Who is responsible for the safety of my electrical installation?

The property owner is responsible for the safety of his electrical installations and must make sure that it does not endanger neither persons nor things and this at all times.  He has the obligation to repair the defects without delay. Art. 5 of the Low-Voltage Electrical Installations Decree.

What are the duties of the owner of an electrical installation?

- To see that his/her installation meets safety standards for people and things and this at all times.

- To keep all technical documentation of the installation as well as the documents necessary for the Safety Report and this until the next check-up.

- To repair the defects without delay. Art. 5 of the Low-Voltage Electrical Installations Decree.

What are the duties of the electrical fitter?

- To install and to fix electrical installations in accordance with technical rules and standards.

- To forward to the owners the diagrams, plans, and documentations of the installations that he/she establishes.

Why do I have to get my electrical installation checked?

- To relieve you legal obligations.

- To make sure that the installation does not put in danger people, animals and things.

- To detect possible non-visible defects by visual assessment.

When do I have to carry out this check-up and how often?

- When your electrical power provider asks you to provide him with the Safety Report of your installation.

- At  intervals defined by the Low-Voltage Electrical Installation Decree and according to the type of object under your responsibility.

Who is entitled to carry out such a check-up?

-Accredited persons or companies.  These must be holders of an inspection authorisation delivered by  the Federal Inspectorate For Heavy Current.

-The body that participated in designing, installing, modifying, or fixing an electrical installation cannot carry out neither of its following check-ups: on delivery, periodical or poradic check up. Art. 31 of the Low-Voltage Electrical Installations Decree.

How do I proceed to get my electrical installation checked?

- You should appoint an Electrical Inspector to check your installations.  If no defects were found, the Inspector will provide you with the Safety Report requested by your Electrical Power Provider.  Otherwise, you will have to repair the defects found before any Safety report can be issued by the Inspector.

What does an electrical check-up include?

- Tackling the technical features of your installation (number and address of the electricity meter, characteristics of safety units such as fuses, circuit-breakers).

- Visually examining broken material, the state of your installation whether it fits electrical standards).

- Measuring the sockets, receivers, wires (resistance of wires in case of short circuits,  insulation resistance of the installation, release time of  protection devices, proper connection of sockets, receivers, proper groundings).

What are the advantages of getting an electrical check-up done?

-It attests that the installation is in conformity with technical rules and standards and that it answers safety requirements for people and properties.

- It relieves you of legal obligations.

- It is an increase in your property value (breakdowns and risks are thus reduced and  you will have a proof that the installation is in order in the event of sale).

What is a Safety Report?

-It is the official document that your electrical power provider requests you to submit at intervals depending on the type of object you have under your responsibility.

-It attests that your installation has been checked in a professional way and that it satisfies electrical safety requirements.

-It can only be supplied by an accredited Electrical Inspector, registered at the Federal Inspectorate For Heavy Current Installations (IFICF).F

Who should I inform of irregularities

- You may directly send an email to esti@esti.ch.