Free EAL Inspection & Testing Exam Flashcards

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 are statutory law: Regulation 4 requires systems to be constructed and maintained to prevent danger, so far as is reasonably practicable. BS 7671 is a non-statutory British Standard, but complying with it is the normal way to show EAWR compliance.

Prove: confirm your voltage indicator works, ideally on a proving unit (a small battery-powered device that simulates a live supply) or a known live source. Test: use it to confirm the target circuit is dead. Prove again: check the indicator still works on the same source afterward — this rules out a faulty indicator giving a false 'dead' reading.

A switch or circuit-breaker can be re-closed by someone unaware of the work. HSE HSG85 says to lock the device OFF with a safety lock whose key you keep, or remove and retain the fuse (or lock its enclosure), then post a caution notice. A notice alone does not secure isolation.

GS38 (para 19) says a proprietary test lamp or two-pole voltage detector suited to the system voltage should be used, because incorrectly set multimeters, such as one left on a current or resistance range, have often caused accidents during voltage checks.

Amendment 4 (BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, the 'Orange Book') was published on 15 April 2026 for immediate use. It folds in Amendment 3, adds stationary secondary batteries, ICT functional earthing and Power over Ethernet, and updates the model forms. BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024 is withdrawn on 15 October 2026.

IET Guidance Note 3: Inspection & Testing. The 10th edition (published 15 April 2026) is fully updated to BS 7671:2018+A4:2026; EAL's on-screen exams for this qualification group are open book and permit only this publication as a reference.

For a new installation, for an addition or alteration that introduces one or more new circuits, or for replacing a consumer unit or distribution board. It certifies that the design, construction, and inspection and testing of the work meet BS 7671, and it records any intended departures from the Regulations.

For work that doesn't add a new circuit — for example, adding a socket outlet or luminaire to an existing circuit. It's a shorter certificate covering just that alteration, not the whole installation.

The Schedule of Inspections records the visual and physical checks made, such as conductor identification and enclosure suitability. The Schedule of Test Results records each circuit's measured values, such as continuity, insulation resistance, Zs and RCD operating time, so they can be checked against BS 7671 limits.

Design, construction, and inspection and testing each need a named, competent signatory. Where one person is responsible for all three, the single-signature form of the EIC can be used.

An EIC certifies that new work meets the current edition of BS 7671 at the point of completion. An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) instead assesses the condition of an existing installation against the current edition as a safety benchmark — it doesn't require every non-compliant original feature to be upgraded.

The extent states which parts of the installation the report covers. Limitations record anything excluded from inspection or testing, with the reasons and the name of the person they were agreed with. The report's codes and overall outcome apply only within that stated extent and those limitations.

Permanently, in a visible position at or near: every connection of an earthing conductor to an earth electrode; every connection of a bonding conductor to an extraneous-conductive-part, such as a metal gas or water pipe; and the main earthing terminal where it is separate from the main switchgear (Regulation 514.13.1).

514.12.1 requires a notice giving the recommended date of the next inspection. 514.12.2 requires an RCD notice telling users to test six-monthly by pressing the test button(s), switch the device back on, and seek expert advice if it does not operate. Domestic premises may omit both when a current EIC with guidance for recipients is issued.

Before. Regulation 642.1 says inspection shall precede testing and shall normally be done with the part of the installation under inspection disconnected from the supply — visual and physical checks come first, so obvious faults are caught before any test voltage is applied.

Live parts must be behind barriers or enclosures giving at least IPXXB/IP2X protection generally (Regulation 416.2.1) — enough to keep fingers out. Any horizontal top surface that's readily accessible must give a higher IPXXD/IP4X protection (Regulation 416.2.2), since small dropped objects could otherwise fall in and reach live parts.

It must either be run within a permitted safe zone and have 30mA RCD additional protection, or comply with Regulation 522.6.204 instead — for example, an earthed metallic cable covering, earthed conduit or trunking, mechanical protection against nails and screws, or forming part of a SELV/PELV circuit (Regulation 522.6.202).

On single-phase AC final circuits supplying socket-outlets rated up to 32A, in four specified higher-risk premises types: high-rise residential buildings (HRRBs), houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), purpose-built student accommodation, and care homes (Regulation 421.1.7). In every other type of premises, AFDDs remain recommended rather than required.

C1 = 'Danger present. Immediate remedial action is necessary.' It signals immediate danger — for example, exposed live conductors — and requires immediate action to remove the danger, such as isolating the affected circuit before the inspector leaves site.

C2 = 'Potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial action is necessary.' The installation is not immediately dangerous, but a fault — for example, no effective earthing — could become dangerous. Urgent remedial action is required, though not necessarily before the inspector leaves site.

C3 = 'Improvement recommended.' It flags something that doesn't meet the current edition of BS 7671 but isn't itself dangerous — for example, an older but still safe accessory. A C3 alone does not make the overall EICR outcome unsatisfactory.

'Further investigation is advised.' The inspector suspects a problem that could not be confirmed within the inspection, such as a symptom without a visible cause. Amendment 4:2026 removed the words 'without delay' that A3-based reports still use.

Under BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, only C1 or C2 observations make the overall assessment unsatisfactory; C3 and FI observations are recorded in a separate part and do not change the outcome. Under the withdrawn A2:2022+A3:2024 forms, an FI also made the report unsatisfactory.

Mostly guidance, except where a specific law sets a maximum. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require rented homes to be inspected and tested at least every 5 years. Otherwise, IET Guidance Note 3's typical intervals are a starting point the inspector adjusts for use, environment and condition.

The end-to-end resistance of the line conductor plus the circuit protective conductor (CPC) for a radial circuit, measured with the two conductors linked together at the far end — confirming the CPC gives a continuous, low-resistance path back to the origin.

When it's impractical to link line and CPC at the far end, for example on some existing circuits. A long wander lead is connected to the main earthing terminal, its own resistance is nulled or subtracted, and each CPC is then measured at the circuit's points to give R2.

The end-to-end resistances of the ring's line (r1), neutral (rn) and CPC (r2) conductors, each measured separately at the consumer unit with the ring ends left open — the first step in confirming the ring is continuous with no breaks.

After the end-to-end readings, the ring ends are cross-connected (line to neutral, then line to CPC) and a reading is taken at every socket. Readings should be substantially the same at each socket (spurs read higher); readings rising toward the middle mean the ends were not cross-connected correctly, and other inconsistencies point to breaks or interconnections.

Where connected equipment could influence the result or be damaged, the Table 64 test (typically 500V DC) is done before that equipment is connected. After connection, a 250V DC test between live conductors and protective earth must give at least 1MΩ, confirming the new connections (Regulation 643.3.3).

1 megohm (MΩ) at a 500V DC test voltage, per BS 7671 Table 64. New wiring normally reads far above this, so a result near the minimum should be investigated rather than treated as a comfortable pass.

Continuity of protective conductors (including bonding), continuity of ring final circuit conductors, insulation resistance, and then polarity — each test builds confidence in the installation before the next test, and before any live testing begins.

Ze (external earth fault loop impedance) is measured at the origin with the main bonding conductors disconnected, isolating the supply's own earth path from parallel paths through bonded pipework or other installations — otherwise the reading would come out artificially low and misleading.

Zs = Ze + (R1 + R2). A circuit's total earth fault loop impedance equals the external impedance measured at the origin plus that specific circuit's own line and CPC resistance.

Conductor resistance rises with temperature, so a Zs measured cold reads lower than it would in service. Compare the measured value with 0.8 times the tabulated maximum Zs; otherwise a circuit could pass a cold test yet fail to disconnect in time once its conductors reach normal operating temperature.

That the protective device — fuse or circuit-breaker — at that point has an adequate breaking capacity for the maximum current that could flow during a short-circuit or earth fault. An underrated device could fail dangerously instead of safely disconnecting.

0.4 seconds (0.2 seconds in a TT system). Table 41.1 applies to final circuits rated up to 63A with one or more socket-outlets, and up to 32A supplying only fixed equipment (Regulation 411.3.2.2).

5 seconds in TN systems and 1 second in TT systems (Regulations 411.3.2.3 and 411.3.2.4). This covers distribution circuits and final circuits above 63A with socket-outlets or above 32A supplying only fixed equipment.

It reduced the minimum requirement to a single test at the RCD's rated residual operating current (IΔn) using an alternating test current, regardless of RCD type (AC, A, F or B): a general non-delay RCD must disconnect within 300ms. The older ×0.5/×1/×5 IΔn sequence is no longer the BS 7671 minimum, though it can still be used for fault-finding.

130 to 500 milliseconds. S-type RCDs are deliberately time-delayed and fitted upstream so a downstream general-type RCD trips first, avoiding loss of supply to unaffected circuits. Because of that delay they are not used for additional protection, which needs a non-delay RCD with IΔn not exceeding 30mA (Regulation 415.1.1).

Type AC trips only on sinusoidal AC residual currents. Type A additionally trips on pulsating DC residual currents, which are common where electronic equipment such as LED drivers is connected. BS 7671 restricts Type AC to fixed equipment known not to produce DC components.

BS EN 61557 (in its various parts) sets performance requirements for the instruments used to verify installations — insulation resistance testers, earth fault loop impedance testers, RCD testers, and others — so results from a compliant instrument can be relied on.

Fused leads for multimeters should have a high-breaking-capacity fuse, usually rated no more than 500mA, or a current-limiting resistor and fuse. Leads used with loop impedance or RCD testers typically use a 10A fuse because of the higher test current (GS38, 4th edition).

No more than 4mm, measured across any surface of the tip. HSE Guidance Note GS38 recommends reducing this further to 2mm or less, or using spring-loaded retractable screened probes, to limit the risk of accidentally bridging live parts.

Localised heat, and sometimes discolouration or scorching, at the connection; a voltage drop across the joint under load that isn't present with no load; and intermittent or load-dependent faults elsewhere on the circuit.

Single-pole switches, protective devices, and some equipment may end up switching or protecting the neutral instead of the line conductor. The circuit can then appear switched off or protected while the line conductor — and any exposed live parts downstream — remains energised.

An SPD can conduct at the 500V DC Table 64 test voltage, giving a falsely low reading or being damaged, so disconnect it before the test. Where that isn't practicable, test that circuit at 250V DC between live conductors and protective earth; the result must be at least 1MΩ (Regulation 643.3.3).

That every fuse and single-pole switching or protective device is in the line conductor only; that centre-contact bayonet and Edison screw lampholders have their outer contact on the neutral (E14/E27 lampholders to BS EN 60238 excepted); and that socket-outlets and similar accessories are correctly connected. It is normally checked dead during the R1+R2 test.

RA × IΔn must not exceed 50V (Regulation 411.5.3), where RA is the earth electrode resistance (plus the conductor to it) and IΔn is the RCD's rated residual operating current. For a 30mA RCD this allows up to about 1667Ω, though BS 7671 notes electrode resistance above roughly 200Ω may not be stable enough to rely on.

Regulation 643.9 requires phase sequence to be checked at all relevant points of the installation — confirming L1, L2 and L3 are connected in the correct rotation. Getting this wrong can reverse the direction of three-phase motors and other rotating equipment when it's first switched on.

Regulation 643.10 requires functional testing of assemblies, switchgear, controls, interlocks and similar equipment to confirm they're correctly mounted, adjusted and installed for their intended function — including operating each RCD's own integral test button to confirm it still disconnects the circuit.