Electrical Inspection Report: What It Must Contain, How to Check It, and How to Spot a Poor One

An electrical inspection report often ends up in a filing cabinet right after it’s handed over. However, during an audit, an insurance claim, or an accident, it becomes a crucial document proving what was actually inspected, who performed the inspection, and what the conclusion was. That’s why just having “some piece of paper” isn’t enough. You need a report with a clear scope, specific measurements, and the signature of an authorized certified electrical inspector.

Below, you’ll find a practical overview of the inspection report requirements according to ČSN 33 1500, a verification checklist, and warning signs to help you identify a weak or incomplete protocol.

Short Answer

The inspection report must clearly state what was inspected, where, when, by whom, to what extent, with what measured values, and with what conclusion. For electrical inspections, the phrase “the equipment complies” is not sufficient. The report must contain specific measurements, a list of defects, the recommended inspection interval for the next inspection, and the signature of a certified electrical inspector with a valid certificate.

If the scope of the inspection, measurement figures, a clear conclusion, or the inspector’s verifiable certificate are missing, address it immediately. During an audit or an insurance claim, such gaps are difficult to explain.

What an Inspection Report Is For

An inspection report proves that the electrical equipment has been checked and measured within a defined scope and that it is – or is not – capable of safe operation. The operator of designated technical equipment is legally obliged to ensure its safe condition, inspections, checks, inspections, and tests. If an inspection is missing within the specified inspection interval, the operator’s position worsens during an audit and when proving that the equipment was operated safely. This obligation is imposed by Act No. 250/2021 Coll., specifically § 20.

The detailed content of an inspection report is not stipulated item by item by law. What exactly the report must contain is determined by technical standards – primarily ČSN 33 1500 for performing inspections and ČSN 33 2000-6 for the inspection of low-voltage electrical installations. The law primarily addresses the obligation of safe operation, inspections, and who is permitted to perform them.

So, who is that? An inspection of designated technical equipment may only be performed by a certified electrical inspector with a valid certificate of the appropriate scope. The certificate is issued by the Technical Inspection of the Czech Republic (TIČR). If the inspection report is signed by someone without a valid certificate, or with a certificate that does not cover the given type of equipment, it is not a properly documented inspection of designated equipment. We’ve detailed exactly who is allowed to perform inspections in a separate article on professional competence in electrical engineering.

Inspections are divided into two basic types – initial and periodic. An initial inspection is performed on new or reconstructed equipment before it is put into operation. A periodic inspection is then repeated at intervals specified by Government Regulation No. 190/2022 Coll. and further detailed in ČSN 33 1500. Specific inspection intervals for individual types of environments and equipment can be found in our article on electrical installation inspection intervals.

Inspection Report Requirements According to ČSN 33 1500

This is where it pays to be uncompromising. When you receive an inspection report, it shouldn’t be just one paragraph of text and a stamp. According to ČSN 33 1500, the report must contain specific, clearly defined requirements. If any are missing, the report is incomplete – and during an audit or an insurance claim, this can cause you a serious problem.

Here is an overview of what the standard says must not be missing from the report:

Identification of the equipment and object – the precise designation of the premises, hall, switchboard, or equipment to which the inspection relates. No “electrical installation in the building” without further specification. It must be clear what exactly was inspected and where it is.
Type of inspection – initial or periodic. Each has a different scope and purpose; this must be stated in the report.
Scope and definition of the inspected equipment – was the entire installation inspected, or only a defined part? What remained outside the scope of the inspection? This must be described so that there is no doubt.
Date of execution and date of issue – the inspection is performed on a specific day, and the report may be issued later; both must be dated.
Name and certificate number of the certified electrical inspector – without this, it’s impossible to verify that the inspector was authorized to perform the inspection. The certificate number must be valid and must correspond to the scope of the inspected equipment.
List of performed tasks and measurements – this is absolutely crucial. The report must contain specific measured values. Insulation resistance, fault loop impedance, functionality of residual current devices (RCDs), protective conductors – values must be stated numerically, not described with the phrase “values comply.”
List of identified defects and their classification – did the inspection find deficiencies? Each defect must be described, classified by severity, and a deadline for its removal must be set.
Conclusion on the capability of safe operation – a clear statement that the equipment is, or is not, capable of safe operation. Nothing in between, no “basically yes.”
Recommended inspection interval for the next inspection – standards set maximum intervals, but the inspector can recommend a shorter interval based on the equipment’s condition. This must be stated in the report.
Signature of the certified electrical inspector – handwritten, or a recognized electronic one.

None of these items are optional. If any are missing, the report does not meet the standard’s requirements.

Inspection Report Conclusion: Capable or Incapable of Operation

The conclusion of the inspection report is the only thing most people care about. And rightly so – it’s the decisive part. You just need to understand it.

According to ČSN 33 1500, the conclusion is formulated clearly: the equipment is capable of safe operation, or is not capable of safe operation. Nothing else. If the inspector writes that the equipment is capable of operation, but there is something in the list of defects, each defect must have a deadline for its removal. Until you remove the defect, you bear responsibility for it – even if the inspection otherwise turned out well.

If the conclusion is “not capable of safe operation,” it means the inspection revealed a deficiency so serious that the equipment immediately endangers lives or property. In such a case, you must remove the defect before further operation – and a follow-up inspection is often required to verify that everything is in order.

The classification of defects is key here. The report should distinguish minor deficiencies from those that genuinely threaten safety. Not every comment means you have to shut down production – but you need to know which is which.

Poor or Invalid Inspection Report: Warning Signs

Now for the most practical part. When an inspection report lands on your desk, how do you recognize if it’s weak or incomplete? Here are warning signs that warrant immediate verification:

Measured values are missing – the report contains only a general statement “measurements were taken, values comply” without any numbers. Every measurement must have a specific value – insulation resistance in megaohms, impedance in ohms, RCD tripping times in milliseconds.
The scope of the inspection is unclear – the report says “electrical installation inspection,” but it’s impossible to tell if the entire building, one switchboard, or just part of the installation was inspected. Such a report is useless when a problem occurs – you cannot document what exactly was checked.
The type of inspection is missing – without indicating whether it’s an initial or periodic inspection, it’s unclear what criteria were used for evaluation. Each type has a different scope.
Expired or missing inspector’s certificate – if the inspector doesn’t state the certificate number, or the stated number is expired, the report is invalid. Verifying the certificate’s validity is easy – TIČR has a public register.
The conclusion is vaguely formulated – “the installation basically complies,” “fine except for minor issues,” “can be operated with reservations.” The standard requires a clear statement – either yes or no.
The inspection interval for the next inspection is missing – without it, you don’t know when to repeat the inspection. And if you don’t know, the statutory inspection interval can easily slip by.
The report is conspicuously brief – one page of text for an entire production hall is suspicious. A thorough inspection usually contains several pages of protocols, measurements, and conclusions.

Why does this matter? Two main reasons. First – during an audit, the labor inspectorate will not recognize a substandard report, and you’ll have a problem as if the inspection never took place. Second – in the event of a claim, the insurance company may examine whether you had a valid inspection. If they find the report doesn’t meet the standard, they may not honor the insurance claim. This doesn’t mean they’ll automatically deny it – but you’re giving them a strong argument not to pay. We write more about this in the article on missing inspections and insurance.

Inspection Report Template: A Quick Check Before Filing

If you’re looking for an “inspection report template,” the most important thing isn’t the graphic layout, but the content. Before filing the report in your records, go through it at least on these points:

Does the precise designation of the object, switchboard, or equipment match?
Is it clearly stated whether it was an initial or periodic inspection?
Is the scope of the inspection defined, including what was excluded?
Does the report contain specific measured values, not just general sentences?
Does the inspector have a name, certificate number, and corresponding scope listed?
Is the conclusion clear: is the equipment capable of safe operation or not?
Do defects have a description, severity, and removal deadline?
Is the inspection interval for the next inspection stated?

If the report fails on these points, address it immediately upon receipt. After several years, a missing scope, measurements, or signature is much harder to fix.

How SOHE Can Help You

You don’t have to check the standard line by line. At SOHE, we have been dedicated to electrical inspections for a long time, with certified electrical inspectors holding valid certificates and experience from facilities nationwide (whole Czech Republic).

Our inspection reports are legible and complete – they contain the scope of the inspection, measured values, identified defects, a clear conclusion, and the inspection interval for the next inspection. We perform measurements with calibrated instruments and record values so that the report is understandable to the maintenance technician, company management, and the regulatory authority.

And we can do more than just perform inspections. We monitor your upcoming inspection intervals for you, so we’ll notify you in time when a deadline is approaching. You no longer have to dig through a filing cabinet and calculate whether you’ve accidentally missed something. For a complete overview of inspection intervals for individual equipment and environments, check out our inspection plan.

Do you need an inspection that will stand up to an inspector and an insurance company? Or are you unsure if your existing report contains everything essential? Contact us via a non-binding inquiry and we’ll go through what your facility needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must be in an inspection report?

According to ČSN 33 1500, the report must contain the identification of the equipment and object, the type and scope of the inspection, the dates of execution and issue, the name and certificate number of the certified electrical inspector, a list of performed tasks and measured values, a list of identified defects with classification, a clear conclusion on the capability of safe operation, the recommended inspection interval for the next inspection, and the inspector’s signature.

How do I know if an inspector is authorized to perform inspections?

The certified electrical inspector must have a valid certificate issued by TIČR in the appropriate scope. The certificate number must be stated in the inspection report. You can verify its validity in the public TIČR register. If the inspector cannot provide a certificate, or it is expired, the report is invalid.

Is an inspection report from someone without a certificate valid?

No. An inspection of designated technical equipment may only be performed by a certified electrical inspector with a valid certificate. A report signed by someone without authorization is invalid – as if the inspection never took place. You can find more about this in the article on professional competence.

What if the inspection report finds a defect?

It depends on its severity. If the conclusion states “the equipment is capable of safe operation” with reservations, you must remove the defects by the stated deadlines, but operation can continue. If the conclusion states the equipment is not capable of safe operation, you must stop operation and remove the defects immediately – and then arrange a new inspection.

How long should I archive an inspection report?

Archive it for the entire period when it may be necessary to document the equipment’s condition – i.e., at least until the next inspection is performed, but ideally longer. During an insurance claim, court dispute, or audit, older documentation proving long-term care for the equipment can also be useful.

Sources for This Article

Obligation of the operator to ensure the safe condition and periodic inspections of designated technical equipment: Act No. 250/2021 Coll. (§ 20).
Who is allowed to perform inspections (certified electrical inspector with a valid certificate): Government Regulation No. 194/2022 Coll. (§ 8) and Act No. 250/2021 Coll. (§ 11); the certificate is issued by TIČR.
Periodic inspection intervals according to the environment: Government Regulation No. 190/2022 Coll. (Annex No. 4).

The specific requirements and content of the inspection report stem from the technical standards ČSN 33 1500 (performing inspections) and ČSN 33 2000-6 (inspection of low-voltage installations), which are not part of the Collection of Laws. Regulations and standards are subject to change.

Essentials of an Inspection Report: What It Must Contain