Off topic but my business needs to have an electrical inspection for insurance/legal reasons, now I've never been involved in such an instance before and need some advice, What will they be looking at and for, is just the installation or is it appliances equipment as well. What should it cost me and how long will it take. Can I expect a big bill for sorting any problems etc out. Its an industrial unit 3000 sq feet with single and 3 phase supplies, sockets etc are original circuitry but lights have been replaced and all 3 phase wiring internally has been added in the last 15 years etc. I know its a bit vague but someone must have experience of such inspections or may even do them for a living, look forward to your replies

I'd expect a periodic inspection report to take at least a days work for such an installation so I'd budget £200-£300 for the report. On an installation that old there is bound to be a lot of stuff not up to current regs but only dangerous stuff needs to be rectified right away.

Perhaps this link will be of assistance

http://www.pat-testing.info/

hope this helps

Well it#ll be a lot more than 2-3 hundred for the actual test. A report will give you an idea of what the installation needs to make it up to current standards but is not in itself a gaurantee of how SAFE the installation is. For that the installation needs to be taken apart to a certain extent and various but not all circuits will be tested by meter. There are also "LIVE" tests to be carried out. It is quite a big job and foer most buisinesses and bit of upheaval is inevitable unless it's done during weekends or shutdowns (more expense at time/half double time rates).
Only a percentage of the total installation will probably be test as far as my understanding goes. I have also heard of companies that bring in infra red heat camers to look for "hotspots" in the cabling that can show up potntial problems/bad connections/cable overloads.
This testing thing is coming to us all. Just another big brother is watching you scenario. Once done every household/business will have an electrical test certificate with all circuits detailed etc and need periodic inspection. If you have a fire and there are circuits etc not on your certificate then it'll be no insurance payout I reckon.(this is all in the future at present IMHO)

shop around a bit and phone a few specialist 'electrical testing' companies for prices first rather than just going to a general electrical installation company. the periodic testing none now should be done to the latest 17th eddition IIE wiring regulations, however as your genetal electrical installation was installed 15years ago it was only installed to the 16th eddition regs, some companies may not fully explain this as the new regs are not generally retrospective with the final report having 4 levels of faults to be rectified from imediate to not complying with current standards, you are not required to rectify all faults. Expect the test to cause disruption as isolation of circuits will be required and remedial work to Earthing and bonding especially if lots of fixed equipment.