Electrical test equipment for use on low voltage electrical systems

This guidance note is aimed at people (including electricians, electrical contractors, test supervisors, technicians, managers, tradespeople and/or appliance retailers/repairers etc) who use electrical test equipment on low voltage electrical systems and equipment.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require those in control of all or part of an electrical system to ensure it is safe to use and maintained in a safe condition.

The Regulations permit few circumstances where it is acceptable for live working activities to be carried out on electrical equipment or systems, this includes electrical testing and fault finding. Wherever possible, all work on electrical systems should be carried out with the system dead. This includes electrical testing where dead tests are often as effective as live measurements. This document provides advice and guidance on how to achieve this.

This fourth edition includes current test equipment and references and links to further guidance have been updated. The guidance has not fundamentally changed from the previous version.