As the operator of a company, production hall, office, or apartment building, you bear responsibility not only for profit and operations but also for the safety of people and property. One of the key obligations that must not be underestimated is the inspection of electrical equipment. It is not just a “piece of paper” for a check – it is proof that your electrical installation does not endanger lives and that your business complies with the law. Let’s look at when an inspection is mandatory, how often it is carried out, and what exactly an inspection report must contain.
Why is an electrical inspection mandatory? The legislation is clear
The obligation to carry out electrical equipment inspections is not based on the wishes of a certified electrical inspector but on the hard facts of legislation. The cornerstone is Act No. 250/2021 Coll., on occupational safety in connection with the operation of designated technical equipment. This clearly stipulates that the operator (you as a company, homeowners’ association, or municipality) must ensure the safe condition of the equipment throughout its service life.
This act is followed by the implementing regulation Government Decree No. 190/2022 Coll., which specifically defines designated electrical equipment and sets inspection intervals. The old Decree 50/1978 Coll., which many veterans recall, has been replaced by Government Decree No. 194/2022 Coll. This regulates professional competence in electrical engineering and introduces new degree designations (e.g., electrical engineer according to §6, certified electrical inspector according to §8). If you miss deadlines or do not have a valid inspection, you expose yourself to the risk of a penalty. The Occupational Safety Act allows for a fine of up to CZK 2,000,000. Worse still, in the event of damage or injury without a valid inspection, liability falls directly on you.
Initial or periodic? Two types of inspections you need to know
In practice, you will encounter two basic types of inspections. The difference between them is fundamental, and they cannot be interchanged.
- Initial inspection: Always carried out before the first commissioning of new electrical equipment, after its complete reconstruction, or after a repair that could have affected safety. Without a successful initial inspection, you should not switch on the equipment at all.
- Periodic inspection: Serves to verify that the equipment has not lost its safety level over time. Wear and tear, aging insulation, or interventions in the installation can reduce safety.
How often are inspections carried out? It depends on the environment
The universal answer “once every 5 years” is misleading and can cost you not only money but also safety. Periodic inspection intervals are primarily governed by the standard ČSN 33 1500 and the set of standards ČSN 33 2000-6. The key factor is the influence of the environment.
- Offices, standard commercial premises without hazards: Here we usually encounter a standard interval of 5 years.
- Production halls, workshops, laundries, higher-risk premises: Here the interval is shortened. Depending on humidity, dust, chemical influences, or mechanical stress, intervals can be 2 years or even shorter.
- Lightning protection systems (LPS): Rules according to the set of standards ČSN EN 62305 ed. 2 apply here. For buildings with a higher protection class (LPL I and II), a complete inspection is required every 2 years; for lower classes (LPL III and IV), every 4 years. Do not forget the annual visual inspections, which are always mandatory.
- Appliances and hand tools: Inspection and testing intervals during use are stipulated by ČSN 33 1600 ed. 2. Here, the frequency depends on whether the appliance is hand-held, portable, or stationary, and in what environment it is used.
The exact interval for your specific building should always be determined by a professionally qualified certified electrical inspector based on an examination and applicable standards.
What does an inspection report contain and why is it crucial for you?
An inspection report is not just a piece of paper for a file. It is an official technical document proving the fulfillment of legal obligations. In the event of an insurance claim or injury, it will be the first thing investigators and the insurance company are interested in. Every inspection report must contain:
- Identification data: Precise identification of the operator and the building.
- Scope of inspection: Clear definition of what was inspected (entire building, switchboard, machine).
- List of used measuring instruments and their verification.
- List of documents: Project documentation, previous inspection reports, standards.
- Measured values and test results: Insulation resistances, loop impedance, transition resistances, functionality of residual current devices (RCDs), etc.
- Inspection conclusion: An unambiguous statement on whether the equipment is “fit for safe operation” or “unfit”.
- List of defects: If the inspector finds deficiencies, they must be clearly described and classified by severity (e.g., safety-threatening defects require immediate shutdown).
- Date of execution and validity, and the signature of the certified electrical inspector with a stamp imprint and certificate number according to Government Decree No. 194/2022 Coll.
Employer’s responsibility and sanctions
As a managing director, operator, or building manager, you have an irreplaceable responsibility. Your duty is not only to order the inspection but also to ensure the rectification of any defects within the specified deadline. If the certified electrical inspector designates the equipment as unfit, you must not operate it. Ignoring defects from the inspection report is considered gross negligence in the event of an accident.
Overall occupational health & safety (OHS) documentation is closely related to inspections. If you are looking for a comprehensive solution, it pays to have OHS for companies set up so that inspections are not an isolated event but part of the risk prevention system.
One supplier for electrical and safety
At SOHE s.r.o., we advocate the approach that an inspection should not be a scarecrow but clear proof that you have everything in order. Whether you need an electrical installation inspection in a production hall, office building, or apartment building, we do the job as if we were doing it for ourselves. The advantage for you is that under one roof, you can handle not only inspections of electrical systems, lightning protection systems, and appliances but also fire safety and employee training. This eliminates the complexity of dealing with multiple suppliers and the transfer of responsibility.
Indicative prices depend on the scope. A smaller electrical installation inspection in a facility starts indicatively from CZK 2,500; appliance (PAT) testing ranges around CZK 80–140 per piece. We will always give you the exact price after a no-obligation consultation.
Do not leave the safety of your people and property to chance. Contact us at info@sohe.cz or by phone at +420 724 689 762. Together, we will go through what your building needs and set deadlines so you can be sure you are in compliance with the law.