asked the Minister for Transport and Power if there is any obligation, legal or otherwise, on the ESB to inspect the wiring systems of houses or other premises before installing electricity; and if the ESB have any service for carrying out periodic inspections of which consumers could avail themselves, if necessary.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Inspection of Electric Wiring.
3.
The Electricity Supply Board are under no obligation to inspect the wiring systems of houses or other premises. The board have no responsibility for testing a consumer's installation or for any loss or damage which may be occasioned by fire or by an accident arising from the state of the installation. The responsibility for all wiring on the consumer's side of the board's main fuse rests solely between him and the electrical contractor who installs the wiring. The board is not, and cannot in practice, be responsible for the safety of electrical work carried out by contractors or individuals.
It will be appreciated that the board could not satisfy themselves that there would be no danger in relation to an installation unless they could also ensure that the installation would never be loaded beyond the capacity which it was designed to carry. This would not, of course, be practicable.
The board's general conditions relating to supply provide, however, that an installation will be passed before being connected. The passing of an installation by the board simply means that it has complied with the required insulation tests and by no means implies that the work has been done in the best possible manner. Apart from the required insulation tests, the board naturally ensure that installations which would obviously be unsafe for the use intended are not connected to their supply.
In relation to factories and workshops, regulations are in force in regard to the use of electricity in those premises. Inspectors of the Department of Labour carry out inspections for the enforcement of these regulations.
With regard to premises other than factories and workshops, there is provision under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, for the making of regulations. I understand that An Foras Forbartha have drafted regulations for electrical installations in such premises, which have been submitted to the Minister for Local Government. I understand that these regulations cover all necessary safety precautions to be observed for new electrical installations in premises other than factories and workshops and that non-compliance with the regulations, when they come into force, will be an offence liable to prosecution.
The Electricity Supply Board, if requested to do so, will inspect wiring installations at the consumer's expense.