“Failed inspection” does not automatically mean shutting down the entire premises. At the same time, simply filing the report away and waiting for the next periodic inspection is not enough.
First, determine what the electrical inspection technician actually assessed. The conclusion may apply to the entire electrical installation, one distribution board, selected circuits, or a single piece of equipment. What matters is the defined inspection scope and the written assessment of whether the equipment is safe to operate.
The specific rules of zákon č. 250/2021 Sb. and nařízení vlády č. 190/2022 Sb. apply to designated electrical equipment. For other electrical equipment, its applicable legal framework, the manufacturer’s documentation, technical standards, and risk assessment must be taken into account.
What to do that same day
Start with the conclusion of the inspection report, not the first measured value.
- Identify the distribution board, circuit, or equipment covered by the failed inspection conclusion.
- Determine whether the report describes a condition posing an immediate threat to safety.
- Ask the electrical inspection technician to clarify any ambiguous conclusion.
- Assign a responsible person, deadline, and required evidence of remediation to each defect.
- Until the defect is resolved, record the operational measure adopted and inform the affected workers.
Under § 7 odst. 8 nařízení vlády č. 190/2022 Sb., if a condition posing an immediate threat to occupational or operational safety is identified, the designated electrical equipment must immediately be disconnected from its power source and secured against unintended reconnection. If disconnection is not possible, repairs must be arranged without undue delay.
This measure applies to the affected equipment. A professionally competent person should determine, based on the wiring and the actual risk, whether one circuit can be isolated safely or a larger part of the installation must be shut down. Employees should not improvise inside an open distribution board or repeatedly reset a tripped protective device.
How to read a failed inspection conclusion
Under § 10 nařízení vlády č. 190/2022 Sb., an inspection report must include, among other things, the defined scope, an overview of the work performed, the supporting documents used, measured values, a list of identified defects, and a written assessment of whether the equipment is safe to operate. If it is not safe to operate, the conclusion must state the reasons.
Check the report in particular for:
- Inspection scope: whether the technician assessed the entire premises, a specific distribution board, selected circuits, or a separate piece of equipment.
- Precise identification of defects: a general comment such as “I recommend redoing this” does not provide the same basis as a clearly described defect linked to a specific location.
- Test and measurement results: for example, protective conductor continuity, fault-loop impedance, insulation resistance, or residual-current device operation.
- Reasons for the conclusion: it must be clear which findings prevent safe operation and which parts they concern.
- Inspection limitations: inaccessible areas or missing documentation may reduce the scope of verification. They do not, in themselves, confirm the safety of the uninspected part.
An inspection report records the condition at the time of the inspection. It is neither a repair quotation nor confirmation that every comment in the report requires the same response.
Defects, recommendations, and limitations are not the same
The legislation does not prescribe a uniform colour-coded defect scale or a general 30-day deadline for correcting defects. The decisive factors are the condition described, the associated risk, and the regulatory regime applicable to the specific equipment.
| Entry in the report | What needs to be established | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment is not safe to operate | Which part is covered by the conclusion and which defects support it | Define the affected part and establish safety measures |
| The condition poses an immediate threat to safety | Whether the equipment or circuit can be isolated safely | Proceed under § 7 odst. 8 nařízení vlády č. 190/2022 Sb. |
| Specific technical defect | What risk it creates and whether it affects other circuits | Arrange diagnostics and repair, referring to the defect number |
| Recommendation | Whether it highlights an emerging risk, limited operating margin, or worthwhile improvement | Request clarification and record the decision |
| Limitation of the inspection scope | Which part was not inspected, measured, or supported by documentation | Provide access or documentation, or arrange follow-up verification |
If anything is unclear, ask the electrical inspection technician for written clarification. Do not rewrite the original report, however: it remains evidence of the condition identified on a particular date.
Who manages the remediation
The electrical inspection technician assesses the technical condition, performs visual inspections, tests, and measurements, and formulates the conclusion. The technician does not manage the shutdown, budget, or arrangements for alternative operations on behalf of the business.
For designated electrical equipment, § 8 písm. d) nařízení vlády č. 190/2022 Sb. requires the operator to appoint in writing a person responsible for the electrical equipment. This person coordinates safe operation, technical measures, and the sequencing of repairs. Their role is discussed in greater detail in Person Responsible for Electrical Equipment and Person in Charge of Work.
A practical division of responsibilities may look like this:
- company management approves operational restrictions, deadlines, and the required resources;
- the person responsible for the electrical equipment turns the findings into a technical plan;
- a professionally competent contractor carries out diagnostics and repairs;
- the electrical inspection technician performs an inspection where required by the nature and scope of the work;
- the operator retains the reports, measurement results, and records showing that defects have been corrected.
In rented premises, separate the question of who pays from the need to ensure safety. The lease may allocate costs between the owner and tenant, but a payment dispute should not delay measures needed to mitigate the identified risk.
Transfer the defects to a working table
Each row should correspond to one specific defect in the inspection report. A general order for “electrical repairs” makes it difficult to verify whether every item has been resolved.
| Finding | Risk and operational measure | Task owner | Closure evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| A cover is missing and live parts are accessible | Risk of contact; a professionally competent person determines the extent of disconnection | Responsible person and electrician | Job sheet, photographs, and post-repair check |
| Protective conductor is broken | The protective function has not been demonstrated; the affected circuit is not used until verified | Electrician | Repair record and continuity measurement result |
| Fault-loop impedance is unsatisfactory | The required disconnection in the event of a fault may not be assured | Electrician | Post-repair measurement result |
| Residual-current device failed the test | The device, wiring, and affected circuit must be checked | Electrician | Type of installed device and functional test results |
| Protective device is unsuitable for the cable | There is a risk of overload or inadequate disconnection; any change requires an assessment of the entire circuit | Responsible person, contractor, and, depending on the scope, designer | Technical documentation, updated diagram, and measurements |
| Distribution board labelling does not match the actual wiring | The wrong circuit may be switched off during a fault or maintenance | Responsible person and electrician | New labelling, amended diagram, and handover record |
Add the defect number, the date when the restriction was introduced, the repair deadline, and the status “open–repaired–verified” to your own table. Record the technical repair separately from the evidence used to verify its effectiveness.
The method for recording identified and corrected defects should also form part of the inspection, maintenance, and testing rules. A practical structure for this document is described in Inspection, Maintenance and Testing Rules under NV č. 190/2022 Sb..
In what order should defects be addressed?
Prioritise repairs according to risk and technical dependencies:
- First, make safe any condition posing an immediate threat to safety.
- Then address common protective functions whose failure may affect multiple circuits.
- Separate technical defects from missing or outdated documentation.
- Plan the shutdown and safe alternative operations.
- After the repair, verify the affected protective function using the appropriate test or measurement.
- Update the documentation and defect records.
A temporary power supply must not merely move the problem elsewhere. Before using an extension cable or temporary distribution system, assess the load, protective devices, environmental conditions, mechanical protection, and the risk of tripping over or damaging the cable.
If you need to coordinate the inspection, the scope of repairs, and subsequent verification, this can be handled as part of our electrical inspection service. Before placing an order, send the complete inspection report, available diagrams, photographs of the marked locations, and information about which parts of the operation can be shut down.
What to require from the repair contractor
Link the work order to the defect numbers in the inspection report. For each item, require a description of the work performed and the method used to verify the result.
Depending on the nature of the work, the remediation documentation may include:
- an order or job sheet listing the defect numbers;
- the repair date and identification of the contractor;
- a description of the work performed;
- model or type designations of replaced components;
- measurement and functional test results;
- an updated diagram or circuit list;
- photographs taken before and after the repair;
- a follow-up inspection report, where appropriate for the scope of the work.
An invoice documents the commercial service provided. By itself, however, it does not prove that the correct circuit was repaired, the protective function was restored, and the result was verified.
When is another inspection required after repairs?
A new inspection of the entire premises is not automatically required after every minor repair. However, a general confirmation stating “repaired” is not sufficient either.
Nařízení vlády č. 190/2022 Sb. distinguishes between initial, periodic, and extraordinary inspections. The required type and scope of verification depend on what was changed and whether the work could have affected the equipment’s safety.
An inspection should be addressed particularly when a repair or alteration has affected parameters relating to protection against electric shock, protective devices, lightning protection characteristics, or other safety functions. Following the reconstruction of designated technical equipment, testing and the initial inspection are governed by § 20 odst. 6 zákona č. 250/2021 Sb.
For a straightforward replacement that does not change any parameters, a repair record accompanied by the appropriate check, functional test, or measurement may be sufficient, depending on the type of equipment. Agree on the scope of verification with the electrical inspection technician and repair contractor in advance. For building alterations, see also Electrical Inspection After Renovation: When Is an Initial Inspection Required?.
Frequently asked questions
Does the entire business have to shut down after a failed inspection?
Not automatically. It depends on the inspection scope, the defects described, and whether the affected circuit or equipment can be isolated safely. For designated electrical equipment, a condition posing an immediate threat to safety is handled under § 7 odst. 8 nařízení vlády č. 190/2022 Sb.
Is there a general 30-day deadline for correcting defects?
There is no general 30-day deadline for all defects identified during an inspection. The deadline depends on the severity of the finding, the measure adopted, and the regulatory regime applicable to the equipment. A condition posing an immediate threat to safety is subject to the specific procedure described above.
Is an electrician’s invoice sufficient?
An invoice alone does not confirm that the protective function has been restored. The records should identify the specific defect and repair and, depending on the nature of the work, include the result of a measurement, test, or inspection.
Must the entire installation be inspected again?
The scope is determined by the repaired part and the impact of the work on the equipment’s safety characteristics. In some cases, verification of the affected circuit is sufficient; in others, a broader inspection is appropriate. After reconstruction, § 20 odst. 6 zákona č. 250/2021 Sb. must be taken into account.
Who handles a defect in rented premises?
The lease may determine who pays for the repair. At the same time, the handover documentation, contracts, and actual operation must be considered to establish who has operational responsibility for the equipment. Safety measures should not wait until a dispute over costs has been resolved.
Sources for this article
- Electrical inspections – a service provided by SOHE.
- How to Read an Electrical Inspection Report – an explanation of the scope, conclusion, measurements, and defect list.
- Required Contents of an Inspection Report – an overview of the information that should be checked in the report.
- Operating Documentation for Electrical Equipment – links between inspections, repairs, and defect records.
- Zákon č. 250/2021 Sb. – safe operation of designated technical equipment and professional competence.
- Nařízení vlády č. 190/2022 Sb. – designated electrical equipment, its operation, inspections, and the contents of an inspection report.
This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. The specific arrangements for remediation, repairs, and subsequent verification must reflect the actual operation, the manufacturer’s documentation, the conditions of use, and the risk assessment.
Do you need help assessing a failed inspection report and determining the scope of further verification? See our electrical inspection service or send a no-obligation enquiry. You can also send the inspection report and available documentation to info@sohe.cz.