07730 498814hardielectrical@outlook.com Mon–Fri 8am–5pmLocks Heath, Southampton HomeAboutServicesElectrical services Domestic and commercial work across Locks Heath, Southampton and Fareham, tested and certified as standard. View all electrical services - House rewiresFull and partial rewires carried out cleanly, with certification issued and building control notified on completion. - EV charger installationOZEV registered installs for home and commercial parking, sized correctly to your supply. - Consumer unit replacementsModern RCBO boards fitted and tested, bringing older installations up to current standards. - EICRsElectrical installation condition reports for homeowners, landlords and commercial premises. - LED lighting installsInterior lighting designed and installed to lift a room and cut running costs. - Testing & inspectionCity & Guilds 2391-52 qualified inspection and testing, with clear written results. - Fault findingTripping circuits and intermittent faults traced methodically and put right first time. - Solar & battery storageSolar PV panels and home batteries wired in safely, tested and certified on completion. AreasAreas we cover Eight towns and villages across South Hampshire and the Solent, all from our Locks Heath base. See every area we cover - Electrician in Locks Heath - Electrician in Warsash - Electrician in Hedge End - Electrician in Southampton - Electrician in Fareham - Electrician in Titchfield - Electrician in Park Gate - Electrician in Whiteley Our WorkReviewsContactRequest an Estimate Home/Services # Electrical testingand inspection acrossLocks Heath & Southampton Whether it's a single circuit, a new installation, or a full periodic check, testing tells you what's actually happening inside the wiring, carried out with calibrated equipment and reported clearly. Request an estimate07730 498814 Rated 5.0 on Google · 12+ years in the trade · NAPIT registered City & Guilds 2391-52 Qualified specifically in inspection and testing NAPIT registered Testing and certification to current wiring regulations £5m / £10m cover Public and employer's liability insurance in place 5.0 on Google Rated by clients across South Hampshire 12+ years in the trade Founded 2021 by Director Andrew Hardiman Overview ## What testing and inspection covers Testing and inspection is the process of checking an electrical installation, or a specific part of it, against current wiring regulations using both a visual check and instrument testing. It sits behind almost every other piece of electrical work: new circuits get tested before being signed off, existing installations get periodically inspected, and specific circuits get tested when something needs confirming. It's needed after any new installation or alteration, as part of a periodic check on an existing property, when a fault is suspected but not yet confirmed, or when a landlord, business, or homeowner needs documented evidence that an installation meets current standards. It differs from an EICR in scope: testing and inspection can be a targeted check on part of an installation, whereas an EICR is a full condition report, but both rely on the same underlying test procedures. The value of testing lies in what it reveals that a visual check alone can't: insulation resistance, loop impedance, RCD trip times, and continuity of protective conductors are all things you can't see by looking, but they determine whether the installation will actually protect people and property under fault conditions. - ### Who it's for Homeowners, landlords, and businesses needing confirmation that a circuit or installation meets current standards. - ### When it's needed After new work, at periodic intervals, when investigating a suspected issue, or for compliance evidence. - ### What you get Test results and, where appropriate, a certificate, EIC, EICR, or minor works, matching the scope of work. - ### Why it matters Instrument testing catches faults that are invisible to a visual inspection alone. What happens if it is left ## What testing catches that a look-over won't A visual inspection tells you a lot, but several of the most important safety measures in an installation can only be confirmed by testing with calibrated instruments. ### RCDs that don't trip correctly An RCD can look correctly fitted yet fail to trip within the required time, leaving a shock risk undetected until tested. ### High earth fault loop impedance If this value is too high, a fault won't clear quickly enough to protect against shock or fire. ### Insulation breakdown Degraded cable insulation can allow current to leak between conductors or to earth without any visible sign. ### Incorrect polarity Reversed polarity on a circuit can leave supposedly isolated parts of the circuit live even when a switch is off. ### Common mistakes we are called out to fix - Relying on a visual check alone when a fault or compliance question needs an instrument test. - Testing a circuit in isolation without considering how it interacts with the rest of the installation. - Using uncalibrated or unsuitable test equipment. - Skipping documentation of results, leaving no record for future reference. Our process ## How we approach testing and inspection The scope varies by job, but the underlying method is consistent and thorough. - 01 ### Confirm the scope We agree whether it's a single circuit, a new installation, or a wider periodic check, and what certificate or record is needed. - 02 ### Visual inspection We check accessible wiring, connections, and protective devices for condition and compliance. - 03 ### Dead testing With the supply isolated, we test continuity, insulation resistance, and polarity. - 04 ### Live testing With the supply restored, we test earth fault loop impedance and RCD operation under load. - 05 ### Document and certify Results are recorded and the appropriate certificate, EIC, EICR, or minor works, issued, with building control notified directly where the work is notifiable. What you get ## What proper testing gives you ### Speed We can often test a single circuit or small installation in one visit. ### Safety Instrument testing confirms protective measures are actually working, not just present. ### Longevity Catching insulation or connection issues early prevents them developing into bigger faults. ### Cost clarity Testing is priced individually once the scope is agreed, with a written quote provided upfront. ### Reliability Calibrated equipment and a consistent method give results you can rely on. ### Peace of mind Documented results and the right certificate give you evidence the installation meets current standards. In detail ## The detail behind testing and inspection ### Dead testing versus live testing Dead testing is carried out with the circuit isolated from the supply and covers continuity of protective conductors, insulation resistance between live conductors and earth, and polarity, confirming conductors are connected the right way round. These tests have to be done with the supply off, because they'd give false or dangerous results otherwise. Live testing follows once the supply is safely restored, and covers earth fault loop impedance at relevant points and RCD operation, including trip times under test current. Together, dead and live testing build a complete picture of whether the circuit will behave safely under both normal and fault conditions. ### Equipment and calibration Accurate results depend on properly calibrated test instruments; equipment drifts out of calibration over time and use, so it needs regular checking against a known standard. We use instruments appropriate to each test being carried out, since insulation resistance testing, loop impedance testing, and RCD testing all use different measurement principles and equipment settings. ### New installations versus periodic checks Testing on a new installation or alteration confirms the work has been done correctly before it's signed off with an EIC or minor works certificate, and it's carried out as a matter of course on every job we complete, not as an optional extra. Periodic testing, by contrast, checks how an existing installation has held up over time and is usually carried out as part of a wider EICR rather than in isolation, though targeted circuit testing on request is available where a specific concern has been raised. ### Residential and commercial scope Domestic testing typically covers a single consumer unit and its circuits, whereas commercial premises may have multiple distribution boards and a wider range of circuit types, meaning the time and approach needed are assessed on site. In both settings, results are documented and the correct certificate issued to match the work carried out. Recent work ## Photographs from jobs we have completed Scroll across to see more of our completed work. - - - - - - - Common questions ## Answers before you get in touch How much does testing and inspection cost?It's priced individually depending on the scope: a single circuit test is a different job to a full periodic inspection, and we confirm everything with a written quote first. How long does testing take?A single circuit can often be tested in a short visit, while a wider periodic check takes longer; we'll give you a realistic estimate once we know the scope. What does the testing process actually involve?We carry out a visual inspection, then dead testing with the circuit isolated, followed by live testing with the supply restored, before documenting the results. What certificate will I get?Depending on the job, you'll receive an EIC for new work, an EICR for a full condition check, or a minor works certificate for smaller alterations. How often should testing be carried out?New work is tested as part of the job itself; existing installations are typically checked periodically, commonly every few years, depending on property type and use. What are your working hours?We work Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, call 07730 498814 or send us the details online. Do you carry out testing across the wider Southampton area?Yes, as well as Locks Heath, we cover Warsash, Hedge End, Southampton, Fareham, Titchfield, Park Gate and Whiteley. Can you test a single circuit without inspecting the whole installation?Yes, targeted testing on a specific circuit is possible where that's all that's needed, we'll agree the scope with you before booking anything in. Related services ## Other work we take on ### EICRs View service ### Fault finding View service ### Consumer unit replacements View service Where we work ## Covering South Hampshire - Locks Heath - Warsash - Hedge End - Southampton - Fareham - Titchfield - Park Gate - WhiteleySee every area our electricians cover Next step ## Book testing and inspection Tell us what needs testing and we'll come back with a written quote, call 07730 498814 or get in touch online. 07730 498814hardielectrical@outlook.com Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm NAPIT registered · £5m public liability · £10m employer’s liability NAPIT and OZEV registered electrical contractor based in Locks Heath, serving homeowners and businesses across South Hampshire. Andrew Hardiman, Director ### Services - House rewires - EV charger installation - Consumer unit replacements - EICRs - LED lighting installs - Testing & inspection - Fault finding - Solar & battery storage ### Areas covered - Electrician in Locks Heath - Electrician in Warsash - Electrician in Hedge End - Electrician in Southampton - Electrician in Fareham - Electrician in Titchfield - Electrician in Park Gate - Electrician in WhiteleyAnd surrounding areas. ### Contact - 07730 498814 - hardielectrical@outlook.com - 44 Celandine AvenueLocks HeathSouthamptonSO31 6XA - Monday to Friday, 8am–5pmInstagramCheckatradeGoogle profile © 2026 Hardi Electrical LTD. All rights reserved. AboutOur workReviewsContactPrivacy policyTerms & conditionsCookie policy£5m public liability · £10m employer's liability Call nowGet an estimate