Electrical Installation Designs
CHAPTER 7
TESTING AND INSPECTIONS
7.1 Inspection and testing techniques
The testing of an installation implies the use of instruments to obtain readings.
However, a test is unlikely to identify a cracked socket outlet, a chipped or loose
switch plate, a missing conduit box lid or saddle, so it is also necessary to make a
visual inspection of the installation.
All new installations must be inspected and tested before connection to the mains, and
all existing installations should be periodically inspected and tested to ensure that they
are safe and meet the regulations of IEE Regulations 610 to 634.
The method used to test an installation may inject a current into the system. This
current must not cause danger to any person or equipment in contact with the
installation, even if the circuit being tested is faulty. The test results must be compared
with any relevant data, including the IEE Regulation tables, and the test procedures
must be followed carefully and in the correct sequence, as indicated by Regulation
612.1. This ensures that the protective conductors are correctly connected and secure
before the circuit is energised.
The installation must be visually inspected before testing begins. The aim of the
visual inspection is to confirm that all equipments and accessories are undamaged and
comply with the relevant standard, and also that the installation has been securely and
correctly erected. Regulation 611.3 gives a check list for initial visual inspection of an
installation, including:
Connection of conductors
Identification of conductors
Routing of cables in safe zones
Selection of conductors for current carrying capacity and voltage drop
Connection of single pole devices for protection or switching in phase
conductors only
Correct connection of socket outlets, lampholders, accessories and equipment
Presence of fire barriers, suitable seals and protection against thermal effects
Methods of protection against electric shock, including the insulation of live
parts and placement of live parts out of reach by fitting appropriate barriers
and enclosures
Prevention of detrimental influences (e.g. corrosion)
Presence of appropriate devices for isolation and switching
Presence of undervoltage protection devices
Choice and setting of protective devices
Labelling of circuits, fuses, switches and terminals
Selection of equipment and protective measures appropriates to external
influences
Adequate access to switchgear and equipment
Presence of danger notices and other warning notices
Presences of diagrams, instructions and similar information
Appropriate erection method
Authors:
Hasnizam Hanafi& Rafi Azman
Universiti Malaysia Perlis
Electrical Installation Designs
The checklist is a guide, it is not exhaustive or detailed, and should be used to identify
relevant items for inspection, which can then be expanded upon. For example, the first
item on the checklist, connection of conductors, might be further expanded to include
the following:
Are connections secure?
Are connections correct? (conductor identification)
Is the cable adequately supported so that no strain is placed on the
connections?
Does the outer sheath enter the accessory
Is the insulation undamaged?
Does the insulation proceed up to but not into the connection?
This repeated for each appropriate item on the checklist. Those tests which are
relavant to the installation must then be carried out in the sequence given in
Regulation 611.3.
Sequence of tests:
• Continuity of all protective conductors
• Continuity of ring final circuit conductors
• Insulation resistance
• Site applied insulation
• Protection by separation of circuits
• Protection against direct contact by barriers and enclosures provided during
erection
• Insulation of non conducting floors and walls
• Polarity
• Earth electrode resistance
• Earth fault loop impedance
• Prospective fault current
• Functional testing
7.2 Testing for continuity of protective conductors (612.2.1)
The objectives of the test is to ensure that the circuit protective conductor (CPC) is
correctly connected, is electrically sound and has a total resistance which is low
enough to permit overcurrent protective device to operate within the disconnection
time requirements of Regulation 411.4.5 (pg 48), should an earth fault occur. Every
protective conductor must be separately tested from the consumer’s earthing terminal
to verify that it is electrically sound and correctly connected, including any main and
supplementary bonding conductors.
A dc test using an ohmmeter continuity tester is suitable where the protective
conductors are copper or aluminium up to 35mm 2. The test is made with the supply
disconnected, measuring from the consumer’s earthing terminal to the far end of each
CPC, as shown in Figure 7.1. The resistance of the long test lead is subtracted from
these readings to give the resistance value of CPC. The result is recorded on the
installation schedule.
Authors:
Hasnizam Hanafi& Rafi Azman
Universiti Malaysia Perlis
Electrical Installation Designs
Figure 7.1: Testing continuity of protective conductors
7.3 Testing for continuity of ring final circuit conductors (612.2.2)
The objectives of the test is to ensure that all ring circuit cables are continuous around
the ring, that is, that there are no breaks and no interconnections in the ring, and that
all connections are electrically and mechanically sound. This test is also verifies the
polarity of each socket outlet.
The test is made with the supply disconnected, using an ohmmeter as follows:
Disconnect and separate the conductors of both legs of the ring at the main fuse.
There are three steps to do this test:
Step 1:
Measure the resistance of the phase conductors (L 1 and L2), the neutral conductors (N1
and N2) and the protective conductors (E1 and E2) at the mains position as shown in
Figure 7.2. End to end live and neutral conductor readings should be approximately
the same (i.e. within 0.05Ω) if the ring is continuous. The protective conductor
reading will be 1.67 times as great as these readings if 2.5/1.5mm cable is used.
Record the results on a table such as that shown in Table 7.1.
Authors:
Hasnizam Hanafi& Rafi Azman
Universiti Malaysia Perlis
Electrical Installation Designs
Figure 7.2: Step 1 test: measuring the resistance of phase, neutral and protective
conductors
Authors:
Hasnizam Hanafi& Rafi Azman
Universiti Malaysia Perlis
Electrical Installation Designs
Table 7.1: Table which may be used to record the readings taken when carrying out
the continuity of ring final circuit conductors tests according to IEE Regulation 713-
02
Test Ohmmeter Ohmmeter readings This gives a value
connected to for
Step 1 L1 and L2 r1
N1 and N2
E1 and E2 r2
Step 2 Live and neutral at
each socket
Step 3 Live and earth at R1 + R 2
each socket
As a check (R1 + R2) value should equal (r1 + r2)/4
Step 2
The live and neutral conductors should now be temporarily joined together as shown
in Figure 7.3. An ohmmeter reading should then be taken between live and neutral at
every socket outlet on the ring circuit. The readings obtained should be substantially
the same, provided that there are no breaks or multiple loops in the ring. Each reading
should have a value of approximately half the live and neutral ohmmeter readings
measured in step 1 of this test. Sockets connected as a spur will have a slightly higher
value of resistance because they are fed by only one cable, while each socket on the
ring is fed by two cables. Record the results on a table such as that shown in Table
7.1.
Figure 7.3: Step 2 test: connection of mains conductor and test circuit conditions
Authors:
Hasnizam Hanafi& Rafi Azman
Universiti Malaysia Perlis
Electrical Installation Designs
Step 3
Where the circuit protective conductor is wired as a ring, for example where twin and
earth cables or plastic conduit is used to wire the ring, temporarily join the live and
circuit protective conductors together as shown in Figure 7.4. An ohmmeter reading
should then be taken between live and earth at every socket outlet on the ring. The
readings obtained should be substantially the same provided that there are no breaks
or multiple loops in the ring. This value is equal to R 1 + R2 for the circuit. Record the
results on an installation schedule such as that shown in Table 7.1. The step 3 value of
R1 + R2 should be equal to (r1 + r2)/4, where r1 and r2 are the ohmmeter readings from
step 1 of this test.
Figure 7.4: Step 3 test: connection of mains conductors and test circuit conditions
7.4 Testing Insulation Resistance (612.3)
The objective of the test is to verify that the quality of the insulation is satisfactory
and has not deteriorated or short circuited. The test should be made at the consumer’s
unit with the mains switch off, all fuses in place and all switches closed. Neon lamps,
Authors:
Hasnizam Hanafi& Rafi Azman
Universiti Malaysia Perlis
Electrical Installation Designs
capacitors and electronics circuits should be disconnected, since they will respectively
glow, charge up or be damaged by the test.
There are two tests to be carried out using an insulation resistance tester which must
supply a voltage of 500Vdc for 240V and 415V installations. These are phase and
neutral conductors to earth and between phase conductors. The procedures are:
Phase and neutral conductors to earth
a) Remove all lamps
b) Close all switches and circuit breakers.
c) Disconnect appliances
d) Test separately between the phase conductor and earth, and between the
neutral conductor and earth, for every distribution circuit at the consumer’s
unit as shown in Figure 7.5. Record the results on an installation schedule.
Figure 7.5: Insulation Resistance Test
Between phase conductors
a) Remove all lamps
b) Close all switches and circuit breakers.
c) Disconnect appliances
d) Test between the phase and neutral conductors of every distribution circuit at
the consumer’s unit as shown in Figure 7.5 and record all result.
The insulation resistance readings for each test must be not less than 0.5MΩ for a
satisfactory result (IEE Regulation 612.3.2 – Table 61).
Where equipment is disconnected for the purpose of the insulation resistance test, the
equipment itself must be insulation resistance tested between all live parts (i.e. live
and neutral conductors connected together) and the exposed conductive parts. The
insulation resistance of these tests should be not less than 0.5MΩ (IEE Regulation
612.3.3)
Although an insulation resistance reading of 0.5MΩ complies with the Regulations,
the IEE Guidance Notes tell us that a reading of less than 2MΩ might indicate a latent
Authors:
Hasnizam Hanafi& Rafi Azman
Universiti Malaysia Perlis
Electrical Installation Designs
but not yet visible fault in the installation. In these cases each circuit should be
separately tested to obtain a reading greater than 2MΩ.
7.5 Testing Polarity (612.6)
The objectives of this test is to verify that all fuses, circuit breakers and switches are
connected in the phase or live conductor only, that all socket outlets are correctly
wired and Edison screw type lamp lampholders have the centre contact connected to
the live conductor. It is important to make a polarity test on the installation since a
visual inspection will only indicate conductor identification.
The test is done with the supply is connected using an ohmmeter or continuity tester
as follows:
a) Switch off the supply at the main switch
b) Remove all lamps and appliances.
c) Fix a temporary link between the phase and earth connections on the
consumer’s side of the main switch.
d) Test between the “common” terminal and earth at each switch position.
e) Test between the centre pin of any Edison screw lampholders and any
convenient earth connection.
f) Test between the live pin (i.e. the pin to the right of earth) and earth at each
socket outlet as shown in Figure 7.6.
For a satisfactory test result the ohmmeter or continuity meter should read
approximately zero.
Remove the test link and record the results on an installation schedule.
Figure 7.6: Polarity Test
Authors:
Hasnizam Hanafi& Rafi Azman
Universiti Malaysia Perlis
