EPC: EPC Ayrshire

EPC: EPC Ayrshire: Struggling to find a qualified surveyor to carry out an EPC on your property? We can help. Surveyors covering all postcodes within Ayrshire




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                    WHAT DOES PAT TESTING INVOLVE?

PAT or portable appliance testing is a policy in the UK in which routine safety checks are performed on electrical appliances. Along with EICR (electrical installation condition report) AND EPC (energy performance certificate) Certificates Essentially, this is a common sense safety regulation to ensure that any people, workers, or tenants who might come into contact with portable electrical appliances are not at risk of injury. The Portable Appliance Testing rules are very straightforward as detailed in the 1989 Electricity at Work Regulations, that: “All [electrical] systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, so far as reasonably practical, such danger.” Thus, it only makes sense to have any organization perform testing on appliances on a consistent basis. For all types of organizations, from a small office to a large corporation an outside testing company is the best course of action, because a competent and certified PAT Testing professional will best be able to observe the appliances and look for an obvious signs of wear. Although the law does not specifically state how often PAT Testing should be performed, it is reasonable to at least do an observational check yearly. This will include checking and testing for frayed wires, the casing around the appliance appearing to be damaged or coming undone, as well as plugs that appear to be cracked or damaged. From there, the PAT Testing glasgow professional will be able to recommend the next course of action, repair the appliance if possible, or provide guidance on the next steps for the ensuring all appliances are safe. A qualified PAT Testing specialist will be able to perform tests and checks on a variety of appliances using PAT testers that will be able to show if the appliance has passed or failed testing including earth continuity, lead polarity, and insulation resistance, among others for more advanced testers. This is a relatively quick and easy process, generally showing if the appliance passed or failed and it should not take very long to determine how safe your portable appliances are. Once each appliance completes the test, they will be labelled with a safety sticker with a barcode for ease of tracking in the future.

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What is an EICR

What is an EICR Electrical Certificate?

All electrical installations deteriorate with time and should be inspected and tested every 3 to 5 years for continued service. Such safety checks are commonly known as ‘periodic inspection’ or ‘domestic electrical installation condition report’.

A electrical inspection reports will:

• Reveal if any of your electrical circuits or equipment are overloaded.
• Find any potential electric shock risks and fire hazards.
• Identify any defective electrical work.
• Highlight any lack of earthing or bonding.

Tests are also carried out on wiring and fixed electrical equipment to check that they are safe. A schedule of circuits is also provided, which is invaluable for a property.

Who should carry out the electrical certificate inspection and what happens?

Electrical inspection reports or certificates should be carried out only by an accredited, competent persons, such as a registered electrician. They will check the condition of the electrics against the UK standard for the safety of electrical installations, BS 7671 – Requirements for Electrical Installations (IEE Wiring Regulations).

All our electricians are either NICEIC  ELECSA, or NAPIT registered and are fully qualified to carry out electrical certificates or domestic electrical installation condition reports.

MAKE SURE YOU DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY!

Most Local Councils, Housing Associations and Estate Agents or Managing Agents will only accept Electrical Certificates that have been signed off by a fully qualified and registered engineer. Also if something should happen such as an electrical shock your insurance may not cover you without a valid electrical certificate. Take the following steps so you know you are not wasting your money or taking a risk:

• Check if the electrician you are using is Registered with a regulatory body such as NICEIC, ELECSA or NAPIT;
• Only Approved Contractors can issue electrical certificates (EICRS) NOT Domestic Installers – ensure the electrician is registered with the appropriate scheme;
• Make sure they are Fully Insured with a registered body – only registered electricians can obtain such insurance;
• Ensure sure they Don’t Issue you off the shelve Green Papers – anyone can use them!

Our engineers will inspect and take into account all the relevant circumstances and checks on:

• The adequacy of earthing and bonding.
• The suitability of the switchgear and controlgear. For example, an old fusebox with a wooden back, cast-iron switches, or a mixture of both will need replacing.
• The serviceability of switches, sockets and lighting fittings. Items that  may need replacing include: older round-pin sockets, round light switches, cables with fabric coating hanging from ceiling roses to light fittings, black switches and sockets mounted in skirting boards.
• The type of wiring system and its condition. For example, cables coated in black rubber were phased out in the 1960s. Likewise cables coated in lead or fabric are even older and may well need replacing (modern cables use longer-lasting pvc insulation).
• Making sure you have a fusebox with a suitable residual current device (RCD).
• The presence of adequate identification and notices.
• The extent of any wear and tear, damage or other deterioration.
• Any changes in the use of the premises that have led to, or may lead to, unsafe conditions.

Our engineer will then issue you with an Electrical Installation Condition Report detailing any observed damage, deterioration, defects, dangerous conditions and any non-compliances with the current standard.

If any dangerous or potentially dangerous condition or conditions are found, the overall condition of the electrical installation will be declared to be ‘unsatisfactory’, meaning that remedial action is required without delay to remove the risks to those in the premises.

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ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE

Energy Performance Certificates

All domestic and commercial buildings in the UK available to buy or rent must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). If you own a home, getting an energy performance survey done could help you identify ways to save money on your energy bills and improve the comfort of your home.

What are EPCs?

Much like the multi-coloured sticker on new appliances, EPCs tell you how energy efficient a building is and give it a rating from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). EPCs let the person who will use the building know how costly it will be to heat and light, and what its carbon dioxide emissions are likely to be.

The EPC will also state what the energy-efficiency rating could be if improvements are made, and highlights cost-effective ways to achieve a better rating. Even if you rent your home, some improvements noted on the EPC may be worth implementing, such as switching to more energy-efficient light bulbs.

EPCs are valid for 10 years from when issued.

Why get an EPC?

Your property's EPC needs to be available to potential buyers as soon as you start to market your property for sale or rent.You must get an approved Domestic Energy Assessor to produce the EPC.

If you implement any of the energy efficiency reccommendations outlined in your EPC, you may wish to get a fresh EPC done to include these improvements.

EPCs and feed-in tariffs

Customers in England, Wales and Scotland wishing to get payments under the Government’s feed-in tariff (FIT) for solar PV will have to prove their home has an EPC rating of band D or above to receive FITs at the standard rate. You will need to be able to produce your existing EPC (as long as it is less than 10 years old) or obtain a new one.

Who produces energy reports and EPCs?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, only accredited Domestic Energy Assessors can produce valid EPCs.

• For a list of approved EPC organisations in England and Wales, visit Landmark to view the energy performance certificate register.
• For a list of approved EPC organisations in Northern Ireland visit Landmark for Northern Ireland.
• In Scotland contact www.certificates4landlords.com

If you are selling or renting your home through an estate agent, they may be able to arrange for the EPC to be completed for you.