Note carefully that an EICR is an INSPECTION & test of the electrical installation to ensure that it is safe for continued use.
“621.2 Periodic inspection comprising a detailed examination of the installation shall be carried out without dismantling, or with partial dismantling as required, supplemented by appropriate tests…”
GN3 reinforces this with the addition of: “The tests are mainly to confirm that the disconnection times stated in Chapter 41 are met.”
Well let's look at what can, be done.
Check and verify previous documentation for correctness against BS7671.
Check and verify labelling against the current version of BS7671.
Visual inspection of complete installation.
Recording of any evidence of overheating or damage from the visual inspection.
In fact, apart from internal inspections of accessories or current consuming devices the whole installation can be visually inspected externally and internally.
Loop impedances on all circuits, and with suitable live working precautions at every distribution board.
Visual inspection of the internals of all distribution boards with suitable live working precautions at every distribution board.
Thermal imaging of the internals of all distribution boards with suitable live working precautions (OK this is not part of the official BS7671 procedure, however, IF the installation cannot be de-energised under any circumstances does offer a useful solution).
Earth leakage measurement at every distribution board, and potentially every final circuit, with suitable live working precautions (OK this is not part of the official BS7671 procedure, however, IF the installation cannot be de-energised under any circumstances does offer a useful solution).
Earth fault loop impedance at every socket outlet that does not have anything connected, and where devices can be disconnected those socket outlets too.
Likely it would be feasible with suitable precautions to undertake Zs testing at all luminaires
R2 wander lead testing across the whole installation to accessible metallic parts.
Any circuits that can be isolated can have dead tests undertaken with suitable live working precautions if working internally in live distribution boards to undertake disconnections and re-connections.
Now that’s quite a lot, OK, no IR testing, if there are 30mA RCD’s on the circuits, they are verifying that the combined leakage and IR does not equate to much more than 24mA, so that would suggest that these circuits are probably OK, combined with the visual inspections.
Remember that an R2 is a valid option as opposed to an R1+R2 measurement, even on initial verification.
So what can’t we do, IR testing on sub-mains, and final circuits unless they can be isolated.
RCD testing, but, the client must do this 3 monthly anyway to prove compliance with HASAWA74, S2 & S3, therefore doing this on an EICR will not be a problem.
Not essential to prove ADS, which is one of the main aims.
R1+R2 testing on circuits, not, really, needed on a periodic anyway.
So, all of a sudden with some thought and some creativity almost all, if not all of the schedule of inspections can be completed.
Also, almost all of the test results can be completed.
If they cannot isolate any of the installation at any time, under any situations, what their business continuity arrangements are in the event of a power outage from the DNO.
Do they have their servers on active UPS’s?
In the event of an extended outage, do they have on site generation with suitable change over?
If not do they have an arrangement for generators to be delivered and connected before their UPS’s die?
If they have an ACB on their installation, how do they comply with the maintenance requirements of this without disconnection and removal.
I have only ever heard of one site that has refused total black building, and I have a friend who does a lot of I&T in the city, and even the banks, data centres, trading floors & Whitehall buildings, can be, and are shut down with suitable arrangement.
They are also working on options for this site to be shut down, but that will mean use of data centres outside the UK to take up the capacity and that will require some planning.
Most of the high-profile institutions and organisations realise how much they rely on their electrical infrastructure and therefore realise that it requires adequate maintenance.
@GM at CA UK, perhaps this will help your thoughts?