Periodic inspection
Electrical Inspection and Report
An electrical inspection is a test of every circuit by a Registered Electrical Contractor, written up as a Periodic Inspection Report. It costs €150 to €350 for most houses and takes 2 to 4 hours.
What's tested, what the four codes mean, and when it's worth doing.
Free, no obligation. One registered electrician prices it, not five.
- €150 to €350for most houses
- 2 to 4 hourson site
- About every 5 yearsSafe Electric's advice for a home
- Codes 1 to 4from urgent to not to the current rules
What it is
A report, not a certificate
A Periodic Inspection Report (PIR) records the condition of the wiring you have, good or bad. It isn't a completion certificate: that's for new work. Testing and reporting on an existing installation in a home is restricted work, so it has to be a Registered Electrical Contractor. You get the original PIR and the Test Record Sheet with the measured values.
The electrician tests the insulation of every circuit, the earthing and bonding, the RCDs, and the board, and looks at sockets, switches and fittings for damage or overheating.
The codes
What the four codes mean
| Code | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Requires urgent attention | A danger now. Fix before anything else |
| 2 | Requires improvement | Plan the work soon |
| 3 | Requires some attention | Worth doing when you can |
| 4 | Doesn't comply with the current national wiring rules | Not necessarily unsafe |
Code 4 confuses people. Safe Electric is clear that not meeting the current rules (I.S. 10101, in force since 2022) doesn't by itself mean an installation is unsafe. A sound 1990s installation can show several code 4 items. Where the electrician finds a serious defect, they also issue a Notice of Potential Hazard.
Landlords
Renting out a house?
The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 require a landlord to keep the electricity installation, including the fuse board, in good repair and safe working order. They don't name a certificate or set an interval, but a recent Periodic Inspection Report is the plain way to show you've met that duty.
Services
Rewiring jobs we take requests for
Every job is done and certified by a Safe Electric registered electrician.
Full rewireEvery circuit replaced, a new board, tested and certified. €7,000 to €14,500 for a 3-bed house.More on full rewire →
Partial rewireA kitchen, an extension or a few circuits, when the rest tests sound. €1,200 to €4,000+.More on partial rewire →
Fuse board upgradeA new consumer unit with RCD protection. €350 to €1,400.More on fuse board upgrade →
Rewiring an old houseRubber cable, ceramic fuses and period ceilings: what changes in an older house.More on rewiring an old house →CertYour completion certificateSafe Electric certOnly a Registered Electrical Contractor can issue it. Keep it with the deeds.More on Safe Electric cert →RCDThe test button that mattersRCD protectionWhat an RCD does, why old boards don't have one, and how to test it.More on RCD protection →Counties
House rewiring in every county
One registered electrician per county. Pick yours for local housing figures, prices and the council grants.
- Carlow38% of homes built before 1981
- Cavan35% of homes built before 1981
- Clare40% of homes built before 1981
- Cork44% of homes built before 1981
- Donegal33% of homes built before 1981
- Dublin49% of homes built before 1981
- Galway33% of homes built before 1981
- Kerry40% of homes built before 1981
- Kildare29% of homes built before 1981
- Kilkenny41% of homes built before 1981
- Laois33% of homes built before 1981
- Leitrim37% of homes built before 1981
- Limerick44% of homes built before 1981
- Longford37% of homes built before 1981
- Louth42% of homes built before 1981
- Mayo39% of homes built before 1981
- Meath31% of homes built before 1981
- Monaghan43% of homes built before 1981
- Offaly42% of homes built before 1981
- Roscommon39% of homes built before 1981
- Sligo39% of homes built before 1981
- Tipperary47% of homes built before 1981
- Waterford42% of homes built before 1981
- Westmeath39% of homes built before 1981
- Wexford35% of homes built before 1981
- Wicklow42% of homes built before 1981
Guides
Rewiring guides
- House rewire costBy size of home: €7,000 to €14,500 for a 3-bed house.
- Signs you need a rewireThe warning signs, and which ones are urgent.
- Partial rewireWhen part of the house is enough: €1,200 to €4,000+.
- How long a rewire takes4 to 10 days for a 3-bed house.
- Living in the house during a rewireWhat the week is like, room by room.
- The Safe Electric certWhy only a registered electrician can sign it off.
- Fuse board upgradeA new consumer unit: €350 to €1,400.
- RCD protectionWhat an RCD does, and how to test yours.
Questions
Questions people ask
How much does an electrical inspection cost in Ireland?
€150 to €350 for most houses, and up to €600 for a big house with more than one board.
How often should a house be inspected?
Safe Electric's advice is about every five years for a home, and sooner if anything changes, like fuses blowing or lights flickering.
Is a Periodic Inspection Report a certificate?
No. It's a report on the condition of the wiring. A completion certificate is for new work.
Does a code 4 mean my wiring is dangerous?
No. It means that item doesn't meet the current wiring rules, which isn't the same as unsafe.
Do I need an inspection to sell a house?
There's no law that says so, but many buyers and their solicitors ask. See buying or selling.
Find out what your rewire costs
Six taps for our price range, then a written price from one Safe Electric registered electrician who covers your county. Free, no obligation.