Electrical Testing for Schools and Educational Facilities: What’s Required?

Schools, colleges and training centres rely on the safety of their electrical installations every single day. Whether it is your classrooms, IT suites, sports facilities, kitchens or staff room, an electrically powered infrastructure helps keep things running smoothly. As this kind of reliance is placed on an electrical system on a daily basis, carrying out electrical testing is a must.

Here at Daniel Gardner Electrical Contractor Ltd we help support a large number of schools, colleges and training facilities across Fife, Dundee, Perth and Edinburgh to ensure that their installations are safe, fully compliant with electrical legislation, and fully operational.

The Importance of Electrical Testing in Schools & Educational Facilities

When an Electrical Test is carried out in a school or training facility, specific consideration is always made. This is because these are facilities that will typically experience:

• High usage from multiple users
• A mixed range of new and old electrical installations
• Vulnerable people, children and young people
• A greater risk due to day-to-day use of portable electrical appliances
• A strong health and safety obligation from the governing body.

This kind of inspection will identify any faults within the system before they lead to potentially serious or dangerous problems.

Types of Tests That are Recommended for Schools & Educational Facilities

Below are the different types of tests schools will need to carry out:

Electrical Installation Testing

Commonly referred to as an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report), this test checks the overall safety of the wiring and fixed installations in your building. For schools and educational facilities, it is recommended that an EICR is performed every 5 years, however depending on the specific installation and usage, this can vary.

Portable Appliance Testing

Also referred to as PAT Testing, this will involve a full visual inspection of all portable electrical appliances such as; kettles, toasters, desk lamps, extension leads, power tools, laptops, desktop computers and anything that will be unplugged at the end of use.

Testing of Emergency Lighting

The building must have fully functional emergency lighting for staff and students to be safely evacuated if there is a power cut or other electrical emergency. Regular tests will be carried out.

Testing of Fire Alarm Systems

The building’s electrical infrastructure that supports and provides power to the fire alarm system will also need to be tested to ensure it remains reliably operational when it needs to.

Compliancy with Regulations

School and educational institutions are bound by UK health and safety legislation to provide a safe environment and this extends to ensuring that electrical systems within them are maintained to a safe standard. By having an Electrical Test conducted by a qualified electrician you will be ensuring compliancy with:

• Electricity at Work Regulations
• Health & Safety at Work Act
• Insurance Requirements

Failing to conduct an Electrical Test on your electrical installations or appliances could result in a number of legal problems and an increase in your risk of electrical fire.

Minimise Disruption during school Term Time

One of the primary concerns of any school or educational facility when booking electrical testing is minimising the disruption caused to students and staff during their teaching schedules. We have designed our testing process to minimise this disruption. Our electricians can schedule testing around your school’s operations to cause minimal disruption, even if it is necessary to carry out inspections during holidays, weekends and quieter periods of operation.

Benefits of an Electrical Test in School Facilities

Keeping up with electrical inspections offers several important advantages:

• Provide greater safety for staff, students, and visitors
• Early detection of potential electrical problems
• Reduce the risk of electrical fires occurring in the building
• Increase the lifespan and efficiency of electrical equipment
• Peace of mind for school and college management

If you are looking for electrical testing in a school or educational establishment anywhere across Fife, Dundee, Perth or Edinburgh then contact Daniel Gardner Electrical Contractor Ltd for a reliable and prompt service.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should electrical testing take place?
Schools generally need fixed installations to be tested every five years and PATs tested on an ongoing basis throughout the year as required depending on how frequently equipment is used.
Is electrical testing legally required for schools?
Yes. UK health and safety law requires that all workplaces, including schools, must have safe electrical systems.
Can we have electrical testing carried out during school hours?
This can be arranged, but we find that schools are more commonly happier to have tests carried out during school holidays or evenings when the facility is quiet and will benefit from minimal disruption.
What happens if the testing finds a fault?
We will provide a full report and offer recommendations to rectify the fault to bring the installation or appliance back to a safe standard.

Why Work With Daniel Gardner Electrical Contractor Ltd for Electrical Testing?

We have a team of highly qualified, experienced electricians. We can carry out all required electrical tests with minimal fuss. All reporting will be transparent and concise. Flexible scheduling arrangements to cause less disruption to learning. We serve Fife, Dundee, Perth and Edinburgh.

Contact us today to Book Your Electrical Test

Are you responsible for the upkeep of a school or educational establishment? Perhaps it is time to book your next electrical test. Ensure your facility is kept safe and secure by contacting Daniel Gardner Electrical Contractor today. We serve across Fife, Dundee, Perth, and Edinburgh and can ensure you adhere to all required regulations without cause for disruption. Speak to us today to book a professional, efficient and compliant service.