Electrical safety inspection

What is an electrical safety inspection?

The inspection combines two previously well-known examinations. The shock protection inspection, which checks whether the installation protects you from electric shock, whether the protective measures work, whether devices disconnect in time and whether the protective conductor is adequate; and the compliance (fire safety related) inspection, which examines whether the design of the installation and the condition of the cables, joints and protective devices present a fire risk.

The inspection rests on two pillars: detailed visual examination and instrument measurements. The visual examination covers, among other things, the condition of cables, joints, distribution boards and accessories, the presence and suitability of protective devices, and the compliance of the installation. This is supplemented by measurements taken with calibrated instruments, for example insulation resistance, loop impedance and the operation of the residual current device, the results of which are recorded numerically and evaluated. At the end of the inspection a certificate is issued which, as a legally effective document, confirms the condition of the installation and lists any faults item by item together with the deadline for their repair.

Why do homes need an electrical safety inspection?

1. Because it protects our lives, the lives of our loved ones and our property. Hidden electrical faults, damaged insulation, poor joints and missing protection can cause electric shock and fire. The inspection uncovers these before they cause a problem. It is not a formality and it is not an exaggeration: a significant proportion of house fires are electrical in origin.
2. Because it gives you a clear picture. The certificate provides an accurate, documented picture of the real condition of the installation. You will know what is in order, what needs repairing and by when. It is not guesswork, but a document produced on the basis of professional examination and measurement results.
3. Because the law requires it. Under Hungarian Ministry for National Economy Decree 40/2017 (XII. 4.), the electrical installation of a home must undergo an electrical safety inspection at least every six years, and before every sale and letting if no certificate less than six years old is available. The only homes exempt from the periodic six-yearly inspection are those where the overcurrent protection is no more than 32 A per phase and the entire installation is protected by a 30 mA residual current device. On sale and letting, however, this exemption does not apply.
4. Because it protects you legally even if the certificate says "failed". Many people are astonished and puzzled to receive a certificate with a failed rating. The standards and regulations are unambiguous, and we inspectors are strictly forbidden to depart from them. The decree requires the inspection to be carried out, not that the installation be faultless. On sale or letting, the certificate you hand over proves that you informed the buyer or tenant of the condition of the installation, so a later fault does not come back to you as a "hidden defect". This can prevent years of warranty disputes and extremely costly litigation.
5. Because your insurer may also ask for it. Carrying out the inspections required by law is part of the loss prevention obligation arising from insurance contracts. After a fire of electrical origin, the insurer may reduce or even refuse payment on the grounds of a missing inspection. The cost of an inspection is a fraction of what a rejected claim can mean.

Equipotential bonding inspection

The point of equipotential bonding is that every metal, electrically conductive system in the home - water, gas and heating pipes, metal baths, boilers, air conditioners - is connected to the protective conductor of the electrical installation. This way no dangerous potential difference can arise between two touchable metal objects even in the event of a fault. The tap, the radiator or the gas pipe does not give you a shock.

The inspection checks whether the bonding system has been installed in full and whether the connections are adequate, and confirms the continuity of the protective conductors by measurement. A certificate is issued, which gas suppliers require as a matter of course for a new gas connection, a meter change or an appliance change. Its importance for the protection of life is considerable, which is why carrying it out is naturally mandatory.