The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that business owners and landlords ensure that electrical systems are safe and prevent a dangerous situation from occurring.
Part of the problem facing any business is that electrical wiring is hidden away in walls and lofts and cannot be seen. However, there is a fairly straightforward solution that Hawkesworth Appliance Testing is now using in order to detect faults and potential faults before they occur. This is by use of a thermographic survey which can detect faults in a system which may otherwise go unnoticed. Thermal imaging does not require that power is isolated or switched off, so is ideal for use in places such as prisons and hospitals where the power cannot be switched off.
Hawkesworth’s qualified engineers use a powerful thermal imaging infra-red camera that will detect heat. When an electrical part is damaged, or showing some sign of damage, it will give off heat, and the camera is able to pick this up. This will enable the engineer to predict when the system might fail. If it is giving off a worrying amount of heat, the engineer will be able to advise the client of ways in which the problem can be tackled.
Hawkesworth has a team of over 100 engineers throughout the UK who can carry out an EICR test, including the use of thermal imaging. An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is more commonly known as fixed wire testing and will test all the wiring leading to power sockets, lighting, hard-wired smoke detectors, fire alarms, emergency lighting, electric radiators, and so on.
Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, there are no set intervals at which an EICR, or for that matter PAT testing, should be carried out, but there are generally accepted recommendations. In the case of owner-occupied homes, once every ten years is sufficient. Commercial installations should be tested every five years, while industrial installations should be tested every three years. It is important that tests are carried out regularly, as electrical installations can deteriorate over time as a result of general wear and tear. Test should also be carried out when there is a change of occupancy of a building.
In addition to EICR fixed wire testing, Hawkesworth also carries out several million PAT tests every year across the whole of the UK.

About The Company:
Hawkesworth Appliance Testing carries out both PAT testing and fixed wire testing in premises throughout the UK. For further information, contact Managing Director Tim Crowley or UK Operations Manager Lucy Davison on 01845 524498 or email [email protected].
https://www.hawkesworthappliancetesting.co.uk/
Guidance House,
York Road, Thirsk
North Yorkshire,
England.