Every electrical installation needs to be periodically inspected and tested, to ensure that it is in a good and safe working order, all electrical installations deteriorate over time due to general wear and tear. An inspection and test of an installation whether it be domestic or commercial is known as a Periodic Inspection Report.

WHY SHOULD WE CARRY OUT TESTING AND INSPECTION OF A PROPERTY?
A periodic inspection report is a report on the condition of an electrical installation, it is not as sometimes mistakenly known a safety certificate but a report on how safe the electrics are. It is essentially an MOT for your properties electrics. The report is usually a three plus page document (depending on the size and type of the property to be inspected & tested) and consists of;

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Details of the electrical installation.
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Items inspected and tested and.
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Observations & recommendations.
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Test results

If you are considering buying a property then it would be wise to invest in a PIR before making your final decision, or if you are letting it then you want to know it's safe for your tenants, you want to know that the property you are buying or letting is electrically safe.
A surveyors report will not tell you if a property is electrically sound, although they may recommend having a PIR.