In the current world, we are surrounded by electrical equipment and devices. It would be extremely difficult for one can go without electricity in their day to day life. From a small shaving devices to now rechargeable cars, electricity and the components that carry the electric currents are everywhere. From switches, to fuses, to circuit breakers, you name it, a home or building will be designed with a circuit containing these components to make everything work. It is important that these components are safe to remain in your working environment. This is where testing and tagging comes into play.
The basic objective of testing and tagging is to determine whether your equipment is safe for personal or professional use. The types of equipment are inspected visually first, as well as being checked for any damage, or any components missing. There are some electrical tests done on the system such as checking the earthing continuity, checking the insulation of the system and even the polarity, which determines the passing or failure of an item.
Electrical testing and tagging is not a child’s play and requires expert help to identify and detect the problems. Here are a few cases when you should be prompted to call the professionals for appliance testing and tagging.
1. Short Circuit
One of the most common problems in the workplace environment or our homes is losing power due to a short circuit. A short circuit occurs when two bare, non-insulated wires come into contact with one another and blow up the fuse. At this point in time, people will simply turn the equipment back on. If this fails, and the area for this short circuit cannot be determined, the problem becomes redundant, and it indicates that a test and tagging professional needs to have a look.
2. New Appliance or Circuit
It is not always the case that once a circuit has been formed, and any new items have been added, the load increases. This increase in load can cause electrical items to become damaged, both internally or externally. In cases where a new circuit or line is added to a house, workplace or building, or an appliance is added to the circuit, whether it be existing or new, testing and tagging becomes mandatory. This testing is mostly visual and focuses upon checking defects in the insulation or wiring. This simple visual inspection is then followed by an electrical test and tagging process and your new appliance or circuit safe and ready to use.
3. Construction and Demolition
In the case of a building being under construction or in demolition stages, then it is highly recommended to get the testing and tagging of the circuit done every 3 months. Both construction and demolition of sites involve activities that can damage the electrical circuit and chances of electrical leakage and current flow-out increase. This makes the site a risk zone for the employees and visitors, therefore, it is recommended to call the professionals and get the testing and tagging done.
4. Regular Testing
Inspection testing and tagging are mandatory requirements for workplaces. In Australia and New Zealand, there is a separate standard for electrical testing and tagging. AS/NZS 3760:2022 is the standard that is followed and is designed specifically to reduce any hazard that can come into play due to electrical appliances. The standard mentions the specific practices that must be followed to abide by the regulation. Hiring a professional will serve to be a good idea for testing and tagging as per the regulatory norms.
The very basic ideology of testing and tagging is to keep the people around safe, and at the same time maintaining the records of the assessment that was done. Hiring a professional will help you investigate the points of where a problem can arise, or what could have been the reasons for some past faults. Hiring professionals for testing and tagging will also help you know what new items are available to make your business more efficient. These professionals and their tools will make things easier for you to get the testing and tagging completed for your electrical appliances.