A Guide To Electrical Rewiring

If you’re moving into a new property you may be wondering if the wiring is safe, you may be thinking about making changes such as electrical rewiring. However, the wiring may be of concern to you if the property is over 25 years old – or least it should be.

What signs should you be looking for?

There are certain clues to look out for and here we’re going to take a look at what should be your primary concern when considering electrical rewiring Edinburgh, in this friendly guide, so read on.

As we’ve already pointed out if your property is over 25 years old then it’s more than likely you’ll have to consider electrical rewiring, especially if you’re considering remodelling and carrying out major alterations. Your new electrical rewiring will need to conform to Part P: Electrical rewiring of the Building Regulations too. You’ll also in all likelihood need to replace the fuse box.

Cables, black rubber, lead and fabric

If your wiring is old then there are things you can look out for such as, cables coated in black rubber, lead or fabric. Check that the fuse box has a wooden back and if there are cast iron switches. You can also keep an eye out for round pin sockets (rather than the square ones we’re more accustomed to), flex with braiding that hangs from a ceiling rose and also look out for brown and black switches that are on skirting boards, and any wall mounted switches in bathrooms.

All of the above has probably been installed during the 1960s and will need changing along with the fuse box in order to be safe and to pass any safety checks under the Building Regulations.

Now you’ve identified what needs rewiring, what next?

You need to prepare the house before you let the electricians start work – this will make their job so much easier. You need to decide what it is you need doing from the outset, and this will make the job far more straightforward and less costly for you. If you change your mind halfway through because you’ve remembered something else you need doing as part of the rewiring job plans will have to be changed.

What is likely to happen during the rewiring of your property?

We aim to minimise disruption with dust, noise and mess during electrical rewiring using advanced equipment that helps us clean as we go. Don’t worry most electricians, including ourselves, will do a full clear up after they’ve finished as well as the ongoing tidying. It should take from a week to 10 days to complete, maybe less. There’ll be a team of electricians, up to 3, and they’ll start from the top and work their way down.

VC Electrical - Rewiring Edinburgh

Here at VC Electrical we like to make sure we know and understand exactly want you want and you know from us what to expect. That means the lines of communication should be open at all times and we feel that communicating with our customers is of paramount importance.

If you feel there are still certain aspects electrical rewiring in Edinburgh you’re not sure about or you’re worried about something, then get in touch and we’ll talk things through with you. You don’t have to choose us for your rewiring in Edinburgh, but if you do, you’ll have a professional, experienced and well qualified team of electricians on your side every step of the way, making sure that your rewiring job is done well, with minimum fuss and in a timely fashion.

What is PAT Testing and What Does it Involve?

PAT testing is short for Portable Appliance Testing, and if you’re a business or a landlord, then you’ll you need to know exactly what it is. If you don’t, and an accident occurs as a result of faulty appliances you supplied at your business or rented property, then you could be liable. PAT testing in Edinburgh is carried out to test electrical equipment and to decide whether it’s in a good enough condition to use, this is usually carried out by a qualified electrician and it’s up to you to hire one that knows what he/she is doing.

Annual or Sooner – PAT Testing is Important

If you run a business then it’s your responsibility to ensure all appliances that you’ve supplied (and not that of your tenant or employee) is safe to use for all those that will be using it. It’s usually carried out on a yearly basis, although it can depend on the nature of the appliance and what it’s used for. Although it’s not a legal requirement, The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, do ask that you test any electrical appliance that could potentially harm someone.

Visual PAT Testing

This is done by a competent and fully qualified electrician in order to make sure the electrical equipment is safe to use, checking visible signs of damage to plugs, cables, wires and casing. This way it can be removed without risk of harm. These simple visual checks should be made when new equipment has been installed, moved, or as part of the yearly check-up.

Formal PAT Testing

If equipment becomes faulty or it’s based in a laboratory, workshop or a surgical theatre, it’s a high risk area and will become part of a formal visual inspection. You will need a competently qualified and trained electrician to carry this out, someone who’s been through a training course and is now an authorised PAT tester. This will involve disconnecting the appliances form the electrical supply, removing the plugs and casings to check that they are properly secure with the right fuse. They will be checked for internal damage too to make sure they don’t contain anything that shouldn’t be there, such as dust, dirt or any liquids.

Everything that uses an electricity supply should be tested, and although this is commonly done on a yearly basis, if you have new equipment, you should have it tested, especially if it’s in a high risk area. You should carry out a risk assessment on any new appliances and make a judgement on whether you believe anything needs a PAT test. Your risk assessment should give you a good idea. Although it’s not a legal requirement, you’ll find that making sure your equipment has been tested and given the all clear, will give both you and your employees, or tenants, peace of mind.

Reliable and Safe PAT Testing Edinburgh

We are a team of reliable, experienced and fully qualified technicians with expertise in PAT testing. We can test your appliances for you – giving them the all clear when it’s safe to do so and informing you of any changes that require immediately action.

Get in touch if you need to discuss PAT testing for your business or rented accommodation and let’s see what we can do for you. 

Landlord Electrical Safety Responsibilities Are Changing

New legislation from the December 1st 2015 regarding landlord electrical safety will force private landlords to do everything necessary to make sure their property is safe for habitation with a set of stringent electrical safety tests carried out by an expert.

These changes have been brought about in order to reduce the serious injuries and deaths caused each year by domestic fires, which have been caused by electrical faults. This will mean that everyone in the UK, including Scotland, will need to make sure all their hard wiring and appliances undergo electrical safety tests regularly, in order to make sure they’re safe.

How do landlord electrical safety changes affect you?

If you’re a landlord, then you have reason to pay attention to this change, because your rented property will need to be inspected regularly by someone qualified and competent enough to carry these tests out. What you’ll need to do is find a professional who is qualified to do this on your behalf.

Not many people are aware of the changes in legislation at the moment, but it is something everyone will need to make sure they know and understand over the coming months. The legislation has been brought in to protect those who may be vulnerable to fire caused by faults in electrical wiring, this can be dangerous and cost lives. In order to prove that you have your tenant’s safety a priority you will be expected to have these electrical safety tests carried out regularly.

All landlords need an electrical safety certificate

Because of this new legislation, all landlords who rent out private property will have to have fixed wiring checks every 5 years. And it applies to all new tenancies form the 1 December 2015, and it will also apply to any existing tenant who are signing a new lease.

EICR Report & PAT Testing – what is it?

The EICR is the Electrical Installation Condition Report which takes places when the electrician tests your wiring. The EICR will also have to include a Portable Appliance Test, or PAT. These tests will only be carried out on appliances that belong to the landlord and not the tenant. As you can imagine this report is completely thorough and will include everything which uses the electrical supply, and should appear on both either the EICR or the PAT report. Basically, unless any electrical appliances belong to the tenant, they should be tested. One important aspect of all this is that any electrician who carries out these tests on behalf of a landlord, must be competent, and a member of a regulatory body such as NICEIC or SELECT.

Ready for NEW landlord electrical safety rules?

If not then you may be starting to feel a little concerned. Don’t worry, at VC Electrical, we have qualified, trained and knowledgeable electricians and technicians who are experts in this area. We are qualified to carry out tests of this nature on all your electrical wiring and appliances, making sure everything is as it should be and safe and habitable for your tenants.

Get your electrical safety certificate

We come with years of experience and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved. Customer satisfaction is our number 1 priority and we can provide your EICR and PAT testing so you and your tenants have peace of mind. Don’t lose sleep over it, just do something about it, let us carry out your landlord electrical safety tests, it’s a far better option than doing nothing.

Make sure you’re ready for the 1st December 2015 and let VC Electrical carry out your tests. Get in touch today.