ElectricalInspection

andTesting:
SequenceofTests
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August4,2014

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SequenceofTestin
ElectricalInspectionand
Testing
Theteststobecarriedout,whererelevant,duringthe
initialverificationofnewinstallationsarelistedinBS
7671asfollows:

AContinuityofprotectiveconductorsincluding
mainandsupplementaryequipotential
bonding,Reg.612.2.1
BContinuityofringfinalcircuitconductors,Reg.
612.2.2
CInsulationresistance,Reg.612.3
DProtectionbySELV,PELVorelectrical
separation,Reg.612.4
ProtectionbySELV,Reg.612.4.1
ProtectionbyPELV,Reg.612.4.2
Protectionbyelectricalseparation,Reg.612.4.3

EBasicprotectionbyabarrierorenclosure

providedduringerection,Reg.612.4.4
FInsulationresistance/impedanceoffloorsand
walls,Reg.612.5
GPolarity,Reg.612.6
HEarthelectroderesistance,Reg.612.7
IProtectionbyautomaticdisconnectionofthe
supply,Reg.612.8
JEarthfaultloopimpedance,Reg.612.9
KAdditionalprotection,Reg.612.10
LProspectivefaultcurrent,Reg.612.11
MCheckofphasesequence,Reg.612.12
NFunctionaltesting,Reg.612.13
OVerificationofvoltagedrop,Reg.612.14

Reg.612.1requiresthattestsAtoG,whererelevant,
mustbecarriedoutinthatorderbeforetheinstallationis
energised.
Theresistanceofanyearthelectrodes,testH,musthe
measuredbeforetheinstallationisenergised,Reg.
612.1.

Reg612.1doesnotspecificallycallfortheremaining
testsItoOtobedoneinanyparticularorder.IEE
GuidanceNote3callsforalltheteststobedoneinthe
orderlistedabove.

ReasonsforSequenceof
TestsinElectricalInspection
andTesting

Thedeadtests,AtoHarecarriedoutfirsttoconfirmthat
itwillbesafetoenergisetheinstallationi.e.
Earthingandbondingsatisfactory
Allconductorspresentandcontinuous
Insulationsatisfactory
Noshortcircuitsorexcessiveleakage
Polarity/connectionofallitemscorrect
Resistanceofanyearthelectrodessufficientlylow

Effectiveness
Ifthetestsarecarriedoutintheorderspecifiedabove
thensatisfactoryresultsinonetestwillnormallyindicate
thatthefollowingtestcanbecarriedouteffectively.This
willminimisetheamountofretestingrequiredifanytest
resultsareunsatisfactory.e.g.aninsulationresistance
testmustcovertheentirecircuitforittobeeffective.If
therewasabreakinthecircuitthenonlytheinsulationup
tothebreakwouldbetested.
Theinsulationinthesectionbeyondthebreakwouldnot
betestedandcouldbedefective.Therecouldevenbe
shortcircuitsbetweentheconductors.Suchdefects

wouldnotshowupduringthetesteventhoughtheyare
dangerous.Satisfactoryresultsfromacontinuitytest
carriedoutfirstensuresthattheinsulationresistancetest
willindeedcovertheentirecircuitandthereforebe
effective.

Sequenceoftestsforperiodic
inspection
Thesequenceoftestsgivenabovemaybeusedin
periodicinspectionandtesting.IEEGuidanceNote
3showstheteststobemade,whererelevant,inTable
3.3.Theorderisthesameasforinitialverification.Note
3toTable3.3statesthat,Thetestsneednotbecarried
outintheordergiveninthetable.
Theordermightbevariedtominimise
disruption.Wheretheinstallationistobedeenergisedto
carryoutdeadtestingtheinsulationresistancetest
shouldbethelasttestdonepriortoreenergising.All
equipmentcoversshouldbebackinplace(exceptthe
coverofthedistributionboardwherethetestiscarried
out.)Thetestshouldthendetectanyshortcircuits
causedbyfixingscrewsofcoverspenetrating
conductors.Itwouldalsorevealifanytemporaryshorting
linksusedincontinuitytestinghavebeenleftin.