Niceic Transportable Building Inspection Report

NICEIC Transportable Building Periodic Inspection Reports are accountable documents. Unused copies should be kept secure by the Qualified Supervisor. A record of each report used should be made on the record sheet provided. Unused sets of obsolete reports must be destroyed to prevent their misuse.

General
The NICEIC Transportable Building Periodic Inspection Report is to he issued only for the purpose of reporting on the condition of an existing electrical installation in a transportable building, carried out in accordance with the requirements of BS 7671, including all amendments to date. The report should identity, so far as is reasonably practicable and having regard to the extent and limitations recorded in Section E, any damage, deterioration, defects, dangerous conditions and any non-compliances with the requirements of the national standard for the safety of electrical installations which may give rise to danger. It should be noted that the greater the limitations applying to a report, the less its value to the recipient. It is not to be used for the initial certification of a new installation in a transportable building, for which a Transportable Building Electrical Installation Certificate should be issued.

The Transportable Building Periodic Inspection Report may be used only for a periodic inspection of a single transportable building.

Where an Approved Contractor discovers the existence of a dangerous or potentially dangerous situation in the existing installation (such as the absence of earthing or main bonding conductors), the client should be advised immediately, preferably in writing, to satisfy the duties imposed on competent persons by the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

The three pages of report form marked ‘Original’, including any additional continuation schedule(s) and additional pages, are to be given to the person ordering the inspection, as required by Regulation 634.1. The report form marked ‘Duplicate’ is to be retained by the Approved Contractor and made available for review by NICEIC.

It is the responsibility of the compiler to ensure that the information provided on the report is factual, and that the declaration of the condition of the electrical installation to which the report relates is objective, fair and reasonable in all the circumstances.

The total number of pages comprising the report must be inserted in the box provided at the foot of each of the pages on the right-hand side.
BS 6767: Transportable accommodation units, gives additional recommendations that supplement those of BS 7671:

A notice should be affixed near to the point of connection of the electricity supply bearing the wording: ‘It is recommended that the electrical connection and disconnection should be made by a competent person’.

All socket-outlet circuits rated at 32 A or less should be protected by a suitably rated residual current device.

Completing the Report
Page 1
Section A (Details of the Client).Provides space for such client details.

Section B (Transportable Building Manufacturer). Provides space for the transportable building, manufacturer’s name, address and postcode.

Section C (Transportable Building Details). Details of the transportable building including the model name and description are to be provided where appropriate.

Section D (Purpose of the Report) is to enable the purpose of the report to be clearly identified. The main purpose of the report is to identify, as far as is practicable, any factors impairing the safe functioning of the electrical installation. This section may also identify the purpose in terms of expectations of interested parties such as an insurance company or licensing authority.

Section E (Extent of Installation and Limitations of Inspection and Testing) must fully identify the extent of the installation covered by the report and any agreed limitations on the inspection and testing. The Approved Contractor should have agreed all such aspects with the client and other interested parties before carrying out the inspection and testing. NICEIC will assume that comprehensive inspection and testing of the whole of the electrical installation, without limitations, has been carried out unless otherwise clearly indicated (including the reasons for these limitations) in Section E.

Section F (Particulars of the Approved Contractor). Completion of the Particulars of the Approved Contractor will identify to the recipient the organization responsible for the periodic inspection. The organization, address and postcode must be given, together with the NICEIC Enrolment Number and, where appropriate, the Branch Number.

Section G (Declaration) A declaration of the overall condition of the installation must be given by the inspector, reiterating that given in Section I which should summarise the observations and recommendations made in Section H. The results of inspection and testing and calculations of earth fault loop impedances should be reviewed by the registered Qualified Supervisor, who should confirm such review by counter-signing in the appropriate space provided. By signing this section, the Qualified Supervisor is confirming that the report has been completed satisfactorily prior to issue. Generally, only a registered Qualified Supervisor employed by the Approved Contractor is recognised by NICEIC as eligible to sign the report to take responsibility for reviewing the results of the inspection and testing. Where the Qualified Supervisor carries out the inspection personally, the Qualified Supervisor should sign in both places.

Page 2
Section H (Observations and Recommendations for Actions to be Taken) includes two boxes at the top, in one of which the report compiler is required to enter a ‘Yes’ or a ‘I’ to indicate, as appropriate, that ‘there are no items adversely effecting electrical safety’ or ‘the following observations and recommendations are made’. In the latter case, the observations and recommendations are to be listed with a Recommendation Code 1, 2, 3 or 4 (see reverse of page 2 of the report form for further guidance on the recommendations). Only one Recommendation Code is to be given for each recorded observation. At the bottom of the Section, two boxes are provided for recording the items which, in the opinion of the report’s compiler, need urgent remedial work and those items requiring corrective action, respectively.

Where an Approved Contractor classifies a recommendation as ‘requires urgent attention’, the client is to be advised immediately, in writing, to satisfy the duties imposed by the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. It should be noted that, where an existing or potential danger is observed that may put the safety of those using the installation at risk, Recommendation Code 1 (requires urgent attention) must be used.

If the space available on the form for recording recommendations is insufficient, additional numbered pages are to be provided as necessary. Additional pages must also be identified by the unique Transportable Building Periodic Inspection Report serial number.

Section I (Summary of the Inspection) must be completed with an accurate description of the general condition of the installation, together with the date(s) of the inspection and a one- word overall assessment of the installation ie ‘satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory’. If the space available on the form for the summary of the inspection is insufficient, additional numbered pages are to be provided as necessary. Additional pages must also be identified by the unique Transportable Building Periodic Inspection Report serial number.

Section J (Next Inspection) provides place to insert the appropriate time interval before re-inspection of the installation becomes due. lEE Guidance Note 3 gives guidance on the maximum recommended intervals for various types of installation, but due account must be taken of the present condition of the installation. Your recommendation for the interval to the next inspection is to be conditional on all items which have attracted a Recommendation Code 1 and Code 2 in Section H being remedied without delay and as soon as possible respectively (see Section H). Additionally, your recommendation for the interval to the next inspection is also to be conditional on all items which have attracted a Recommendation Code 3 being remedied as soon as practicable.

Section K (Transportable Building Supply Parameters)
This section identifies the characteristics of suitable supplies to which the transportable building may be safely connected. The parameters of nominal voltage (U0 for single-phase supplies and U0IU for multi-phase supplies), nominal frequency and number of phases are straightforward and require no further explanation. The maximum load per phase provision must also be recorded; this will be the sum of all connected loads per phase taking into account any diversity.

The acceptable systems type(s) (eg TN-S, TN-C-S and TT) must be declared. The maximum tolerable upstream earth fault loop impedance (Z T) must be declared, and will depend on the particular installation design. This is the maximum value of impedance at the transportable building supply point to the installation that can be tolerated safely.

The value of ZT is derived from the following formula:
Z r  Z — (R1 + R2)

Where:

• ZT- is the overall maximum tolerable upstream earth fault loop impedance at the point where the transportable building is connected to the electricity supply (Q).

• Zs, is the lowest value of the limiting earth fault loop impedances, as required by BS 7671, of all the final circuits (Q).

• (R1 + R2) is the resistance contribution made to the earth fault loop impedance by the final circuit with the highest value of measured resistance recorded in the Schedule of Test Results on page 3 of the certificate (Q).

The maximum tolerable fault current must be declared, in units of kA. This will depend on the short-circuit capacities of the protective devices in the transportable building installation.

Section L (Particulars of Transportable Building Installation)
The section Particulars of transportable building installation is straightforward. Tick boxes and enter details as appropriate.

Page 3
Schedules
All boxes on the Schedule of Items Inspected and the Schedule of Items Tested are to be completed, as appropriate for the particular installation. To indicate that an inspection or test has been carried out and that the result is satisfactory, insert a’/’. To indicate that an inspection or test has been carried out and that the result is unsatisfactory, insert a’)(’. It is unlikely that all items will apply, and the range of applicable inspections and tests will depend on the particular installation covered by the report. If an inspection or a test is not applicable, ‘N/A’ should be recorded in the box. Exceptionally, where a limitation on a particular inspection or test has been agreed with the client, and has been recorded in Section E, the appropriate box(es) must be completed by inserting ‘LIM’, indicating that an agreed limitation has prevented the inspection or test being carried out.

The test instruments used to obtain test results should be identified by serial number in the space provided for the purpose.

Further Guidance
For further general guidance on inspection, testing and verification, refer to the practical advice and guidance in the current edition of the NICEIC Inspection, Testing and Certification book, the current edition of BS 7671, and lEE Guidance Note 3.

The purpose of this periodic inspection report is to identify, so far as is reasonably practicable, whether an electrical installation in a transportable building is in a satisfactory condition for continued service. This report provides an assessment of the condition of the transportable building identified overleaf at the time it was inspected, taking into account the stated extent of the installation and the limitations of the inspection and testing.

The report has been issued in accordance with the national standard for the safety of electrical installations, British Standard 7671 (as amended) - Requirements for Electrical Installations.

Where, as will often be the case, the installation incorporates a residual current device (RCD), there should be a notice at or near the consumer unit stating that the device should be tested at quarterly intervals. For safety reasons, it is important that this test is carried out regularly.

Also for safety reasons, the electrical installation will need to be re-inspected and tested at appropriate intervals by a competent person. The recommended time interval to the next inspection is stated on page 2 in Section J (Next Inspection), which is conditional upon remedial work being carried out for all the items (in Section H) which attracted a Recommendation Code 1 (requires urgent attention) and Code 2 (requires improvement) are remedied without delay and as soon as possible respectively. NICEIC* recommends that you engage the services of an Approved Contractor for this purpose. There should also be a notice at or near the consumer unit indicating when the inspection of the installation is next due.

It is the responsibility of the competent person connecting the electrical supply to the unit to carry out tests to ensure the values of earth fault loop impedance, maximum prospective fault current at the origin, polarity and RCD tests conform to the requirements of BS 7671.

This report consists of at least three numbered pages. The report is invalid if any of the pages are missing. The report has a printed seven-digit serial number which is traceable to the Approved Contractor to which it was supplied by NICEIC.

This report is intended to be issued only for the purpose of reporting on the condition of an existing electrical installation. The report should identify, so far as is reasonably practicable, and having regard to the extent and limitations recorded in Section E, any damage, deterioration, defects, dangerous conditions and any non-compliances with the requirements of the national standard for the safety of the electrical installation which may give rise to danger. It should be noted that the greater the limitations applying to a report, the less its value.

This report should not have been issued to certify that a new installation, or an alteration or addition to an existing installation complies with the national safety standard. A Transportable Building Electrical Installation Certificate should have been issued for such work.
You should have received the report marked ‘Original’ and the NICEIC Approved Contractor should have retained the report marked ‘Duplicate’.

If you were the person ordering the work, but not the owner of the transportable building, you should pass this report, or a full copy of it including these notes, immediately to that person.

The ‘Original’ report should be kept in a safe place and shown to any person inspecting or undertaking work on the electrical installation in the future.
Section E addresses the extent of the installation inspected and tested and the agreed limitations, if any, on the inspection and testing. Information given here should fully identify the scope of the inspection and testing and of the report. The Approved Contractor should have agreed all such aspects with the person ordering the work and other interested parties before the inspection and testing was carried out

Section H includes, at the top, two small un-shaded data-entry boxes, one of which should be completed with a ‘/‘ to indicate that ‘there are no items adversely affecting electrical safety ‘or ‘the following observations and recommendations are made’. Where observations and recommendations have been made, these should have been itemised in the column provided and each should be attributed with a Recommendation Code 1, 2, 3 or 4.

See the reverse of page 2 of this report for guidance on the Recommendation Codes.

A declaration of the overall condition of the installation should have been given by the inspector in Section 6 of the report. The declaration should reflect that given in Section I which summarises the observations and recommendations made in Section H. A list of observations and recommendations for urgent remedial work and corrective action(s) necessary to maintain the installation in safe working order should have been given in Section H, where appropriate.

All applicable boxes on page 3 should have been completed either by the insertion of the relevant details or by having one of the following codes entered, which have the following meanings:

tick ‘/’ indicates that an inspection or test has been carried out and that the result is satisfactory

‘X’ indicates that an inspection or test has been carried out and that the result is unsatisfactory,

‘N/A’ indicates that an inspection or a test was not applicable,

‘LIM’ indicates that, exceptionally, a limitation agreed by the Approved Contractor with you, as the Client and, if appropriate other interested parties, (as recorded in Section E) prevented the inspection or test being carried out. It should be noted that the greater the limitations agreed with the Approved Contractor, the less the value of the report.

Only one Recommendation Code should have been given for each recorded observation.

Recommendation Code 1. Where an observation has been given a Recommendation Code 1 (requires urgent attention), the safety of those using the installation may be at risk.

The person responsible for the maintenance of the installation is advised to take action without delay to remedy the observed deficiency in the installation, or to take other appropr4ate action (such as switching off and isolating the affected part(s) of the installation) to remove the potential danger.

NICEIC make available ‘dangerous condition’ notification forms to enable inspectors to record, and then to communicate to the person ordering the report, any dangerous condition discovered.

Recommendation Code 2 (requires improvement) indicates that, whilst the safety of those using the installation may not be at immediate risk, remedial action should be taken as soon as possible to improve the safety of the installation to the level provided by the national standard for the safety of electrical installations, BS 7671. The NICEIC Approved Contractor issuing this report will be able to provide further advice.

Items which have been attributed Recommendation Code 2 should be remedied as soon as possible (see Section H).

Recommendation Code 3Where an observation has been given a Recommendation Code 3 (requires further investigation), the inspection has revealed an apparent deficiency which could not, due to the extent or limitations of this inspection, be fully identified. Items which have been attributed Recommendation Code 3 should be investigated as soon as possible (see Section H). The person responsible for the maintenance of the installation is advised to arrange for the NICEIC Approved Contractor issuing this report (or other competent person) to undertake further examination of the installation to determine the nature and extent of the apparent deficiency.

Recommendation Code 4 does not comply with BS 7671 (as amended) will have been given to observed non-compliance(s) with the current safety standard which do not warrant one of the other Recommendation Codes. it is not intended to imply that the electrical installation inspected is unsafe, but careful consideration should be given to the benefits of improving these aspects of the installation. The NICElC Approved Contractor issuing this report will be able to provide further advice.
It is important to note that the recommendation given at Section J entitled Next Inspection of this report for the maximum interval until the next inspection, is conditional upon all items which have been given a Recommendation Code 1 and Code 2 being remedied without delay and as soon as possible respectively (see Section I).

It would not be reasonable to indicate a ‘satisfactory’ assessment if any observation in the report had been given a Code 1 or Code 2 recommendation (see Section I).