Electrical Inspection in a Commercial Building: What Does the Technician Actually Check?
An inspection report with no defects does not necessarily mean that your electrical installation is guaranteed to be safe for several years to come. The scope of the inspection—what the technician actually measures and checks—as well as the interval until the next inspection, varies depending on the type of operation, the environment, and the equipment classification—and the operator of a commercial building should know exactly what to expect and what not to expect from the inspection.
An inspection of electrical equipment is not the same as a service check or a functional test. It is a professional activity performed in accordance with Act No. 250/2021 Coll., on occupational safety in connection with the operation of designated technical equipment, and the related Government Regulation No. 190/2022 Coll. on designated technical electrical equipment. The result is an inspection report that confirms whether the equipment is safe for continued operation at the time of the inspection. In commercial buildings—including offices, business premises, manufacturing facilities, and retail spaces—electrical installations are typically classified as designated technical equipment, which entails specific obligations regarding the frequency and scope of inspections.
If you need to get a handle on the basic concepts first, check out these articles Inspection, check, technical inspection, and technical test—what’s the difference? or Who is responsible for inspections at the company? – This article focuses specifically on electrical inspections in commercial buildings.
Inspection and maintenance are not the same thing
A service call addresses a specific malfunction or routine maintenance and may be performed by a qualified electrician. An inspection, on the other hand, is an independent expert assessment of the entire system or a defined part thereof, which may only be performed by an inspection technician with the appropriate qualifications. The result of a service call is typically a repair or a service report; the result of an inspection is an inspection report containing a binding statement regarding the equipment’s ability to operate safely. One does not replace the other—a functional piece of equipment still requires a valid inspection after service, and conversely, an inspection does not itself repair any identified defects.
What a Technician Actually Checks During an Inspection
The inspection consists of two consecutive parts—a visual inspection and measurements—supplemented by a review of the documentation and an overall conclusion.
| Revision Phase | What’s Included |
| Visual Inspection | Condition and labeling of switchboards, wires, outlets, and protective devices; accessibility and labeling of circuits; mechanical damage, corrosion, or signs of overheating; and compliance of the wiring with the documentation. |
| Measurements and Tests | Insulation resistance of conductors, fault-loop impedance, operability and trip time of residual-current devices, continuity of protective conductors and bonding, and earth resistance. |
| Evaluation of Documentation | Consistency between the actual condition and the drawings and diagrams; consistency with previous inspection reports and corrections made. |
| Final Evaluation | Classification of identified defects by severity and determination of whether the equipment is capable of continued safe operation. |
How often are inspections conducted in commercial buildings?
The intervals for regular inspections depend on the classification of the equipment (Class I or II under Government Regulation No. 190/2022 Coll.) and on the environment and purpose for which the facility is used. Here is a general overview of the most common cases for commercial facilities:
| Type of Operation / Environment | Estimated timeframe |
| Administrative and Office Space | 5 years |
| Manufacturing, schools, hotels, healthcare facilities | 3 years |
| Facilities for more than 200 people | 2 years |
| Construction Sites and Temporary Facilities | 6 months |
| Mobile and Portable Devices | 1 year |
| Areas with a risk of fire or explosion | 3 years, or less depending on the environmental classification |
| A damp and chemically aggressive environment | 1 year |
| Rule of thumb: The exact inspection interval and classification of your equipment are determined by an inspection technician based on the specific operation, environment, and purpose of the facility. The table is intended only as a general guide and should not be used to schedule inspections without consulting a technician. |
In addition to regular inspections, the law also provides for special inspections—following accidents, after a prolonged shutdown of the equipment, after work on the electrical wiring during renovations, or when requested by a regulatory authority or an insurance company.
Who Is Authorized to Perform the Inspection
Inspections of designated electrical equipment may only be performed by an inspection technician—a qualified individual with special qualifications pursuant to Section 8 of Government Regulation No. 194/2022 Coll. and holding a certificate pursuant to Section 11 of Act No. 250/2021 Coll. This is not the same qualification as that of an electrical engineer or chief electrical engineer, who may operate, maintain, or work on the equipment but are not permitted to perform inspections themselves. Before commissioning an inspection, it is therefore advisable to verify the inspection technician’s certificate and scope of authorization—especially for larger or specialized facilities.
What Are the Risks of Not Having a Valid Inspection?
Operating designated electrical equipment without a valid inspection is in violation of the operator’s obligations under Act No. 250/2021 Coll. and, in practice, has three main consequences:
• at an inspection by the State Labor Inspection Office or the regional labor inspectorate faces sanctions and corrective measures,
• In the event of a claim, the insurance company may reduce or deny coverage if the equipment did not have a valid inspection,
• Without a current inspection, the operator has no independent information about the actual technical condition of the equipment, which poses a safety risk to people in the building and to operations themselves.
Checklist: Are You Ready for the Inspection?
☐ Accessible and Labeled Switchboards
A technician must be able to easily access all switchboards and circuits.
☐ Previous inspection report and documentation of defect rectification
It will allow us to follow up on the most recent status and verify that previous defects have indeed been corrected.
☐ Current Documentation
The drawings and diagrams correspond to the actual wiring, including any modifications made since the last revision.
☐ A Common Classification of Devices
Is it clear whether and how the equipment class was determined in accordance with Government Regulation No. 190/2022 Coll.?
☐ Designated Responsible Person
Someone is ready to assist the technician and provide information about the facility’s operations.
☐ New Technologies Included
Air conditioning, solar panels, charging stations, or other equipment added since the last inspection are included in the scope of the inspection.
FAQ
Is a commercial building required by law to have its electrical system inspected?
If an electrical installation is classified as dedicated technical equipment under Government Regulation No. 190/2022, the operator must ensure that both the initial and periodic inspections are valid within the timeframes corresponding to the classification and purpose of the facility.
What if the inspection reveals defects?
The technician categorizes defects by severity. Serious defects that pose a safety risk must be corrected as a priority; for less serious defects, the inspection report specifies a deadline for correction. Once the defects have been corrected, a verification or follow-up inspection usually takes place.
Can we have the inspection done by our own electrician?
No. Inspections may only be performed by an inspection technician with the appropriate certification and authorization for the specific type and scope of the equipment, not by just any qualified electrician.
How long does the inspection take, and what do we need to prepare for it?
The time required depends on the size and complexity of the installation. The process can be expedited by ensuring that all control panels are accessible and that the necessary documentation and previous inspection reports are available, as described in the checklist above.
Do inspections still apply automatically after a renovation or addition?
No. Any work on the electrical system during a renovation or expansion of operations is one of the reasons for a special inspection, regardless of when the last regular inspection took place.
An inspection linked to the technical records—not just extra paperwork
The inspection report itself is just a single document. It only has real value when it is linked to the records for a specific piece of equipment, schedules, and the rest of the building’s technical documentation—and that is exactly what this solution addresses INTECHI Client Portal:
• Tracking Deadlines — The system automatically tracks when the next inspection of your electrical wiring and other designated equipment is due, and notifies you by email well in advance so that the deadline never goes unnoticed.
• Pairing with Device Cards — Inspection reports, logs, and identified defects are stored directly for a specific switchgear or piece of equipment, not just generally for the facility, so you can access the history of a specific switchgear with just a few clicks.
• Automation of Follow-Up Steps — You can enter the detected issue directly into the system as a repair request; the INTECHI dispatch center sees it immediately and schedules a technician and follow-up verification, without the need for phone calls or email exchanges.
• Importing CAD Files and Drawings — You can upload existing wiring diagrams and drawings directly into the system and link them to specific equipment, so that documentation and inspections work in tandem.
• Document Processing and Archiving — You have all your inspection reports, diagrams, and defect-correction records digitally in one place, and you can easily find them even after the fact, whenever you need them for an audit or for your insurance company.
How INTECHI Handles It
Is your inspection deadline approaching, or are you unsure which class your equipment falls into? INTECHI provides turnkey regular and special inspections of electrical installations in commercial buildings—from the inspection itself through defect remediation to record-keeping in the client portal, where you have everything at your fingertips and under control. All inspection reports and other documents are then neatly stored in client area at service.intechi.cz.
