8.8.1 - Why bother with paperwork?
When an installation is complete, including
additions or alterations to an existing installation, the
persons responsible for the work must report to the owner
that it is complete and ready for service. This is in the
form of an electrical installation certificate which must
be separately signed to verify the design, the construction
and the inspection and test aspects (see
{8.8.2}) to
confirm that the installation complies with BS7671.
Sometimes, the person ordering the work is not the
user, in which case it must be ensured that the user has
copies of the forms for inclusion in the installation manual.
This certificate will verify that the installation
is safe to use and ready for service, and should be signed
by a competent person who should preferably be one
of the following:
1. - a professionally qualified
electrical engineer, or
2. - a member of the ECA (Electrical
Contractors' Association), or
3. - a member of the ECA of Scotland,
or
4. - an approved contractor of the
NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation
Contracting),
or
5. - a qualified person acting on
behalf of one of the above.
In all cases, the Certificates must state
for whom the qualified person is acting. The installer
should also compile an operational manual for the installation,
which will include all the relevant data, including:
1. - a full set of circuit and schematic
drawings,
2.
- all design calculations for cable sizes, cable
volt drop, earth-loop impedance, etc.
3.
- leaflets or manufacturers' details for all the
equipment installed,
4.
- 'as fitted' drawings of the completed work where
applicable,
5.
- a full specification,
6. - copies of the electrical installation
certificate, together with any other commissioning
--- --records,
7. - a schedule of dates for periodic
inspection and testing,
8. -
the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the
designer, the installer, and the inspector/tester.
This requirement will be new to many electrical
installation installers. Its rationale is to ensure that
future owners or users of the installation, as well as those
who maintain it or who may modify it, have full information.
If difficulty is experienced in preparing the operational
manual, reference to BS 4884 and to BS 4940, may be helpful.
Records of the results of all tests (in the form
of Electrical Installation and Periodic Test and Inspection
Certificates) should be kept, ideally with the Operational
Manual, for the life of the installation.