IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, 5th Edition
Essential guidance for anyone responsible for keeping electrical equipment safe throughout its working life.
The IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, 5th Edition provides practical guidance for determining whether electrical equipment remains safe for continued use.
Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach to inspection and testing, the Code places strong emphasis on understanding the risks associated with the equipment, the environment in which it is used and the skill level of the user.
Applicable across workplaces and some types of rented accommodation, this fifth edition reinforces the importance of establishing appropriate safety checks that reflect current working practices and legal requirements.
For duty-holders and those responsible for electrical equipment management, the Code provides a focused framework for approaching inspection, testing and ongoing electrical safety with greater clarity and consistency.
Why Choose the 5th Edition?
- Provides guidance on determining whether electrical equipment is safe for continued use
- Places greater emphasis on electrical safety management
- Includes guidance on carrying out a risk assessment
- Considers the risks equipment is exposed to and the environment in which it is used
- Takes account of the skill level of the equipment user
- Includes revised guidance on the tests required to ensure safety in continued use
- Introduces changes to acceptable test result limits and the hierarchy of tests
- Includes updated standard references and revised model forms
- Recommended reading for duty-holders responsible for managing electrical equipment
What‘s New in the 5th Edition?
The 5th Edition represents a significant development in the way in-service electrical equipment safety is approached, with greater focus on risk, modern equipment and appropriate inspection and testing practices.
- Requirements for electrical safety management
- Guidance on how to conduct a risk assessment
- Revised testing requirements for verifying safety in continued use
- Changes to acceptable test result limits
- A new hierarchy of tests
- Inclusion of ES1 and ES2 to reflect changes to product standards
- Guidance on new product classifications
- Updated standard references
- Revised model forms
More Than Traditional PAT Testing
The 5th Edition places greater emphasis on the wider concept of electrical equipment rather than focusing simply on portable appliances fitted with a plug.
The Code considers electrical equipment used in the workplace, including equipment that may be wired directly into an installation, such as air-conditioning units and security access control systems.
Terms such as stationary, portable, fixed and moveable have been removed from the core approach, with the focus instead placed on whether equipment can be verified as safe for continued use.
A Modern Approach to Inspection and Testing
The fifth edition reflects developments in modern electrical and electronic equipment and introduces changes to the way appropriate tests are selected and carried out.
A flowchart is included to help those carrying out inspection and testing select appropriate tests according to the equipment being assessed.
The required tests have also been reviewed with continued electrical safety as the primary objective. For example, some items of Class II equipment may no longer require electrical testing where visual inspection alone is considered satisfactory.
The guidance also reflects changes relating to earth bond testing and insulation testing voltage, taking account of modern electrical and electronic equipment.
Greater Focus on Risk and Electrical Safety Management
The revised Code places electrical safety management at the heart of the inspection and testing process.
Its structure takes the reader through the need for electrical maintenance, legal requirements, competency, equipment types, testing and the frequency of inspection and testing.
New guidance also addresses areas including low-risk equipment and environments, user checks, electrical theory and example risk assessments for determining testing frequency.
Guidance for Modern Equipment and Working Practices
The 5th Edition reflects changes in both equipment and workplace practices, providing additional commentary relevant to today‘s electrical safety environment.
- Second-hand equipment
- Hired equipment
- Equipment where the provenance may be uncertain
- Changes to product standards and methods of protection against electric shock
- New electrical safety classifications including energy source classes
Who is This Code of Practice For?
The core purpose of the Code is to help achieve high standards of electrical safety and it is recommended reading for duty-holders responsible for the management of electrical equipment.
It is particularly relevant where responsibility includes establishing appropriate inspection, testing and maintenance arrangements for electrical equipment used within workplaces and certain types of rented accommodation.
A Risk-Based Approach to Keeping Electrical Equipment Safe
Electrical equipment safety is about more than attaching a pass label to an appliance. The 5th Edition places the emphasis on understanding the equipment, how and where it is used, the risks it faces and the checks necessary to confirm that it remains safe.
By combining guidance on electrical safety management, risk assessment, inspection, testing, competency and testing frequency, this Code of Practice provides a comprehensive reference for managing electrical equipment throughout its continued use.
Product Details
| Features | |
| Product | IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment |
| Edition | 5th Edition |
| Publication Year | 2020 |
| Pages | 136 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-78561-966-3 |
| Part Number | PIETCOPIT20 |
| Format | Paperback Book |