Electrics & A New Shop

[moneybaker]

Is it required by law that before a new shop opens it must have its electrics tested by a certified electrician?

Kind Regards

 

[Homer J Simpson]

I think it's every 5 years.

 

[moneybaker]

I think it's every 5 years.

I think it's the responsibility of the owner of the whole property who's renting it out to another person? or i may be wrong?

 

[Lunazzurra]

There will be a differences between fixed outlet sockets, fixtures like ceiling lights and PAT testing (portable appliance testing). Certain fixtures may be the responsibility of the landlord - you'll need to check this with them and your lease.

We had a PAT test done this time last year and found that it can depend on what is being tested and if the item is in the public area or in a staff area. Some things are every three or five years. And some items were totally different to what you might expect, even down to whether it has a factory fitted moulded plug or not! Our kettle didn't need to be tested for example but our cash till and card machine did!

Best get a local electrician in to give you advice and a quote. Also speak to your landlord - many have a preferred electrician and may give you a favourable rate.

For PAT testing you should pay no more that about £2/item.

Landlords have also got the right to enforce you to have PAT testing done as this was the (amicable) case with us last year (we are in a small shopping mall but I guess this might be the same for a stand-alone shop).

 

[fattony]

5 years or change of ownership

 

[Burdash]

There will be a differences between fixed outlet sockets, fixtures like ceiling lights and PAT testing (portable appliance testing). Certain fixtures may be the responsibility of the landlord - you'll need to check this with them and your lease.

We had a PAT test done this time last year and found that it can depend on what is being tested and if the item is in the public area or in a staff area. Some things are every three or five years. And some items were totally different to what you might expect, even down to whether it has a factory fitted moulded plug or not! Our kettle didn't need to be tested for example but our cash till and card machine did!

Best get a local electrician in to give you advice and a quote. Also speak to your landlord - many have a preferred electrician and may give you a favourable rate.

For PAT testing you should pay no more that about £2/item.

Landlords have also got the right to enforce you to have PAT testing done as this was the (amicable) case with us last year (we are in a small shopping mall but I guess this might be the same for a stand-alone shop).

I am thinking of having new ceiling lights. Which will you recommend?

 

[vvaannmmaann]

PAT testing is not always required.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/hse-pattesting.htm

 

[draelectricals]

PAT testing is not always required.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/hse-pattesting.htm

Wrong, the Health and Safety Executive revised document INDG236 in April 2012; it states that an employer/business owner must
"Arrange for equipment that is not double insulated to have a portable appliance test (including leads) at initial intervals which could be between one and five years, depending on the type of equipment"

UK Law doesn't use the term PAT Testing as PAT Testing is slang for portable appliance testing, but UK law does stipulate a requirement for portable appliance testing

None double insulated kit is class 1 which includes computers, leads, kettles, etc. all of which require a portable appliance test at some point between 1 and 5 years dependant on risk assessment .

In the case of this thread, whether it needed doing for the shop opening the shop owner should have been advised to contact their insurers, and local H&S and ask the question. Personally in the interests of safety I'd say yes get it done, for about £30 what's the point in the risk?


Regards,

Richard Ayre
Director, DRA Solutions Ltd

 

[Duke Fame]

We're renting a unit next week but we were suspicious about the electrics & got an electrician to look over the electrics. He's advised they are dangerous and we're putting the the details to the landlord.

The landlord is the local council, they are letting the property at a very low rent but nevertheless, as this has been flagged up, who's responsibility is it?

 

[mhall]

I may be being ignorant but all my leads are double insulated - they have the wire, then the blue/red sleeve, then the black sleeve.

 

[Leo-InstallingIT]

Double insulated is to do with the design of the appliance itself, not the cabling to it.

Basically a double insulated appliance is something that has been designed so no single fault can result in the outer chasis being made live. Therefore double insulated appliances don't need to be earthed.

The insulation on the cable doesn't really come into it. If the appliance is double insulated you will see a symbol of a square inside a square on it.

 

[draelectricals]

I may be being ignorant but all my leads are double insulated - they have the wire, then the blue/red sleeve, then the black sleeve.

leo-installing IT has said the majority of what i was going to say so i dont need to repeat myself; leads are not double insulated; the wire has it's sleeve, then they are held together in another sleeve; they have an earth wire thus they need to be earthed and so they are class 1. Wires that don't have an earth lead are class 2, but they aren't 'double insulated' either.

Class 2 appliances are commonly known as double-insulated; the appliance has live parts but they are contained within basic and supplementary insulated materials (double), or one layer of reinforced material equivalent to double insulation.


Hope we've answered your query mhall


Regards,

Richard Ayre
Director, DRA Solutions Ltd