Electrical Installation Condition Report Training

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Electrical Installation Condition Reports are often called EICRs. In this following section, we aim to help with some totally free Electricial Installation Condition Report Training

They are an in-depth inspection & test of the electrical installation within a building.  The process of the whole inspection & testing requires a great number of different steps, all checking to ensure that the installation is safe for continued use.

Typical EICR training involves completing the CG2391 or CG2395 qualifications.  Whilst these qualifications are excellent and give a real depth of knowledge in the subject, it should be noted that any ‘classroom based’ electrical training is always a little ‘removed’ from the real world situation.

It is far easier to diagnose faults in a training centre where you have the entirety of the circuit laid out in the front of you.  Now transfer that to a house where all the cables are buried in the walls and under floorboards.  This issue is even worse in Commercial Electrical settings where cables and distribution boards can be a real mess!

Our FREE 18th edition electrical training is aimed at bridging that gap between the classroom and real world experience.  We do not attempt to teach the physics or the theory.  The reason behind this is that the site is aimed at either practising electricians or trainee/apprentice electricians.  The site IS NOT intended as a DIY guide and the information contained within should not be used as DIY help.

The following lessons will attempt to deal with the real world issues of 18th edition electrical inspection & testing.

Free Electrical Installation Condition Report Training

EXTERNAL CONDITION OF INTAKE EQUIPMENT (VISUAL INSPECTION ONLY)

1.1: Service Cable – Checking the condition of incoming service cable

1.2: Service Head – Checking the condition of the incoming service head

1.3: Earthing Arrangement – Checking the condition of the distributors earthing arrangement

1.4: Meter Tails – Checking condition of the meter tails, both consumer & supply tails

1.5: Metering Equipment – Checking condition of the metering equipment

1.6: Isolator (Where Present) – Where present, checking the condition of the main isolator

PRESENCE OF ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR OTHER SOURCES
SUCH AS MICROGENERATORS

EARTHING / BONDING ARRANGEMENTS

3.1: Presence and condition of distributor’s earthing arrangement

3.2: Presence and condition of earth electrode connection where applicable

3.3: Provision of earthing/bonding labels at all appropriate locations – Checking the earthing/bonding labels at the appropriate points of the installation

3.4: Confirmation of earthing conductor size

3.5: Accessibility and condition of earthing conductor at MET

3.6: Confirmation of main protective bonding conductor sizes – Checking that the main protective bonding conductors are of the required size

3.7: Condition and accessibility of main protective bonding conductor
connections

3.8: Accessibility and condition of other protective bonding connections

CONSUMER UNIT(S) / DISTRIBUTION BOARD(S)

4.1: Adequacy of working space/accessibility to consumer unit/distribution
board

4.2: Security of fixing – Checking the security of fixing of consumer unit/distribution board

4.3: Condition of enclosure(s) in terms of IP rating etc

4.4: Condition of enclosure(s) in terms of fire rating etc

4.5: Enclosure not damaged/deteriorated so as to impair safety

4.6: Presence of main linked switch (as required by 462.1.201)

4.7: Operation of main switch (functional check)

4.8: Manual operation of circuit-breakers and RCDs to prove disconnection

4.9: Correct identification of circuit details and protective devices

4.10: Presence of RCD six-monthly test notice at or near consumer
unit/distribution board

4.11: Presence of non-standard (mixed) cable colour warning notice at or near
consumer unit/distribution board

4.12: Presence of alternative supply warning notice at or near consumer
unit/distribution board

4.13: Presence of other required labelling (please specify)

4.14: Compatibility of protective devices, bases and other components; correct type and rating (No signs of unacceptable thermal damage, arcing or overheating)

4.15: Single-pole switching or protective devices in line conductor only

4.16: Protection against mechanical damage where cables enter consumer
unit/distribution board

4.17: Protection against electromagnetic effects where cables enter consumer unit/distribution board/enclosures

4.18: RCD(s) provided for fault protection – includes RCBOs

4.19: RCD(s) provided for additional protection/requirements – includes RCBOs

4.20: Confirmation of indication that SPD is functional – How to check the SPD is correctly functioning

4.21: Confirmation that ALL conductor connections, including connections to busbars, are correctly located in terminals and are tight and secure

4.22: Adequate arrangements where a generating set operates as a switched
alternative to the public supply (551.6)

4.23: Adequate arrangements where a generating set operates in parallel with the public supply (551.7)

5.0: FINAL CIRCUITS

5.12: Provision of additional requirements for protection by RCD not exceeding 30mA:

5.12.1: For all socket-outlets of rating 32A or less, unless an exception is permitted – How To Check That All Sockets Have RCD Protection

5.12.2: For the supply of mobile equipment not exceeding 32A rating for use
outdoors

5.12.3: For cables concealed in walls at a depth of less than 50mm

5.12.4: For cables concealed in walls/partitions containing metal parts regardless of depth

5.12.5: Final circuits supplying luminaires within domestic (household) premises

Conclusion & Summary:

Electrical Installation Condition Report Training

If you are wanting to complete EICR’s for customers, then there is no doubt that you will need your Inspection & Testing qualification in order to be able to prove you are competent to test.

However don’t be fooled into thinking that stepping straight from a short course into ‘real world’ installations is a walk in the park! Ultimately nothing beats experience, however it can be difficult to gain that experience and build your skills.

Training courses for any ‘real world’ aspect of the job are relatively slim (non-existent to my knowledge) and unless you have completed an apprenticeship alongside an electrician, no amount of college training on a clean, well laid out board in front you will prepare you for what you find in houses, shops, businesses and every other electrical installation you can think of!

That’s why we have started to build our FREE electrical installation condition report training! Whilst it is never intended to replace formal training, we will do our absolute best to bring you the ‘real world’ aspect of the work!

If you have been looking for something to help sharpen your EICR skills, get onboard with our electrical installation condition report training