,
continuity testing and earth loop impedance testing should establish the integrity of Ea
the circuit protective conductors. Eart
When testing the effectiveness of the main bonding conductors or supplementary ● t
bonds, the resistance value between any service pipe or extraneous metalwork and
the main earthing terminal should not exceed 0.05 ohms. ● a
● a
Resu
tests

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Operation of main switches and isolators If an

imm
All main switches and isolators should be inspected for correct operation and clear pers
labelling, and to check that access to them has not been obstructed. Where the
operation of the contacts of such devices is not visible it may be necessary to connect Whe
a test lamp between each line and the neutral on the load side of the device to ensure with
that all supply conductors have been broken. do n
still
Operation of residual current devices
RCDs should be tested for correct operation by the use of an RCD tester to ensure
they trip out in the time required by BS 7671 as well as by use of the integral test
button. A check should also be made that the tripping current for the protection of a
socket outlet to be used for equipment outdoors should not exceed 30 mA.

Operation of circuit breakers

All circuit breakers should be inspected for visible signs of damage or damage caused
by overheating. Where isolation of the supply to individual sub-circuits will not cause
inconvenience, each circuit breaker should be manually operated to ensure that the
device opens and closes correctly.

Periodic inspection and test report

BS 7671 requires that the results of any periodic inspection and test should be recorded
on a periodic inspection and test report of the type illustrated in Figure 8.02. The report
should include the following:
● a description of the extent of the inspection and tests and what parts of the
installation were covered
● any limitations (e.g. portable appliances not covered)
● details of any damage, deterioration or dangerous conditions which were found
● any non-compliance with BS 7671
● schedule of test results.

On the job: Periodic inspection

You are asked to carry out a periodic inspection at a small workshop. All goes well
until you come to check the office that is attached to the factory, where you notice that
about 20 staff are working on computers. No installation drawings exist for the o ffice,
as it turns out the factory was built as an extension to the offices many years ago.

1. Can you identify the problems you will encounter in this job?
2. How would you deal with the situation?

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Summary of periodic testing Re

Type of test Recommendations
On c
Continuity of Tests to be carried out between:
info
protective and • all main bonding connections
ring conductors • all supplementary bonding connections.
Sta
Note: When an electrical installation cannot be isolated, protective
conductors including bonding conductors must not be disconnected. We
testi
Insulation If this test is to be carried out, then test:
with
resistance • the whole installation with all protective devices in place and all
how
switches closed
• where electronic devices are present, the test should be carried out BS 7
between phase and neutral conductors connected together out
and earth. ● a
Polarity Tests to be carried out: c
• origin of installation ● a
• all socket outlets
● n
• 10 per cent of control devices (including switches)
• 10 per cent of centre contact lamp holders. ● t
Note: If incorrect polarity is found then a full test should be made on
that part of the installation and testing on the remainder increased to BS
25 per cent. If further faults are found the complete installation must You
be tested. to b
Earth-fault loop Tests to be carried out at: need
impedance • origin of installation The
• each distribution board com
• each socket outlet
• extremity of every radial circuit. Info
Additional Test to verify the effectiveness of the RCDs Befo
Protection pers
Phase sequence Test that the phase sequence is correct ● t
Functional Activities to be carried out: d
• all isolation and switching devices to be operated ● t
• all labels to be checked c
• all interlocking mechanisms to be verified t
• all RCDs to be checked both by test instrument and by test button
● t
• all manually operated circuit breakers to be operated to verify they
open and close correctly. ● t

Voltage drop This may be verified by measuring the circuit impedance or by ● t

calculation ● t
t

● t

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

The following information should be provided as part of the design information, Ele
which should be checked by the person carrying out the inspection. You may have
The
to sign the electrical installation certificate to confirm that the installation has been
refe
designed, installed and tested to comply with BS 7671 with reference to:
part
● the type and composition of circuits, including points of utilisation, number and insta
size of conductors and type of cable used, including the installation method
Reg
● the method used to meet the requirements for fault protection to an
to an
● the information to be able to identify each protective device, isolation and
switching and its location insta

● any circuit or equipment that may be vulnerable to test. A su

their
Contract specification and drawings Dur
You will need these in order to conclude that the job you have completed has been struc
carried out in line with the requirements of the specifications. The position of outlets addi
and level of voltage needed in wiring will be affected by these documents. met

Manufacturer’s instructions De
These tell us the correct size of cable, appropriate control equipment, the size of An
protective device and any functional earthing requirements that may be required for
safe operation of equipment. As s
to id
Statutory legislation well
alarm
You should be familiar with the details of many of these pieces of legislation.
However, there are some areas for some of these regulations that relate specifically to Joi
inspection. We will look at these areas in more detail.
It m
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 insta
Prov
We covered the provisions of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 in chapter 1
Reg
on pages 4–6 and at Level 2. The requirements of these Regulations are those that BS
out
7671 is written to mirror. Testing and inspection of installations is not just to confirm
inclu
compliance with BS 7671 but to confirm compliance with EAWR. For inspection
shou
purposes, EAWR requires that:
● only competent persons should be engaged in the testing procedure (Regulation 16) Co
● suitable precautions for safe isolation need to be taken (Regulation 14) The
shou
● padlocks and isolock systems should be used so that control of isolation remains
insu
under the control of the inspector (Regulation 13).
shou
and

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Flexible cables and cords Pr

Where flexible cables or cords form part of the fixed installation the inspection A ch
should include: type
prot
● examination of the cable or cord for damage or deterioration
syst
● examination of the terminations and anchor points for any defects time
● checking the correctness of the installation with regard to additional mechanical the m
protection or the application of heat resistant sleeving where necessary.
En
Switches The
The IEE Guidance Notes 3 (Inspection & Testing), recommends that a random to en
sample of at least 10 per cent of all switching devices be given a thorough internal hori
visual inspection to assess their electrical and mechanical condition. Should of a
the inspection reveal excessive wear and tear or signs of damage due to arcing in le
or overheating then, unless it is obvious that the problem is associated with that prot
particular switch, the inspection should be extended to include all remaining exce
switches associated with the installation.

Protection against thermal effects Vi

Although sometimes difficult due to the structure of the building, the presence of fire
barriers and seals should be checked wherever reasonably practicable. On c
asso
Protection against direct and indirect contact
Ini
Separate Extra Low Voltage (SELV ) is commonly used as a means of protection
against both direct and indirect contact. When inspecting this type of system, the The
points to be checked include the use of a safety isolating transformer, the need to carr
keep the primary and secondary circuits separate and the segregation of exposed been
conductive parts of the SELV system from any connection with the earthing of the Guid
primary circuit or from any other connection with earth. refe

Basic protection Ins

Inspection of the installation should confirm that all the requirements of the In o
Remember Regulations have been met with regard to basic protection against direct contact the c
with live conductors. This means checking to ensure there has been no damage or 1. R
An RCD must not be deterioration of any of the insulation within the installation, no removal of barriers or
used as the sole means S
obstacles and no alterations to enclosures that may allow access to live conductors.
of basic protection b

Fault protection ●

The method used for fault protection must be established and recorded on
the Inspection Schedule. Where earthed equipotential bonding and automatic ●

disconnection of the supply is used, a check on the condition of the main

equipotential bonding conductor and the satisfactory connection of all other
protective conductors with earth are essential.

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

● no connection with earth or the exposed conductive parts or protective 6. S

conductors of other systems.
A
2. Specialised systems t
h
Non-conducting locations and earth-free situations are specialised systems
i
which would only normally be used where specified and controlled by a suitably
qualified electrical engineer. Although it is useful to be aware of the nature of 7. A
these systems you are unlikely to be asked to carry out an inspection and test of
T
these types of installation at this stage of your career.
e
3. Prevention of mutual detrimental influence a
Account must be taken of the proximity of other electrical services of a different 8. P
voltage band and of non-electrical services and influences, e.g. fire alarm and
C
emergency lighting circuits must be separated from other cables and from each
o
other, and Band 1 and Band 2 circuits must not be present in the same enclosure
p
or wiring system unless they are either segregated or wired with cables suitable
t
for the highest voltage present. Mixed categories of circuits may be contained in
s
multicore cables, subject to certain requirements. This could also mean checking
that water taps have not been fitted directly above a socket outlet. 9. E

Band 1 circuits are circuits that are nominally extra-low voltage, i.e. not C
exceeding 50 volts a.c. or 120 volts d.c., such as telecommunications or data and c
signalling. Band 2 circuits are circuits that are nominally low voltage, i.e. exceeding
extra-low voltage but not exceeding 1000 volts a.c. between conductors Ins
or 600 volts a.c. between conductors and earth. To e
chec
4. Isolating and switching devices
bein
BS 7671 requires that effective means suitably positioned and ready to operate
should be provided so that all voltage may be cut off from every installation, Sw
every circuit within the installation and from all equipment, as may be necessary Al
to prevent or remove danger. This means that switches and/or isolating
Me
devices of the correct rating must be installed as appropriate to meet the above
requirements. It may be advisable where practicable to carry out an isolation Se
exercise to check that effective isolation can be achieved. This should include Su
switching off, locking-off and testing to verify that the circuit is dead and no other
Co
source of supply is present.
Co
5. Under voltage protection
Co
Sometimes referred to in starters as no-volt protection, suitable precautions
Su
must be taken where a loss or lowering of voltage or a subsequent restoration of
voltage could cause danger. The most common situation would be where a motor- Co
driven machine stops due to a loss of voltage and unexpectedly restarts when the Ne
voltage is restored (unless precautions such as the installation of a motor starter
Fir
containing a contactor are employed). Regulations require that where unexpected
restarting of a motor may cause danger, the provision of a motor starter designed Sw
to prevent automatic restarting must be provided.

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

All connections secure Lig

Cables correctly terminated and identified Lig
No sharp edges on cable entries, screw heads etc. which could cause damage to cables Sw
All covers and equipment in place Sin
Adequate access and working space Co
Wiring accessories (general requirements) (tick if satisfactory) Co
All accessories comply with the appropriate British Standard Sw
Boxes and other enclosures securely fastened Sw
Metal boxes and enclosures correctly earthed Sw
Flush boxes not projecting above surface of wall Al
No sharp edges which could cause damage to cable insulation Al
Non-sheathed cables not exposed outside box or enclosure Lig
Conductors correctly identified Al
Bare protective conductors sleeved green and yellow Ce
All terminals tight and contain all strands of stranded conductor No
Cord grips correctly used to prevent strain on terminals De
All accessories of adequate current rating Al
Accessories suitable for all conditions likely to be encountered Ho
Complies with the requirements for locations containing a bath or shower Ce
Cooker control unit sited to one side and low enough for accessibility and to prevent trailing flexes Fle
across the radiant plates La
Cable to cooker fixed to prevent strain on connections Lu
Socket outlet (tick if satisfactory) Co
Complies with appropriate British Standard and is shuttered for household and similar installations Al
Mounting height above floor or working surface is suitable Ma
All sockets have correct polarity So
Sockets not installed in bath or shower zones unless they are shaver-type socket or SELV Co
Sockets not within 3m of zone 1 Ad
Sockets controlled by a switch if the supply is direct current Al
Sockets protected where floor mounted Lo
Circuit protective conductor connected directly to the earthing terminal of the socket outlet on a Co
sheathed wiring installation
Joi
Earthing tail provided from the earthed metal box to the earthing terminal of the socket outlet
Se
Socket outlets not used to supply a water heater with uninsulated elements
(continued over)

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Rigid metal conduits (tick if satisfactory) Me

Complies to the appropriate British standard Lin
Connected to the main earth terminal Pro
Line and neutral cables contained within the same conduit Ea
Conduits suitable for damp and corrosive situations Joi
Maximum span between buildings without intermediate support Ci
Rigid non-metallic conduits (tick if satisfactory) 1.
Complies with the appropriate British Standard 2.
Ambient and working temperature within permitted limits 3.
Provision for expansion and contraction 4.
Boxes and fixings suitable for mass of luminaire suspended at expected temperatures 5.
Flexible metal conduit (tick if satisfactory) 6.
Complies with the appropriate British Standard 7.
Separate protective conductor provided Tabl
Adequately supported and terminated
Trunking (tick if satisfactory)
Complies to the appropriate British Standard
Securely fixed and adequately protected against mechanical damage
Selected, erected and rooted so that no damage is caused by ingress of water
Proximity to non-electrical services
Internal sealing provided where necessary
Hole surrounding trunking made good
Band 1 circuits partitioned from band 2 circuits, or insulated for the highest voltage present
Circuits partitioned from band one circuits, or wired in mineral-insulated and sheathed cable
Common outlets for band 1 and band 2 circuits provided with screens, barriers or partitions
Cables supported for vertical runs
(continued over)

350

EI449370_NVQ3_C08_P323_394.indd 350-351
 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Instruments Instr
insu
swit
On completion of this topic area the candidate will be able to identify and select test
instruments suitable for testing and commissioning. instr
requ
Types of instrument
Othe
Low-resistance ohmmeters the a
Where low resistance measurements are required when testing earth continuity, ring- hand
circuit continuity and polarity, then a low-reading ohmmeter is required. This may be takin
a specialised low-reading ohmmeter or the continuity scale of a combined insulation
and continuity tester. Whichever type is used it is recommended that the test current Ea
should be derived from a source of supply not less than 4 V and no greater than 24 V
Eart
with a short circuit current not less than 200 mA (instruments manufactured to BS EN pho
61557 will meet the above requirements). The ohmmeter should be able to measure pros
from 0.01 ohm to 2 ohms. Digital instruments should have a resolution of 0.01 ohm. rang
Errors in the reading obtained can be introduced by contact resistance or by lead indi
resistance. Although the effects of contact resistance cannot be eliminated entirely The
and may introduce errors of 0.01 ohm or greater, lead resistance can be eliminated the m
either by clipping the leads together and zeroing the instrument before use (where 2 pe
this facility is provided) or measuring the resistance of the leads and subtracting this
from the reading obtained. RC
Insulation-resistance ohmmeters Instr
the o
Insulation resistance should have a high value and therefore insulation resistance One
Did you meters must have the ability to measure high resistance readings. The test voltage RCD
know? required for measuring insulation resistance is given in BS 7671 Table 61, as shown in test
Table 8.04. tripp
BS 7671 requires that
Circuit nominal voltage Test voltage d.c. Minimum insulation used
the instruments used
for measuring insulation (volts) (volts) resistance (megohms)
resistance must be SELV and PELV 250 ≥0.5
capable of providing
the test voltages stated Up to and including 500 V with 500 ≥1.0
above while maintaining the exception of the above
a test current of 1 mA. Above 500 V 1000 ≥1.0
Instruments that are
Table 8.04 Test voltage required for measuring insulation resistance (from BS 7671)
manufactured to BS EN
61557 will satisfy the The photograph top right on page 353 shows a typical modern insulation and
above requirements continuity tester that will measure both low values of resistance, for use when
carrying out continuity and polarity tests, and also high values of resistance when
used for insulation resistance tests.

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EI449370_NVQ3_C08_P323_394.indd 352-353
 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

A modern innovation by manufacturers is the production of an all-in-one instrument

that has the ability to carry out the most common tests required by the Regulations.
In
These are:
On c
● continuity tests (including polarity tests) of re
● insulation resistance tests
● earth-loop impedance tests
Ele
BS E
● RCD tests
instr
● measurement of prospective short-circuit current. instr
thes
The photograph below shows an example of this type of instrument, which by
manipulation of the function and range switches will perform all of the above tests. they
Instr
fixe
of th
obta
are d

Ca
To e
have
instr
requ
All-in-one RCD tester All
betw
rece
Instr
Tong testers can
Tong testers, or clamp meters, are used to measure the value of current instr
flowing in an a.c. circuit without the need to interrupt the supply to
On b
connect it in series with the load. The meter allows the jaws of the
the d
instrument to open and be positioned over the conductor of the circuit
Figu
– but just one of the conductors. This instrument works by magnetic
that
induction. The magnetic field around the conductor induces an e.m.f.
instr
into the jaws. When the jaws are closed the circuit is complete and
befo
the instrument measures the current. If both the line and neutral
conductors are held within the jaws, the magnetic field produced by the A fu
line conductor will be cancelled out by the magnetic field in the neutral, the j
which will be equal in size and opposite in polarity. In this case the be b
instrument would fail to register any current. instr

Tong testers

354

EI449370_NVQ3_C08_P323_394.indd 354-355
 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

As t
Instrument serial no.:
at 10
Date tested:
Calibration void if be h
Remember Date next due: seal is broken diss

When using an Figure 8.03 Adhesive calibration label Figure 8.04 Calibration seal Note
instrument on site, reco
the accuracy of the Instruments that are subject to any electrical or mechanical misuse (e.g. if the
instrument undergoes an electrical short circuit or is dropped) should be returned P
instrument will probably
not be as good as the for recalibration before being used again.
accuracy obtained under Electrical test instruments are relatively delicate and expensive items of equipment Now
laboratory conditions.
and should be handled in a careful manner. When not in use they should be stored
Operating accuracy P
in clean, dry conditions at normal room temperature. Care should also be taken of
is always worse than
instrument leads and probes to prevent damage to their insulation and to maintain
basic accuracy and can
them in good, safe working condition.
be affected by battery
condition, generator
cranking speed, ambient Testing resistors Thu
diss
temperature, instrument Resistors must be removed from a circuit before testing, otherwise readings will mor
alignment or loss of be false. To measure the resistance, the leads of a suitable ohmmeter should be
calibration connected to each resistor connection lead and a reading obtained which should be Som
close to the preferred value and within the tolerance stated. curr
For a

Resistors as current limiters acro

A resistor is often provided in a circuit to limit, restrict or reduce the current flowing R
Remember
in the circuit to some level that better suits the ratings of some other component in
Records of calibrations the circuit. For example, consider the problem of operating a solenoid valve from a
carried out and copies 36 V d.c. supply, given the information that the energising current of the coil fitted to
the valve is 100 mA and its resistance is 240 Ω. Rem
of all calibration
certificates issued A re
Note that the coil, being a wound component, is actually an inductor. However, we
should be retained in with
are concerned here with the steady d.c. current through the coil and not the variation
a safe place in case it is the c
in coil current at the instant the supply is connected, so we can ignore the effects of
necessary to validate com
its inductance and consider only the effects of its resistance.
any test results carried 36 V
out at some later date If the solenoid valve were connected directly across the 36 V supply, as shown in
Figure 8.05, then from Ohm’s law the steady current through its coil would be: Re
V With
I =
R
we c
36 +
= Power
240 240 7
Solenoid For
supply
valve supp
36 V dc
– the r
= 0.15 A or 150 mA

Figure 8.05 Solenoid valve connected across 36V supply

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

V+ However, reality will stop us from doing this, as resistors are The
sealed components. But we can create the same tapping effect is no
R1
by combining two resistors in series as shown in Figure 8.07, and suita
then our tapping becomes a connection point made between the of th
two resistors.
(Output) In a
Rt Vo If we look at Figure 8.07, we can see that the series combination of time
resistors R 1and R is
2
connected across a supply that is provided by kno
two rails. One is shown as V+ (the positive supply rail or, in other whi
R2
words, our input) and the other as 0 V (or common rail of the circuit).
The
The total resistance of our network (Rt) will be: the
outpe
0V 0V
(common) Rt = R1 + R
2 touc
We know, using Ohm’s law, that V = I × R and the same current have
Figure 8.07 Series circuit for voltage control
flows through both resistors. Therefore, for this network, we can
see that V += I × R ,t and the voltage dropped across resistor R , To c
2
the w
Vo = I × R2 .
the i
We now have two expressions, one for V and +
one for V . Weo can find out what fraction of th
Vo is of V+ by putting V oover V +on the left-hand side of an equation and then putting
what we said each one is equal to in the corresponding positions on the right-hand V
side. This gives us the following formula:
V I×R Obv
o 2
= wou
V+ I × Rt
of th
As current is common on the right hand side of our formula, they cancel each other surp
out. This leaves us with:
V This
o R
R2 such
=
V+ t
cont
To establish what Vo (our output voltage) actually is, we can transpose again, which
would give us: Po
R2 × V Resi
Vo =
Rt + capa
Finally, we can replace Rt by what it is actually equal to, and this will give us the be r
means of establishing the value of the individual resistors needed to give a desired
output voltage (V ). By transposition, our final formula now becomes: The
o
temp
V = R2 ×V gene
o +
R1 + R2 phy
This equation is normally referred to as the potential divider rule. Resi
In reality R 1and R could each be a combination (series or parallel) of many resistors. with
2
radi
However, as long as each combination is replaced by its equivalent resistance so that the
simplified circuit looks like Figure 8.07, then the potential divider rule can be applied.

358

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Power is calculated by:

Te
P=V×I
Instead of V we can substitute I × R for V and V/R for I. We can then use the following On c
equations to calculate power: the r
V2 imp
P = I2 × R or P=
R
What would the power rating of the 50 Ω resistor in Figure 8.09 be? Co
I = 80 mA Cir
sup
Reg
P=VrI = 4 r 0.08 = 0.32 watts P = VI
2 shou
R
P = I2 r R = 0.082 r 50 = 0.32 watts P=I The
4V 50 7
V2 V2 mea
P=R = 4 50
r4 = 0.32 watts P=R veri
read

Test
Figure 8.09 Power ratings be ‘
the l
Normally only one calculation is required. Typical power ratings for resistors are from
shown in Table 8.05. prot
Carbon resistors 0 to 0.5 watts the c
ohm
Ceramic resistors 0 to 6 watts eart
Wire wound resistors 0 to 25 watts mea
be r
Table 8.05 Typical power ratings for resistors
circu
Manufacturers also always quote a maximum voltage rating for their resistors on of R
their data sheets. The maximum voltage rating is basically a statement about the lum
electrical insulation properties of those parts of the resistor that are supposed to be befo
insulators (e.g. the ceramic or glass rod which supports the resistance element or the
Test
surface coating over the resistance element).
mai
If the maximum voltage rating is exceeded there is a danger that a flashover may whi
occur from one end of the resistor to the other. This flashover usually has disastrous cond
results. If it occurs down the outside of the resistor it can destroy not only the outl
protective coating but, on film resistors, the resistor film as well. will
If it occurs down the inside of the resistor the ceramic or glass rod is frequently resis
cracked (if not shattered) and, of course, this mechanical damage to the support for and
the resistance element results in the element itself being damaged as well. the
In th
teste
insta

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Test of the continuity of supplementary bonding conductors

Test method 2, as described on page 361, is used for this purpose. The ohmmeter
leads are connected between the point being tested, between simultaneously
accessible extraneous conductive parts, i.e. pipe work, sinks etc. or between
simultaneously accessible extraneous conductive parts and exposed conductive
parts (metal parts of the installation). The test will verify that the conductor is sound.
To check this, move the probe to the metalwork to be protected, as shown in Figure
8.12. This method is also used to test the main equipotential bonding conductors.

Metal sink Where ferrous enclosures have been used as the

protective conductors, e.g. conduit, trunking, steel-
wire armouring etc., the following special precautions
should be followed. Figu
● Perform the standard ohmmeter test using the The
appropriate test method described above. Use a low mea
Supplementary resistance ohmmeter for this test. cond
bonding Low reading form
conductor ohmmeter ● Inspect the enclosure along its length to verify
Metal und
waste pipe the integrity.
● If there is any doubt as to the soundness of
this conductor, a further test using a line-earth
loop impedance tester can be carried out after
connection to the supply.

MET
Figure 8.12 Test
of the continuity Continuity of ring final circuit conductors
of supplementary
A test is required to verify the continuity of each conductor including the circuit The
bonding conductors
protective conductor (cpc) of every ring final circuit. The test results should establish cond
that the ring is complete and has no interconnections. The test will also establish that resis
the ring is not broken. Figure 8.13 shows a ring circuit illustrating these faults. neut
inco
It may be possible, as an alternative and in order to establish that no interconnected
multiple loops have been made in the ring circuit, for the inspector to check visually The
each conductor throughout its entire length. However, in most circumstances cond
this will not be practicable and the following test method for checking ring circuit 8.15
continuity is recommended. at ea
will
of th
prop

362

EI449370_NVQ3_C08_P323_394.indd 362-363
 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

r
t
● t
(

Ohmmeter
To i
Figu
coil
crea
N1 N2
neut
L1 L2
Links The
cpc1 cpc2
Figure 8.15 Line and neutral conductors connected together crite
appr
The latter exercise is then repeated but with the line and cpc cross-connected as in
in T
Figure 8.16. The resistance between line and earth is then measured at each socket.
with
The highest value recorded represents the maximum R + R of the2circuit and is
1
all i
recorded on the test schedule. It can be used to determine the earth-loop impedance
(Zs) of the circuit, to verify compliance with the loop impedance requirements of insu
the Regulations. The
and
lum
the d
cont
Sim
Ohmmeter
how
into
1m
N1 N2 less
L1 L2 case
cpc1 Links cpc2 shou
Figure 8.16 Line and cpc cross-connected
Test
Insulation resistance ● S
Insulation resistance tests are to verify, for compliance with BS 7671, that the a
insulation of conductors, electrical accessories and equipment is satisfactory and ● T
that electrical conductors and protective conductors are not short-circuited nor do i
they show a low insulation resistance (which would indicate defective insulation).
In other words, we are testing to see whether the insulation of a conductor is so poor Now
swit
as to allow any conductor to ‘leak’ to earth or to another conductor. Before testing
ensure that: ● b
t
● pilot or indicator lamps and capacitors are disconnected from circuits to avoid an
inaccurate test value being obtained ● b
● voltage sensitive electronic equipment, such as dimmer switches, delay timers, ● b
power controllers, electronic starters for fluorescent lamps, emergency lighting,

364

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Where it is not possible to group conductors in this way, conductors may be tested Som
singly. Figure 8.18 illustrates the testing of insulation resistance on a single-phase rath
lighting circuit. But remember, on a two-way circuit operate the two-way switch and read
retest to make sure that you have tested all of the strappers!

Lamp holder

N L Single pole
switch
cpc

Po
Insulation
Lamp out A te
resistance
meter befo
an in
Figure 8.18 Insulation resistance test on single-phase lighting circuit
The
Test 2: Insulation resistance from earth to line and neutral connected together swit
● Single-phase circuits – test between the line and neutral conductors and earth at outl
the appropriate distribution board. Where any circuits contain two-way switching, the l
the two-way switches will need to be operated and another insulation resistance of th
test carried out, including the two-way strapping wire which was not previously wro
included in the test. In e
● Three-phase circuits – measure between all line conductors and neutral bunched earli
together, and earth. Where a low reading is obtained (less than 2 megohms) it may link
be necessary to test each conductor to earth separately. Figure 8.19 shows the test mak
of insulation resistance between earth to line and neutral connected together on a item
socket outlet circuit. swit
Figu
usin
For
ring
conn
been
N L Temporary circu
cpc
link
each
Insulation
resistance
tester

Figure 8.19 Insulation resistance test between earth to line and neutral
connected together on socket outlets

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Earth electrode resistance (Regulation 612.7) ● C

T
Where the earthing system incorporates an earth electrode as part of the system, the t
electrode resistance to earth needs to be measured. In previous years, the metal pipes t
of water mains were used; however the change to more plastic pipe work means this t
practice can no longer be relied upon. f
Some of the types of accepted earth electrode are: c
s
● earth rods or pipes
l
● earth tapes or wires e
● earth plates
● underground structural metalwork embedded in foundations
● lead sheaths or other metallic coverings of cables
● metal pipes.

The resistance to earth depends upon the size and type of electrode used; remember
that we want as good a connection to earth as possible. The connection to the
electrode must be made above ground level.

Measurement by standard method

●
When measuring earth electrode resistances to earth where low values are required, W
as in the earthing of the neutral point of a transformer or generator, test method 1 1
below may be used, using an earth electrode resistance tester.
2

Test method 1
3
Before this test is undertaken, the earthing conductor to the earth electrode must
be disconnected either at the electrode or at the main earthing terminal. This will ● B
ensure that all the test current passes through the earth electrode alone. However, as W
this will leave the installation unprotected against earth faults, switch off the supply m
before disconnecting the earth. t
t
The test should be carried out when the ground conditions are at their least
I
favourable, i.e. during a period of dry weather, as this will produce the highest
a
resistance value.
o
The test requires the use of two temporary test electrodes (spikes) and is carried out s
in the following manner.
Onc
● Connect the earth electrode to terminals C and P1 of a four-terminal
1
earth tester.
To exclude the resistance of these test leads from the resistance reading, individual Test
leads should be taken from these terminals and connected separately to the
Guid
electrode. However, if the test lead resistance is insignificant, the two terminals
met
may be short-circuited at the tester and connection made with a single test lead,
the same being true if you are using a three-terminal tester.

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Earth-fault loop impedance Eart

and
When designing an installation, it is the designer’s responsibility to ensure that, in th
should a line-to-earth fault develop, the protection device will operate safely and beco
within the time specified by BS 7671. Although the designer can calculate this in carr
theory, it is not until the installation is complete that the calculations can be checked. othe
It is necessary, therefore, to determine the earth-fault loop impedance (Z s) at the
furthest point in each circuit and to compare the readings obtained with either the Me
designer’s calculated values or the values tabulated in BS 7671 or the IEE On-Site Guide. The
The earth-fault loop is made up of the following elements: the o
the e
● the line conductor from the source of the supply to the point of the fault supe
● the circuit protective conductor prob
the m
● the main earthing terminal and earthing conductor
para
● the earth return path (dependent on the nature of the supply, TN-S, TN-C-S etc.) bon
● the path through the earthed neutral of the supply transformer conn
the v
● the secondary winding of the supply transformer. com
R1 The value of earth-fault loop impedance may be
determined by: Ve
Line direct measurement of Zs
● The
direct measurement of Ze at the origin of the circuit the f
●
and adding to this the value of R + R measured during ● f
Ze Zs Load 1 2
continuity tests: Z =s Z +e (R +1 R ) 2 I
● obtaining the value of Ze from the electricity supplier ● t
and adding to this the value of R + R as above. However,
Supply Customers’ terminals where the value of Z is obtained from the 1electricity
2
● t
e
R2
supplier and is not actually measured, a test must be b
o
Figure 8.23 Earth-fault loop carried out to ensure that the main earthing terminal is in
fact connected to earth, using an earth-loop impedance ● r
tester or an approved test lamp.
Sta
Direct measurement of Zs The
Direct measurement of earth-fault loop impedance is achieved by use of an earth- to 8
fault loop impedance tester, which is an instrument designed specifically for this disc
purpose. The instrument operates from the mains supply and, therefore, can only be an a
used on a live installation. temp

The instrument is usually fitted with a standard 13 A plug for connecting to the De
installation directly through a normal socket outlet, although test leads and probes
are also provided for taking measurements at other points on the installation. Whe
imp

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Tables 41.2, 41.3 and 41.4 (a) 0

You may need to refer to BS 7671 2001 for measured values of earth-loop impedance Pr
given in Tables 41.2, 41.3 and 41.4 of BS 7671, which should not be exceeded when co
the conductors are at their normal operating temperature. If the conductors are at a (sq
different temperature when tested, the reading should be adjusted accordingly. 1.0
1.5
Rule of thumb
2.5
As an approximation or ‘rule of thumb’, the measured value of earth-fault loop
impedance (Z ) at the most remote outlet should not exceed three-quarters of the
Did you s
know? relevant value given in Tables 41.2, 41.3 or 41.4. (b) 5

Warning: If the circuit being tested is protected by an RCD, the test procedure may Pr
A 0.4 second
cause the RCD to operate causing unwanted isolation of the circuit. Certain types of co
disconnection time is
test instrument may be used that are specifically designed to overcome this problem; (sq
used for circuits up to
32A. Circuits over 32A otherwise it will be necessary to measure the value of R and R1 with the 2
circuit 1.0
may use a 5 second isolated and add this to the value of Ze measured at the incoming terminals.
1.5
disconnection time.
(a) 0.4-second disconnection time NP = not permitted 2.5
Protective Fuse rating (amps) 4.0
conductor
6.0
(sq mm) 5 15 20 30 45
Tabl
1.0 8.00 2.14 1.48 NP NP
the o
1.5 8.00 2.14 1.48 0.91 NP
(a) 0
2.5 to 16.0 8.00 2.14 1.48 0.91 0.50
Pr
(b) 5-second disconnection time NP = not permitted con
(sq
Protective Fuse rating (amps)
conductor 1.0
(sq mm) 5 15 20 30 45 1.5
1.0 14.8 4.46 2.79 NP NP 2.5
1.5 14.8 4.46 3.20 2.08 NP (b) 5
2.5 14.8 4.46 3.20 2.21 1.20
Pr
4.0 to 16.0 14.8 4.46 3.20 2.21 1.33 con
Table 8.06 IEE On-Site Guide Table 2A. Maximum measured value of (sq
earth-loop impedance (in ohms) when the overcurrent protective 1.0
device is a fuse to BS 3036
1.5
2.5
4.0
6.0

Tabl
impe

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Ambient temperature Tes

(degrees Celsius) Correction factors The
0 0.96 the p
supp
5 0.98
instr
10 1.00 thes
25 1.06 sock
30 1.08 The
thro
Table 8.09 Ambient temperature correction factors
diffe
MCB MCB rating (amps) purp
type 5 6 10 15 16 20 25 30 32 40 45 50 63 ● W
1 9.60 8.00 4.80 3.20 3.00 2.40 1.92 1.60 1.50 1.20 1.06 0.96 0.76 o
t
2 5.49 4.57 2.74 1.83 1.71 1.37 1.10 0.91 0.86 0.69 0.61 0.55 0.43
● F
B – 6.40 3.84 – 2.40 1.92 1.54 – 1.20 0.96 0.86 0.77 0.61
1
3 or C 3.84 3.20 1.92 1.28 1.20 0.96 0.77 0.64 0.60 0.48 0.42 0.38 0.30 t
D 1.92 1.60 0.96 0.64 0.60 0.48 0.38 0.32 0.30 0.24 0.22 0.19 0.15 ● I
Table 8.10 IEE On-Site Guide Table 2D. Maximum measured earth-fault loop impedance (in ohms) when overcurrent protective device ● F
is an MCB to BS 3871 or BS EN 60898
l
Operation of residual current devices (RCDs) s
S
Although the majority of residual current devices (RCDs) in use are designed to operate t
at earth leakage currents not exceeding 30 mA, other values of operating current are
available for use in special circumstances. All RCDs are electromechanical devices that ● W
must be checked regularly to confirm that they are in working order. This can be done s
at regular intervals by simply pressing the test button on the front of the device. r
4
Where an installation incorporates an RCD, Regulation 514.12.2 requires a notice to
be fixed in a prominent position at or near the origin of the installation. A fu
swit
The integral test button incorporated in all RCDs only verifies the correct operation tests
of the mechanical parts of the RCD and does not provide a means of checking the
continuity of the earthing conductor, the earth electrode or the sensitivity of the Saf
device. This can only be done effectively by use of an RCD tester specifically designed
for testing RCDs as described below. Und
appe
ther
lives
bein

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Compliance with BS 7671 at ri

If th
On completion of this topic area the candidate will be able to explain the need to neut
compare test values with those in BS 7671 and state the actions to be taken in the pass
event of unsatisfactory results. wou
● p
Continuity ● fi
When testing the continuity of circuit protective conductors or bonding conductors
● d
we should always expect a very low reading, which is why we must always use a
low-reading ohmmeter. Main and supplementary bonding conductors should have In F
a reading of not more than 0.05 ohms while the maximum resistance of circuit
protective conductors can be estimated from the value of (R + R ) given
1 2
in Table 9A
of the IEE On-Site Guide. These values will depend upon the cross-sectional area of
the conductor, the conductor material and its length.
A very high (end-of-scale) reading would indicate a break in the conductor itself or
Did you a disconnected termination that must be investigated. A mid-range reading may be
know? caused by the poor termination of an earthing clamp to the service pipe; e.g. a service
pipe which is not cleaned correctly before fitting the clamp or corrosion of the metal
A reading only slightly service pipe due to its age and damp conditions.
higher than the required
Poor values of earth continuity mean that, in the event of an earth fault, insufficient
reading may be possible eart
current will flow causing the protective device to operate within the times required by
to correct by replacing in th
BS 7671. The smallest sizes of steel conduit and trunking will have resistance values
the conductor with
of 0.005 ohms/metre and values of cpc will depend on their size. However, a 1.00mm2 the p
one of a larger cross-
conductor will have resistance of 0.018 Ω/metre while 2.5mm2 is approximately confi
sectional area
0.007 Ω/metre. If higher values than expected are found: ● r
● confirm the correct size of cpc ● a
● install a larger one if necessary p
E
● check the effectiveness of the connections
● look for corrosion on the termination Ins
● make sure any paint has been removed from any clamps that have been used. The
com
Polarity dom
Incorrect polarity is one of the most dangerous situations that can occur in an of 2
installation. The aim of tests for correct polarity is to confirm that all single pole sub-
switches and protective devices are fitted in the line conductor. It is
2m
Switches fitted in the neutral conductor would result in the supply to the electrical teste
equipment still able to be turned on and off. However, when the switch is in the off
position the supply would still be live up to the terminals of the equipment. If this A ze
were a lighting circuit, then anyone turning the light off to change the bulb would be

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Did you
● a possible short circuit between live conductors
Ce
● an earth fault, if a bare conductor is in contact with earth at some point in the
know? installation. On c
Although PVC- Both of these must be investigated immediately. certi
insulated cables are A low value reading of below 1 megohm suggests a latent weakness in the insulation.
not generally subject This could possibly be due to the ingress of dampness or dirt in such items as
Ele
to a deterioration of BS 7
distribution boards, joint boxes or lighting fittings etc. Other causes of low insulation
insulation resistance alter
resistance can be the infestation of equipment by rats, mice or insects.
due to dampness Elec
(unless the insulation
or sheath is damaged),
Earth-fault loop impedance give

mineral-insulated The earth-fault loop path is made up of those parts of the supply system external Exa
cables can be affected if to the premises being tested (Ze) and the line conductor and circuit protective refe
dampness has entered conductor within the installation (R + R ), the total earth-fault loop impedance being orga
1 2
the end of a cable Zs = Ze + (R1 + R2 ). Insp
before the seal has been own
applied properly If the value of impedance measured is higher than that required by the tables
avai
in Chapter 41 of BS 7671, then this indicates that, in the event of an earth fault,
disconnection of the protective device may not happen. If it does take place, it certainly ● P
will not be within the time constraints on protective device activation required by BS ● E
7671. Therefore, people living in or working on the installation would be at great risk.
● E
Options available would be to:
● I
● check the effectiveness of the terminations
● S
● increase the size of the cpc
● E
● change the type of protective device used
● add a RCD to protect the circuit, providing it is electrically sound. Pe
The
Functional testing of residual current devices (RCDs) insp
Where a residual current device (RCD) fails to trip when pressing the integral test addi
button, this would indicate a mechanical fault within the device itself, which should acco
therefore be replaced. cont
App
When a residual current device fails to trip when being tested by an RCD tester, this
would suggest that there is a fault with the RCD and that it should be replaced. It may ● E
be that there is an issue with the cpc; however a test of the earth-loop impedance C
would prove whether this is satisfactory or not. r

If the RCD does trip out, but not within the time specified, then a check should be made ● P
that the test instrument is set correctly for the nominal tripping current of the device p
under test. If the correct tripping current was selected then this indicates that the RCD ● C
would fail to give the protection required and, therefore, would need replacing. t
A RCD is fitted to the circuit for safety and protection. If the device is not working, then T
the installation is not protected and people and livestock are at risk of electric shock. c

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

● Electrical Installation Certificates must identify who is responsible for the design, Ele
construction, inspection and testing, whether this is new work or an alteration or
addition to an existing installation. As explained below this may be one person or The
it may be a number of different organisations. new
to an
● Minor Works Certificates must also identify who is responsible for the design, cons
construction, inspection and testing of the work carried out. insta
● Periodic Inspection Reports must indicate who is responsible for carrying out the orga
periodic inspection and testing of the existing installation.
● A schedule of test results must be issued with all Electrical Installation Certificates
and periodic inspection reports.
● When signing the above forms on behalf of a company or other business
organisation, individuals should state for whom they are acting.
● For larger or more complex installations, additional documentation, such as
inspection checklists, may be required for clarification purposes.
The design, construction, inspection and testing of an installation may be the
responsibility of just one person, in which case the shortened version of the Electrical
Installation Certificate may be used.
On larger or more complex installations the design, construction, inspection and
testing may be the responsibility of a number of different organisations, in which
case all the parties concerned should be identified and must sign the certificate in
the appropriate place. This may be the case where a design consultant is employed
to carry out the design of the installation and an electrical contractor is employed to
carry out the construction.
Many larger companies now employ dedicated inspectors whose job it is to inspect
and test the work of other electricians within the company. In this case, the certificate As s
may be signed by the person carrying out the installation work as the constructor, full
and the person carrying out the inspection and test as the inspector. only
pers
Provided that each party is clearly identified in the appropriate place, this is quite
the d
acceptable. In other cases, the inspection and testing of the installation may be
insp
sub-contracted to a second contractor, in which case they should sign the certificate
insta
for that section of the work.
full
The certificate also provides accommodation for the identification and signatures com
of two different design organisations. This is for use where different sections of the See
installation are designed by different parties, e.g. the electrical installation may be
designed by one consultant and the fire-alarm system or other specialist service may
be designed by another. If this should be the case then the details and signatures of
both parties are required. BS 7671 provides advice notes for the completion of each
type of form and also provides guidance notes for the person receiving the certificate.
These are particularly helpful for non-technical persons.

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Electrical Installation Certificate (Type 2) i

(
This is a shortened version of the Type 1
form. It is used when inspecting and testing a ● T
new installation, major alteration or addition c
to an existing installation where i
one person is responsible for the design, t
construction, inspection and testing C
of the installation. o
t
This certificate is intended for use with new
installations or alterations or additions to an ● T
existing circuit where new circuits have been i
installed. The original certificate is to be given s
to the person ordering the work and a copy ● T
retained by the contractor. This certificate is a
not valid unless accompanied by a Schedule t
of Test Results.
● T
The signatures on the certificate should a
be those of the persons authorised by the s
companies carrying out the work of design,
construction, inspection and testing. Ins
The recommended time to the next inspection The
should be stated, taking into account the confi
frequency and quality of maintenance that the has
installation is likely to receive. Part
insp
The prospective fault current should be the
611.
greater of either that measured between
Sche
live conductors or that between phase
of, t
conductor(s) and earth.
Eac
Guidance notes (Fig
Guidance notes for those receiving the certificate eithe
are as follows. if no
basi
● This certificate has been issued to confirm
will
that the electrical installation work to which
and
it relates has been designed, constructed,
Faul
inspected and tested in accordance with
equi
BS 7671 (IEE Wiring Regulations).
disc
● As the person ordering the work you should the p
have received the original certificate and cond
Figure 8.27 Electrical the contractor should have retained a copy. prot
Installation Certificate However, if you are not the user of the be r
(Type 2 short form)

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Some example points are given below. 5.

● SELV is an extra-low-voltage system which is electrically separate from earth and
from other systems. Where this method is used the particular requirements of the
IEE Wiring Regulations must be checked (see Regulation 414).
● Basic protection against direct contact by the use of obstacles or placing out of
reach is usually only employed in special circumstances. Where they are used the
requirements of the Regulations must be met (see Regulation 417). 6.

● The use of class II equipment as a means of protection is infrequently adopted

and only when the installation is to be supervised and under the control of a
qualified electrical engineer (Regulation 412 applies). 7.

● Non-conducting locations also require special precautions to be taken and are not
applicable to domestic locations (see Regulation 418.1).
● Earth-free equipotential bonding as a means of protection is also only used in
8.
special circumstances; again it is not applicable in domestic installations.
● For the requirements of systems using electrical separation as a means of
protection see Regulation 418.3.
Contractor: Address/Location of distribution board
Instruments
On completion of the Inspection Schedule 9.
Test Date: Type of Supply: TN-S/TN-C-S/TT loop impedance: ……………………………

Signature
Ze at origin: ……… ohms continuity: it should be signed and dated by the person
PFC: …………kA insulation:
Method of fault protection: ………………………………………………………… Confirmation of supply polarity RCD tester:
responsible for carrying out the inspection.
Equipment vulnerable to testing: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………

Schedule of Test Results

Description of Work: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Overcurrent
Test Results
Device

Short-circuit
Wiring
Conductors The Schedule of Test Results is a written record 10.
Circuit
description
capacity: ………kA
Continuity
Insulation
Resistance Earth Loop
Functional
Testing
Remarks
of the results obtained when carrying out the
(R Impendance

type
Rating In
A
live cpc
1 +

R2)*
R2*
Ring
Live/
Live
Live/
Earth
Zs
Ω
RCD
time Other
electrical tests required by Part 6 of BS 7671. The
mm 2 mm 2 Ω

following notes give guidance on the compilation

Ω MΩ MΩ ms
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

of the schedule, which should be attached to the

Electrical Installation Certificate.
1. The type of supply should be determined
from either the supply company or by 11.
inspection of the installation.
2. Ze should be measured with the main bonding 12.
disconnected. If Z is determined from
Deviations from BS 7671: IEE Wiring Regulations and special notes:
e
information provided by the supply company,
* Complete column 6 or 7 rather than measured, then the effectiveness
of the earth must be confirmed by testing.
Figure 8.29 Schedule of Test Results

3. The value of prospective fault current recorded on the results schedule should be 13.
the greater of that measured between live conductors (short-circuit current) or
line conductor and earth (earth-fault current).
4. In the column headed ‘Overcurrent device’, details of the main protective device
including its short circuit should be inserted.

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Electrical Installation – Minor Par

MINOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION WORKS CERTIFICATE
(REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS – BS 7671 [IEEE WIRING REGULATIONS])
To be used only for minor electrical work which does not include the provision of a new circuit

PART 1: Description of minor works

Works Certificate ● E
s
1. Description of the minor works Minor works are defined as an addition to an
2. Location/Address
electrical installation that does not extend to ● I
3. Date minor works completed
the installation of a new circuit, e.g. either the m
4. Details of departures, if any, from BS 7671: 2008
addition of a new socket outlet or of a lighting ● E
PART 2: Installation details
point to an existing circuit. This certificate e
1. System earthing arrangement TN-C-S TN-S TT includes space for the recording of essential test
2. Method of fault protection results and does not require the addition of a ● P
3. Protective device for the modified circuit Type …………………… Rating …………A
schedule of test results. a
Comments on existing installation, including adequacy of earthing and bonding arrangements (see
Regulation 131.8): ● R
Scope c
PART 3: Essential Tests The Minor Works Certificate shown in Figure 8.30
Par
Earth continuity satisfactory
is only to be used for additions to an electrical
Insulation resistance: Line/neutral ……………MΩ
Line/earth ……………MΩ installation that do not include the introduction of ● T
Neutral/earth ……………MΩ a new circuit (see BS 7671 Regulation 633.1). t
Earth fault loop impedance………………………………Ω
o
Polarity satisfactory
Part 1 – Description
RCD operation (if applicable). Rated residual operating current IDN ………mA and operating time of
………ms (at IDN)
● T
● Description of the minor works – this requires w
PART4: Declaration

I/We CERTIFY that the said works do not impair the safety of the existing installation, that the said works
a full and accurate description in order that the s
have been designed, constructed, inspected and tested in accordance with BS 7671:2008 (IEE Wiring
Regulations), amended to ………… (date) and that the said works, to the best of my/our knowledge and
work carried out can be readily identified. R
belief, at the time of my/our inspection, complied with BS 7671 except as detailed in Part 1 above.
Name: ………………………………………………… Signature: ……………………………………………… ● Location/address – state the full address of the ● W
For and on behalf of: ………………………………… Position:………………………………………………… property and also where the work carried out s
Address: ……………………………………………… can be located.
………………………………………………………… Date: ……………………………………………………
● Date of completion.
Gui
…………………………………………………………

Figure 8.30 Minor Works Certificate Guid

● Departures from BS 7671 (if any) – departures
from the Regulations would only be expected in ● T
the most unusual circumstances. d

Part 2 – Installation details ● Y

r
● Earthing arrangements – the type of supply should be indicated by a tick, i.e.
t
TN-C-S, TN-S, TT etc.
● T
● Method of fault protection – the method of fault protection should be clearly
t
identified, e.g. earthed equipotential bonding and automatic disconnection of
i
supply using fuse/circuit breaker or RCD.
r
● Protective device – state the type and rating of the protective device used. s
o
● Comments on existing installation – if the existing installation lacks either an
effective means of earthing or adequate main equipotential bonding conductors, this w
must be clearly stated. Any departures from BS 7671 may constitute non-compliance ● T
with either the Electricity Supply Regulations or the Electricity at Work Regulations p
and it is important that the client is informed in writing as soon as possible. l
m
t

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Requirements for testing

Contra

Test da
On completion of this topic area the candidate will be able to describe the
requirements for testing with reference to types of test equipment, sequence and
procedures for tests and application of BS 7671. Signat

The sequence of tests

Regulation 612 lists the sequence in which tests should be carried out. If any test Circui

Remember indicates a failure to comply, that test and any preceding test, the results of which
may have been influenced by the fault indicated, must be repeated after the fault has
1
The tests in this section being rectified.
1
are not prescriptive;
Initial tests should be carried out in the following sequence where applicable, before 2
3
you may use your
the supply is connected or with the supply disconnected as appropriate. 4
own testing methods 5
6
provided they give 1. Continuity of circuit protective conductors (cpcs) including main and 7

valid results supplementary equipotential bonding circuits 8

9
10
2. Continuity of ring final circuit conductors 11
12
3. Insulation resistance Main

4. Protection by separation of circuits

Gas
Water
5. Protection by barriers or enclosures provided during erection Other

6. Insulation of non-conducting floors and walls Figu

7. Polarity The

8. Earth electrode resistance Ty

With the electrical supply connected, re-test polarity before further testing. BS 7
9. Earth-fault loop impedance the t
EN
10. Additional protection
Here
11. Prospective fault current
12. Check of phase sequence Ap
The
13. Functional testing
requ
14. Verification of voltage drop a tes
The test results should be recorded on an installation schedule similar to the diagram indi
Definition in Figure 8.31.
Ea
Dead test – a test carried The list above indicates the order in which the tests should be conducted. This is to
ensure that the results obtained are reliable. Tests 1–8 are dead tests, to ensure that The
out while the supply
it is safe to put the supply on. It is therefore important to prove the continuity of Eart
is off
protective conductors before beginning insulation resistance tests. shor
loop
Forms of completion or periodic inspection, inspection, test and an installation mea
schedule (including test results) should be provided to the person ordering the work.

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 NVQ3 Electrical Installations

Earth electrode resistance testers Pr

These either have four or three terminals, depending upon configuration, and are
best used with long leads and temporary test spikes that are placed in the ground.
an
RCD testers On c
for d
These test instruments have to be capable of delivering the full range of test currents
required for a maximum period of two seconds and give a read out calibrated Th
in seconds.
Foll
Insulation resistance test toge
to th
Figure 8.32 shows an insulation resistance test being conducted on a twin and earth been
cable between the line and cpc at the distribution board end of the cable. The reading
obtained should be greater than 100 MΩ, indicating that the insulation resistance Som
is satisfactory and that the supply is safe to put on. But what would the instrument hou
indicate in the situation shown in Figure 8.33? reco
resu
In the situation below an insulation resistance test is again being conducted between
line and cpc. However, this time a nail has penetrated the sheath of the cable, Ha
breaking the cpc and touching the line conductor (the neutral conductor has been
removed for clarity). When the test is done the instrument may read greater than Han
100 MΩ, indicating that the insulation resistance is acceptable and that it is safe to tour
connect the supply. However, we can clearly see that it is not. nece
oper
Beyond the break in the cpc, the line and cpc are connected. If the supply was now hand
connected to the cable we would have a potentially lethal situation, as all the metal Cert
work connected to the cpc will become live. Automatic disconnection will not take
place as the break in the cpc means there is no longer a return path. The metalwork
will remain live until someone touches it – which could result in a fatal electric shock. A
In this case, if we had conducted a continuity test of the cpc before the insulation
resistance test, we would have identified that the cpc was broken. Action could then
have been taken to remedy the situation.

Figure 8.32 Insulation resistance test Figure 8.33 Insulation resistance test with
penetrated sheath

MΩ MΩ

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FAQ K
Q Do I have to inspect and test the electrical work that I do?
A Yes. BS7671 states that: ‘Any addition or alteration to an electrical installation
must be inspected and tested to verify, as far as is reasonably practicable, that
the requirements of the Regulations have been met.’

Q Do I need a particular qualification to be an inspector and tester?

A BS 7671 simply states that you need to be a ‘competent person’ in order to
carry out inspection and testing. However, some bodies (such as the NICEIC or
Part P Registration) may impose requirements of their own (such as a C&G 2391)
before they will accept your signature on any certificates.

Q Do my instruments need to be calibrated annually?

A You should always have confidence that your instruments are in good condition
and give the correct results. You can do this yourself by regularly testing your
instruments against a known value and keeping a record of the results. Some
clients or registration bodies will insist that your instruments are sent to a
laboratory and a calibration certificate issued (usually annually).

Q Should I test an existing installation before I start working on it? 1

A According to BS 7671 you are not allowed to make extensions or alterations
to an installation unless it is in a satisfactory condition. Therefore, some
pre-installation inspection and testing is necessary to determine if the
installation is safe to be altered. This testing should be carried out even if you
are only replacing an item of equipment. It is particularly important to check the
cable size, protective device, polarity, and earthing and bonding arrangements.

Q I need to fit a spur to an existing ring circuit. If the existing socket has two
cables connected to it, then it’s OK to spur off it, isn’t it?
A Not necessarily. An existing socket outlet may have two cables connected to
it because it is on the ring. Another possibility is that it is already a spur that is
feeding another spur, hence the two cables. In this case, it already contravenes
the current edition of BS 7671, so you cannot add another one. You would need
to carry out a ring circuit continuity test first to establish whether the ring circuit
was, in fact, a compliant ring circuit in the first place.

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