Electrical Tests when buying a property in London

So you've found your ideal home in London! whether its going to be a family home, a weekday crashpad or even a new business premises, its worth knowing what condition the electrics are in the property before you go ahead with the purchase.

Moving to a new property is an expensive time and a simple test known as a pre-purchase Electrical Certificate or Periodic Inspection Report is carried out on the property you are looking at buying and which will inform you of what condition the electrical system in the property is in.

Fulcher Edwards are London electricians who know London like the back of our hands - we've been serving our clients since 1981 - we beleive in doing a great job at a fair price. Therefore when we arrive at your property to carry out your electric test we carry out testing of 100% (where possible) of the electrical system. This way you avoid any nasty surprises following the purchase of your London property and have peace of mind that you and your home are safe.

Be aware of other electricians who only test part of the electrical system - some electricians only test 10% - make sure you as the customer know what you are paying for.

At Fulcher Edwards, we are always happy to offer some initial advice over the telephone to help understand your needs. To this end we can also carry out a more basic visual inspection of the electrical system in your prospective propery if you feel that is all you require. We always recommend an elecrical test on any property you are considering the purchase of as its best to know the state of the electrical system before you move in and ultimately will help to form the basis of your offer price.

Should any aspect of the electrical test fail, we will let you know on the certificate why it has failed and issue a recommendation sheet alongwith a free no obligation quote for your consideration.

There will be no need for you to take time out of your busy schedule to have the electrical test carried out, we can liaise directly with your estate agent with regard to the date and time to carry out the testing.

All our electrical testing is carried out in accordance to BS7671 requirements for electrical installations (IEE Wiring Regulations 17th Edition)

Electrical Safety in London

We depend on electricity at home, in the workplace and pretty much any business relies on a safe electricity supply.

Electrical work, installed and maintained correctly, mean electrical safety is one less thing for you to worry about – but if done incorrectly it can put you and your family at risk, damage your business reputation and leave you with a constant worry.

At Fulcher Edwards we take electrical safety in London very seriously – after all it is why we are here and have been for the last 30 years providing a high standard of electrical services, fire alarm and emergency lighting maintenance across all areas of London and areas within the M25.

Our customers rely on us for many different needs – as home owners, as landlords, letting agents, and business owners (industrial and commercial) they all depend on Fulcher Edwards to ensure they stay safe, legal and trusted by their own clients.

In turn they trust us – this is why we are known as London’s premier electricians.

One of our top priorities at Fulcher Edwards is to ensure our customers receive value for money – we don't carry out unnecessary work nor charge silly prices......we like our customers to return and together we can build a productive relationship – we are not 5 minute wonders, we are well established London electricians.

We are well aware in these difficult times, how much money matters, so if you are just not sure if you need to call a London electrician, take a look at these electrical safety leaflets. They're produced by the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) a UK electrical safety charity, here you can check, amongst other things, how safe your home is, take a look at a tenants electrical safety check list, a guide to buying electrical goods on line safely as well as giving you information about how the Part P regulations affect you – and why it is important to use Part P registered London electricians.

For free expert advice about electrical safety in London from London’s premier electricians Fulcher Edwards, please give us a call today 0207 922 1101

In Case of Fire.......

Would you a) Be alerted by your smoke alarm? b) I guess my smoke alarm would alert me but I don't test it or anything or c) What smoke alarm, do I need one?

Does this scenario seem a bit daft? It will if you have smoke alarms fitted in your home and you test them on a weekly basis - if this is you - then you are in the MINORITY of people who have a smoke alarm in their home AND test it regularly.

If you are a landlord or business in London - are you staying legal?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the primary legislation for all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including the common parts of blocks of flats and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Failure to comply with the FSO (Fire Safety Order) is an offence punishable by hefty fines or imprisonment.

So where do you start particularly if you are a new landlord? The good news is that you are in safe hands with Fulcher Edwards - Londons premier electricians.

We can take care of the whole fire safety requirements and legalities of your rental properties and business premises in London.
We don't come and install whats needed and then leave - we design each fire system for every client to ensure its effectiveness in the event of fire. It is then installed by an expert team of compliant, qualifed electricians to current British Standards and then tested. This is all part of our standard service.

Our service does not end here......we also offer maintenance services - you can rely on Fulcher Edwards to not only install your fire system in London but also maintain it - we're proud to continue to put our name to our installations long after the first install. We also provide fire warden training in London as well as fire extinguisher installation and maintenance in London.

We have many clients in London both big and small - and our guranteed high standard of work is ensured across each and every installation whatever the size.
We also work with many domestic customers who are keen to ensure their home safety. Fire safety goes much further than a cheap battery alarm, give us a call to discuss your requirements - Fulcher Edwards can install a great fire safety package in your own home - without all the annoying beeps that keep you up all night.

For more information about our fire safety services we offer click HERE

You will also find information about the complimentary services offered by Fulcher Edwards including emergency lighting services.

Don't compromise your safety - choose Fulcher Edwards for all your fire needs. Serving all of London and the surrounding areas.

Electrical Testing in London

Checking the electrics are safe in your premises is something that should be carried out on a regular basis.

So what is electrical testing and who should be doing it?
Electrical testing is an inspection carried out on either domestic or business premises on wiring, installations or appliances. Some of the testing is a legal requirement and other testing is optional.
Electrical testing at your home or in the workplace in London ensures the safety of you and your family, your employees, and tenants. It can be a tricky business to work out what you need and don't need doing and who can you call upon to offer sound advice and thorough testing?

Here at Fulcher Edwards, we offer a different approach to electrical testing in London. We believe in doing a job properly so when you choose us for your electrical testing needs, we will where possible test 100% of the electrical installation - beware, most electricans only test 10%!
Furthermore all our inspections meet the BS 7671 requirements for electrical installations (17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations) All testing is done to British Standards.

Before you part with your cash, make sure that you are going to be getting value for money.
So now you have found an electrican in London what type of electrical testing needs to be carried out?

We will break the testing down into bite size pieces so you know what testing might apply to you. If you are still unsure, feel free to give us a call, we are always happy to provide FREE initial advice over the telephone.

Home Owners:
*Electrical Condition Report (ECR) - Carried out every 10 years
*PAT Testing - This is optional but recommended for appliances used often in your home such as kettles, hairdryers, coffee machines and computers.
*Pre-Purchase Electrical Certificate - If you are looking to purchase a property its a good idea to know what state the electrics are in beforehand! We carry out 100% testing (where possible) or carry out a more basic visual inspection if you feel this is sufficient for your needs.
*Periodic Inpsection - 100% electrical testing of the property you are selling. Again, we can carry out a visual inspection if this is more suitable for your requirements.

Business Owners:
*Electrical Condition Report (ECR) - Carried out every 5 years, a thorough electrical inspection of the property
*PAT Testing - This is a vital part of your health and safety requirements in the workplace and includes electrical testing of all electrical items in your workplace from kettles to fans to computers! It is recommended to have PAT testing carried out on an annual basis.

LandLords/Letting Agents:
The purpose is to find out what condition the electrical installation is in before a tenant moves in. This test should be carried out every 5 years or with every change of tenancy whichever comes sooner.
More information on each type of electrical testing can be found on our electrical testing page.

More benefits of using Fulcher Edwards for your Electrical Testing Needs:

*NICEIC certiciate issued following the test for your records
*Should anything fail, we issue a recommendation sheet and a detailed quote for your consideration
*Our qualified electricans attend your property when its convenient to you
*Special rates for landlords and letting agents for 2 or more properties
*Pre-Purchase certificate inspections can be arranged via your estate agent to safe you time.

Give us a call today - we are more than happy to discuss all of your electrical testing needs and additional benefits of using Fulcher Edwards Ltd - your London Electricians.

How to find a great electrician in London

London is a busy place, people rushing here, there and everywhere. When you have a worry about electrics and your lights go out, or your electrics seem a bit dodgy, everything grinds to a halt.

Everyone depends on electricity to live an essential life – you can't make a cup of tea without electric! So who do you depend on to come and sort out your electrics when you come home from work in an evening, on a Sunday afternoon or just in the day?

The answer is right before your eyes – At Fulcher Edwards, we are the premier electricians for London – we don't just say this lightly, here are 5 good reasons why you should consider Fulcher Edwards Electricians for your next electrical project:

1) We are here to stay – we don't disappear overnight, we are well established – 30 years experience. Therefore we know many clients extremely well – we've not just got a huge portfolio of clients – our portfolio contains clients who we've worked with for many years. This highlights our commitment to high quality workmanship, electrical services and standards.

2) London never stands still – and we don't expect you to sit around wasting valuable time whilst we carry out our work. We are available round the clock – days, evenings, weekends and nights if required – you let us know when its convenient for us to come to you, not the other way around

3) No hidden charges – We don't charge extra for call outs, parking or congestion charges. We also provide free no obligation quotations. We cover the whole of London and areas within the M25

4) We're fully qualified 17th edition electricians who all work to British standards. NICEIC registered, Safe Contractor and ISO9001 accredited

5) We undertake domestic, industrial and commercial works

So what makes Fulcher Edwards different to other London electricians?

It is our commitment to our clients – flexibility, professionalism, experience and knowledge. This is demonstrated by our proven experience and getting to know our many clients over the past 30 years.

Our work is diverse – from film locations to front rooms, student accommodation to businesses we have it covered – our high standards are consistent – and maintained – across all jobs, whether small or big.

For more information about our great team here at Fulcher Edwards, our services and rates please visit us www.fulcheredwards.co.uk

Fire Alarm Maintenance is your business!

Whether you are a business owner or a landlord it is not enough to just have a fire alarm fitted, it is your duty to make sure your fire alarm system is being maintained correctly to ensure that it works as well as can be should a fire occur.

Is it the Law that I maintain my fire alarm?

Yes, The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order which came into effect in October 2005 and applies to many factors of your fire safety requirements. It is the primary legislation for all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including the common parts of blocks of flats and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Failure to comply with the FSO (Fire Safety Order) is an offence punishable by hefty fines or imprisonment.

More detailed advice and guidance on the Fire Safety Order can be found at the Department for Communities and Local Government website.

Does the fire safety law apply to me?

The law applies to you if you are:

• responsible for business premises
• an employer or self-employed with business premises
• responsible for a part of a dwelling where that part is solely used for business purposes
• a charity or voluntary organisation
• a contractor with a degree of control over any premises
• providing accommodation for paying guests

What are the duties of the Responsible Person in my Company?

The 'Responsible Person' for your premises has a duty under the Fire Safety Order to ensure that any fire alarm systems are managed efficiently and maintained in good working order by a competent person. It is important that a specialist contractor is used in the form of the ‘competent person’ as they will have fully trained and qualified engineers who will comply to British Standards, service and maintain your fire alarm, update your logbook and provide you with relevant certification for your records.

In addition to your chosen contractor carrying out your maintenance the responsible person is required to undertake periodic checks to ensure the functionality of their fire alarm system on a weekly basis. This involves checking that the control panel is on, the status is normal and that no faults are being indicated and if there is a problem contacting your chosen contractor to get the problems rectified ASAP.

How often should my fire alarm be tested?

The Fire alarm system inspection frequencies required by BS5839 are weekly, quarterly and annually. If your fire alarm system is not kept in good working order it could lead to your local fire brigade serving an enforcement notice.

How do I know if my business is complying?

If you are not sure if your business is complying with BS Standards and the FSO then your chosen contractor should be able to give you advice and provide relevant in-house training for you as well as carry out the relevant fire alarm maintenance you require.

Do you need a competent person?

If you are looking for a London based company to carry out your fire alarm maintenance then Fulcher Edwards Ltd will be happy to provide you with all the advice you need, a free quotation and most importantly make sure you comply with British standards and stay FSO compliant.

The Must Have App for 2012

The Electrical Safety Council reported towards the end of last year that a new study found that millions of people in the UK expose themselves and their families to potentially fatal accidents in the home through simple electrical blunders because of an alarming lack of knowledge about the real danger of electricity.

The ESC have since launched a free smartphone app called the Home Electrical Safety Check to help people ensure their families and homes are safe. Fulcher Edwards Ltd took a look at this app and we like it very much.

To give you an idea of how it works, there is a checklist function for each room/area of a house listed as follows;

Living room
Kitchen/utility room
Bathroom
Bedroom
Garden/shed/garage

When you click on the relevant area it brings up a list of accessories you could have in that room, for example sockets, lights and electrical appliances to name a few, so if you click on 'Bathroom' and then 'sockets' it has the following come up...

'if there are sockets in the bathroom, they must be protected by an RCD (residual current device) and a minimum of three meters away from the bath or shower to avoid water splashes'.

In each section the user gets the chance to tick the areas that may need to be resolved or get a registered electrician to look at. Each ticked item then gets put in the 'Flagged for review' section of the app for the user to return too. Anything that is highlighted with a yellow triangle advises the user to speak with a registered electrician about that particular matter.

We found the app really easy to use and informative so will be telling our domestic customers and landlord's about it. Hopefully more app's will become available in the future to help raise electrical awareness in homes and businesses as electrical safety still seems to take a back seat at times.

This free app is available for iPhone and Android phones - just go to the App Store or Android Market, search for ‘Home Electrical Safety Check’ then follow the instructions to download.

A free app that can protect you and your family? It's a no brainer really.