Free notes
Routine checks and sampling on a periodicMust you test every point?
Free from the notes: Sparky’s video on it, the section word for word as members see it, and a PDF to keep.
The question at the end: Must you test every point? The answer is in the notes below.
The notes
Exactly as they are on the site.
Routine checks — and who does them
Guidance Note 3 · Section 3. Separate from the periodic itself, and the two get confused.
| Looking for |
|---|
| Breakages, wear, deterioration |
| Signs of overheating — discolouration, smell |
| Missing parts — covers, screws, blanks |
| Loose fixings |
| Switchgear accessible and not obstructed |
| Labelling present and legible |
| Operation of switchgear, and of test buttons |
The occupier or duty holder can do them, once they know what to look for. They are looking, not dismantling — which is the whole point of a routine check.
Sampling — when, and how much
Sampling means inspecting and testing a proportion of the installation rather than all of it, and drawing a conclusion from it. It is allowed, but it is conditional.
| Situation | What you do |
|---|---|
| Previous records available and credible | Sample a proportion of it |
| No previous records | Full inspection and test. Nothing to sample against |
| Sample results differ from what the records say | 100% of the installation is then tested |
| Records turn out to be wrong — wrong cable type, wrong method | Treat the rest with real caution; the records are no longer evidence |
Guidance Note 3 · Section 3 gives sample sizes and a flowchart for adjusting them.
What the sample is chosen on
Not at random. Guidance Note 3 · Section 3 sets out what to weigh.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Age and condition | Older and harder-used parts are more likely to show something |
| Type and use of the installation | A production area is nothing like the offices on the same site, even on the same supply |
| Environment and temperature | Hot, wet, dusty or corrosive areas first |
| Work carried out since the last inspection | New work is where the new faults are |
| Time since the previous inspection | A lapsed interval raises the sample |
| Quality of the records | Poor records mean less can be assumed |
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Sparky Study Notes is the whole Level 3 syllabus written up like this: the explanation, the worked example, and where it is in your book. With a video lesson for every part and a practice paper for every exam.
- 583sections of written notes
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- 18th Edition
- Building Regs
- PAT
- Fundamental Inspection & Testing
- Initial Verification
- Periodic Inspection & Testing