What mandatory inspections do electrical installations have to undergo?

There are no legal provisions for the standard maintenance of an electrical installation. So everyone has to maintain their installation with due care and attention.

In some cases an installation does have to undergo a conformity inspection carried out by an approved body:

• before a meter is connected to a new installation;
• if an existing installation is modified or extended;
• every time an application is made to reinforce the connection and/or the meter;
• when selling a house or an apartment if the installation dates from before 1/10/1981;
• every 25 years if the installation dates from after 1/10/1981;
• if the installation is damaged (fire, flood, etc.), in order to have the meter reopened.

Regular servicing and mandatory inspections

Servicing

Electrical installations and electrical appliances have to be serviced regularly, but the law does not stipulate how frequently such servicing must be undertaken. The owner is usually responsible for servicing. Everyone has to use their electrical installation safely, ensure that it is not overloaded and keep their electrical appliances in good condition.

Inspection

The conformity of an installation has to be checked by an approved body in certain cases:

• before a meter is connected to a new installation;
   
• if an existing installation is modified or extended;
   
• every time an application is made to reinforce the connection and/or the meter;
   
• upon the sale of a house or an apartment if the installation dates from before 1/10/1981 and no conformity inspection or complete conformity inspection has been carried out after 1 October 1981. The result of the conformity inspection is not important in this case, but if the installation does not comply with the regulations, then the new owner of the house or apartment has 18 months in which to rectify the situation. The new owner will have to ask an inspection body to come along once the work has been done in order to obtain a certificate of conformity;
   
• after 25 years’ use. A certificate of conformity for an electrical installation is valid for 25 years. When this period expires, you have to make an appointment with an inspection body;
   
• if the installation is damaged (by a fire or flood, for instance). In such cases, the emergency services ask Sibelga to seal the meters of the house or apartment in question. To reopen the meters, Sibelga requires a new certificate of conformity that dates from after the incident.

If the installation complies with the regulations, the inspection body will give you a certificate of conformity. If the installation does not comply, you are given one year to have the necessary work carried out to bring it into line. Once the work has been carried out, the same inspection body will check the adaptations made before issuing a certificate of conformity.