S 2.394 Inspection of electrical equipment
Initiation responsibility: Building Services Manager
Implementation responsibility: Building Services
Electrical installations must be inspected after installation and at regular intervals thereafter.
The initial inspection is described in standard DIN-VDE 0100-610 "Erection of low-voltage installations - Part 6-61: Verification - Initial verification" (German version of IEC 60364-6-61). The inspection must be performed by a state-approved expert. The tester inspects the installations, checks how installation was performed on-site, and performs test measurements. It is inspected whether:
- all electrical installations were erected according to the manufacturer's specifications,
- the fire walls were installed correctly,
- proper conductors were selected in terms of their current carrying capacity, and whether the selection and settings of the protection devices match the planning specifications,
- all circuit diagrams are complete and correct,
- warning signs have been posted,
- all conductors are properly connected,
- there are any breaks in the earthing conductor.
In addition, the initial inspection includes the measurement of the insulation resistance throughout the installation and the verification of protection through automatic shutdown.
The result of the initial inspection should be that the electrical installations are effective and safe to operate.
Thereafter, the operational safety of electrical installations must also be checked regularly by a qualified expert. Along with the primary goal of preventing accidents, first and foremost the effects of changes in usage (due to a significant increase in the number of consumers, for example) must also be checked and documented. The inspection protocols should be archived together with the results of the inspections and measurements.
Review questions:
- Are electrical installations inspected by a qualified expert upon installation?
- Is the electrical installation regularly inspected for operational safety by a qualified expert?