How do I get an electrical compliance certificate?

If you’re putting your home on the market, it’s important to make sure that your electrical installation is safe and up to regulation standards. This will ensure that you’re able to sell your property for top dollar.

In order for this to happen, you’ll need a valid electrical compliance certificate. This is a legal requirement for any homeowner who wants to put their house up for sale.

Electrical Installations

When you have any kind of electrical work done, you will need to get an electrical compliance certificate (ECC). They are a legal document that gives you peace of mind that the work you have had carried out on your home is safe and in full compliance with electrical safety regulations.

An ECC is required by law for all new electrical installations and alterations that take place to an existing installation. It also applies to work that is deemed as a Controlled Works.

Generally, an ECC will be issued by a registered electrician.

The electrician will check that the installation is compliant with the Wiring Regulations in your state. They will then issue a Certificate of Compliance and test report.

It’s a good idea to have your house inspected by a qualified electrician before you put it on the market so that a valid electrical compliance certificate can be produced when the property is sold. This will ensure that the transfer of ownership goes smoothly and there are no delays to the conveyancing process.

Distribution Board

A distribution board, also known as a panelboard or breaker panel, is an essential component of any electrical installation. Often located in residential and industrial buildings, distribution boards divide incoming electrical power into several sub-circuits.

They typically contain fuses or breakers to protect each circuit, and are normally held in an enclosure for safety purposes.

Most modern distribution boards incorporate a main switch and one or more residual current devices (RCDs) to help protect against ground fault shock and fire hazards.

They also typically have a series of mini-circuit breakers that are bridged across the top of the live feed from the main breaker or RCD. These groups of breakers are designed to draw the live feed from the main breaker or RCD, and then cut off the current when they detect a short circuit.

Circuit Breakers

Circuit breakers are devices that automatically switch on when abnormal current conditions occur (usually overloads) to protect equipment and people. They work by separating two contacts in a series circuit & releasing mechanically-stored energy (usually using something like springs or compressed air).

A circuit breaker can be divided into several types based on voltage level. They may be rated for low, medium or high current.

They can also be categorized by whether their switching unit is at ground potential or not, as well as the type of arc extinction medium they use to extinguish the arc between the contacts.

Arc extinction techniques vary by type, but they generally involve an insulating or dielectric medium that suppresses the arc between the contacts until the arc is completely extinguished.

They are typically used for short circuit & overcurrent protection up to 15kV & 800 to 10k Amps. Oil circuit breakers are a type of HV circuit breaker that uses oil as its arc extinction medium instead of air.

Earth Leakage

Electrical current, just like water or gas can “leak” through something that isn’t earthed correctly. This leakage can be dangerous, especially if you touch the “leaking” appliance or device.

The purpose of an earth leakage relay is to monitor for this leaking current and if it exceeds a certain value it will trip and cut off the flow of electricity. This is important to keep you and your family safe in case of an emergency.

A qualified electrician will take various readings to ensure that Voltages, Insulation, Earthing and other values are within the legal requirements. It’s also a good idea to have your main distribution board and any sub-boards, circuit breakers and other safety features checked for their operational capabilities.

Another good thing to do is test all the plugs and lights in your home and check if they are properly earthed. This can save you a lot of money in the long run.