Class 0
Just for completeness, but we hope we will never find this equipment still in service. This is equipment that relies on basic insulation to protect against electric shock, which means no provision for an Earth connection therefore reliance on its location is paramount should a failure of its basic insulation occur.
Inspection – If identified, remove from use immediately, label and advise client accordingly

Class 0I
This equipment again relies on basic insulation but will have a facility for securing an earth conductor, yet this class of equipment was manufactured using twin (phase and neutral) cables with two pin plugs, remember Grandma’s standard lamp!. Should this equipment still be in use, it must be re-wired using a twin and earth cable with a BS1363 plug top
Inspection – If identified, remove from use immediately, label and advise client accordingly, may be re-wired and re-classified as class I, see class I inspection / testing

Class I
Class I equipment uses a twin and earth cable with conventional BS 1363 plug tops, so the item is earthed, together with basic insulation. Until recently, almost everything was manufactured to this category.
Inspection – User checks – Formal visual inspection – Combined inspection and testing –

Class II
All new equipment is manufactured, with virtually no exceptions to class II classification. Using a twin cable and BS 1363 plug, no earth conductor is provided. Protection from electric shock is provided by basic insulation together with additional precautions such as supplementary or reinforced insulation, we have probably all heard the term double insulated, this refers to class II equipment; and is by far the safest mains electrical equipment on the market.
Inspection – User checks – Formal visual inspection – Combined inspection and testing –

Class III
Class III equipment relies for protection against electric shock on supply from a SELV (safety extra low voltage) source, SELV sources will not exceed 50 V a/c and may be required in certain installations to be below 24 or 12 Volt
Inspection – User checks – Formal visual inspection – Combined inspection and testing –

Initial inspection

To identify what the piece of equipment is, it’s construction class and thereby the correct test requirements

User Checks

An important safety precaution as many faults can be identified by a simple visual inspection. The user is perhaps the most familiar with the piece of equipment and therefore able to tell if its in a safe condition and operating correctly. No records are needed unless some part of the equipment is reported as unsatisfactory; frequencies of user inspections are listed in the Inspection Frequency chart.

Details regarding user inspections are contained in our training package. The Electricity at Work act 1989 states “ persons should not be placed at risk due to a lack of skills, which can mean the ability to recognise at all times if it is safe to continue to work

Formal Visual Inspections

Formal Visual Inspections should only be carried out by those suitably competent to do so; the results of which must be recorded. Formal inspections include the following aspects:
Environment – Harsh, hazardous or benign, all have varying degrees of effect on equipment and will affect long term requirements of inspection and test
Housekeeping – Correct installation and use of equipment is vital to long term safety; adequate ventilation, good cable location, means of disconnection/isolation, “office” debris around or on equipment, locality to walls and consequent stress to cables, use of protective covers for direct/indirect contact protection, indiscriminate use of adaptors and/or multiway adapters, unprotected cables – these all play a key part in safe usage of equipment.
Suitability of equipment – To the environment, nature of work or use – major effects that have implications under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment.
Disconnection of equipment – A means of disconnection must be readily accessible to the user, additionally, our engineer will assess whether suitable means of disconnection exist for normal functional use, in emergencies and to carry out maintenance
Condition of equipment – The user will always be asked as to the condition of the equipment and whether they are aware of any faults be they continuous or intermittent. Plugs, fuses, cables, casings, socket outlets are all checked for damage, excessive wear and tear, signs of localised over heating, correct plug and fuses – BS 1362, 1362 and all terminations are secure.

Combined Inspection and Testing

Commences with all inspection points as above, plus some or all of the following electrical tests dependent on equipment class and sensitivity to test current / load

I) Earth Bond Testing
II) Insulation Testing
III) Leakage Test
IV) Flash Testing
V) Earth Leakage measurement
VI) Load Test
VII) Touch Leakage Test
VIII) Functional Test

Specific details of each test can be provided at the request of clients

Regulation 29 of the Electricity at Work Act 1989 deals with “defence”. This provides a defence for the DUTY HOLDER who can establish that he or she has taken all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing an offence. Do you have a defence?