EICR, appliance checks or both?
Fixed-installation testing and portable appliance checks are different scopes. Explain which is required and whether both are being arranged. A computer’s appliance check does not assess the condition of the whole circuit supplying the office.
Ask the electrical contractor to discuss the proposed scope and the equipment connected to the installation. Suitable methods, competent work and clear communication matter; a broad claim that testing never affects electronics is not a substitute for planning.
Include servers, networks and shared systems
Include servers, networks and shared systems
Include computers, servers, storage, routers, network switches, telephone equipment, security systems and equipment provided by others. A desk computer staying powered is not enough if its network or shared storage has been interrupted.
Nominate an IT or operational contact who can identify critical connections and authorise shutdown and restoration. Include systems managed by other providers so the testing plan accounts for their power and access requirements.
Agree shutdown, backup and restart arrangements
Agree shutdown, backup and restart arrangements
Coordinate data protection, current backups and orderly shutdown with the responsible IT team or provider. The electrical appointment does not replace the organisation’s own information-management and recovery arrangements.
If backup power or a UPS is present, tell the contractor before the visit. It can change the planning and isolation discussion; it should not be assumed to remove every outage or testing constraint. Leave electrical access and equipment handling to the agreed responsible people.
Agree the testing window and responsible contacts
Agree the testing window and responsible contacts
Agree when equipment can be unavailable, who is present and how completion or unexpected findings will be communicated. Consider opening hours, remote staff and any equipment that must remain supported by another service provider.
Ask the quote to identify the testing scope, working window and access needed. If the agreed shutdown cannot be provided, arrange a revised plan and make any resulting inspection limitations clear.
What to share with your enquiry
- EICR, appliance checks or both
- Critical equipment and dependencies
- Responsible IT or operational contact
- Shutdown and restart window
- Backup power and access restrictions
Questions answered
Will a UPS mean there is no interruption?
Do not assume that. The backup arrangement and testing scope need to be discussed with the responsible IT team and electrical contractor.
Ask Max about thisDoes PAT testing check the office wiring?
No. Portable-equipment checks and fixed-installation condition reporting are separate services.
Ask Max about thisWho should shut down and restart systems?
Agree the responsibility with the organisation’s IT or operational provider before the visit. It should not be left to guesswork on arrival.
Ask Max about thisCan testing be planned outside our normal opening hours?
Ask about a suitable working window and confirm availability, access and the responsible IT contact before booking. Out-of-hours work still needs agreed shutdown, backup and restart arrangements. Explain which systems support overnight operations or remote users so a closed office is not assumed to have no active dependencies.
Ask Max about thisHow do we plan electrical testing around servers and network equipment?
Identify the systems and the staff or providers responsible for them. Agree the testing window, backups, shutdown and restart before the visit, including any remote users or overnight services. Tell the electrician about UPS or other backup arrangements; do not assume they remove every interruption.
Ask Max about thisSources and further reading
Read the original guidance relevant to this question. Building Regulations and rental-law references here relate to England.