Inspection, check, technical inspection, and technical test—what’s the difference?
“We have a valid inspection for that.” “We had it inspected last year.” “The service company is in charge of the inspection.” These sentences sound similar, but from a legal standpoint, they mean four different things – with different requirements regarding who is authorized to conduct them, and with different weight given to the resulting document.
Companies often address this issue at the very moment they need to know, Who is responsible for inspections at the company?, and exactly what needs to be supported by documentation. Confusing these terms is one of the most common reasons why, during an inspection by the State Labor Inspection Office (SÚIP), the Fire Department (HZS), or an insurance company, a company discovers that what it considered an “inspection” does not actually meet the criteria for an inspection.
Important: The terms “inspection,” “technical inspection,” “technical test,” and “review” are not used uniformly for all types of technical equipment. Their exact scope and frequency of performance are specified by laws and regulations and technical standards applicable to the specific type of equipment. In this article, we outline their general meanings and most common uses in practice.
Inspection
An inspection is a general term referring to the verification of condition, operability, or compliance with specified requirements. Its scope varies depending on the specific equipment and applicable regulations—it may, for example, involve an operability inspection, an operational inspection, an operator inspection, or a maintenance inspection.
A specific term is used in fire protection “operational check” fire safety equipment—such as fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, or electrical fire alarm systems—and, in accordance with Decree No. 246/2001 Coll., the following is carried out: at least once a year, unless a specific legal regulation or the manufacturer specifies a different time limit.
Who is authorized to perform it: For fire safety equipment, this may be a professionally qualified person (OZO) or a fire protection technician (TPO). In the case of VTZ, the user may, in some cases, be a trained user.
Technical Inspection
A technical inspection focuses primarily on the technical condition of the equipment and its visual assessment. Unlike a technical test, it generally does not involve extensive measurements or verification of all operating parameters.
A typical example from the field of gas equipment: Technical Inspection of a Low-Pressure Boiler Room, which is performed by a qualified professional and focuses on the condition of the equipment and the technical condition of the boiler room as a whole.
Professional Exam
A technical inspection verifies that the equipment is functioning safely. Depending on the type of equipment, this may include measurements, load tests, pressure tests, or verification of the operation of individual safety components.
Examples:
● For pressure equipment This is a pressure test or a leak test.
● For electric fire alarm systems In addition to the annual operational inspection, a system performance test is also conducted during operation—if the dates for both procedures fall on the same day, the inspection replaces the test.
It is performed by a person who is authorized or professionally qualified in accordance with the requirements of the applicable legal regulation or the equipment manufacturer. For some types of equipment, the test is a separate requirement; for others, it is part of the inspection.
Review
Inspections of designated technical equipment are based on Act No. 250/2021 Coll. and from the government’s implementing regulations for individual types of technical equipment. The inspection combines a check for compliance with the documentation, a visual inspection of the equipment’s condition, a functional test, and the necessary measurements, all within the scope specified by legal regulations or technical standards—the specific scope of the inspection thus varies from one piece of equipment to another.
Inspections may only be performed by an inspection technician with a valid certification for the specific scope of equipment. The output is audit report – a legally binding document that serves as proof during an inspection by a government agency or an insurance company.
The frequency of inspections for electrical equipment, gas equipment, or pressure equipment varies depending on the specific type of equipment and the applicable regulations. For fire safety equipment, an operational check is performed instead of an inspection, and the frequency of these checks is specified by Decree No. 246/2001 Coll. or by the manufacturer.
Comparison at a Glance
| Action | What it verifies | Who is authorized to perform | Output |
| Inspection | Condition, Operational Readiness, Compliance with Requirements | Often OZO/TPO; for VTZ, a trained user is also required | Inspection Record / Documentation |
| Technical Inspection | Technical Condition, Visual Inspection | Qualified Professional | Inspection Report |
| Professional Exam | Safe performance of the function (measurement, load, pressure) | Person authorized / professionally qualified in accordance with the regulation | Test Report |
| Review | Overall Condition + Functionality + Compliance with Documentation | Inspection Technician with a Valid Certificate | Audit Report |
Which procedure applies to your device?
The abstract difference between these terms is one thing—but in practice, you need to know which procedure applies specifically to your device. The following is a simplified, general overview of the most common cases.
| Equipment | Inspection | Technical Inspection | Professional Exam | Review |
| Electrical Wiring | – | – | – | ✓ (in accordance with specified deadlines and operating conditions) |
| Lightning Rod (Lightning Protection) | – | – | – | ✓ (within the timeframes specified in ČSN EN 62305 and the LPS documentation) |
| Electrical Appliances | – | – | – | ✓* |
| Gas Distribution Systems and Appliances | ✓ | – | ✓ (leak test, functional test during commissioning) | ✓ (operational inspection) |
| Low-Pressure Boiler Room | – | ✓ | – | – |
| Pressure vessels (tanks, boilers) | – | ✓ | ✓ (pressure test, leak test) | ✓ (operational and internal audits) |
| Fire Extinguishers | ✓ (operational readiness) | – | – | – |
| Fire hydrants, fire water mains | ✓ (operational readiness) | – | ✓ (pressure test of hoses, once every 5 years) | – |
| Electric Fire Alarm System | ✓ (operational readiness) | – | ✓ (functional test) | – |
* For electrical appliances, the precise terminology varies depending on the type of device and how it is used—in practice, in addition to “inspection,” the term “check” is also used in accordance with the relevant standards.
This overview is simplified for general guidance. The exact scope, frequency, and terminology of individual procedures are always based on the specific legal regulations and technical standards applicable to the given equipment (in particular Act No. 250/2021 Coll., Government Regulation No. 190/2022 Coll., and fire safety regulations).
The Risks of Confusing Terms
If, during an inspection, a company submits a document regarding an inspection or examination in a case where the law requires an inspection to be performed by a certified inspection technician, that document will not be accepted as valid proof. In practice, this is the same as if the inspection had not been performed at all:
● SÚIP or HZS may impose a fine for failure to comply with a legal obligation.
● Insurance Company may reduce the insurance benefit or, in justified cases, deny it, if it determines that there is no valid document corresponding to the type of action required by law.
● The company’s statutory body He cannot claim that he had a “review” conducted—if it was in fact merely an inspection or examination, the obligation was not fulfilled.
FAQ
Is an inspection the same thing as an audit?
No. “Inspection” is a more general term whose scope varies depending on the type of equipment, and in many cases, it can be performed even by a person without a certified inspector’s license. An “inspection” is a comprehensive procedure that may only be performed by a certified inspector.
Who is authorized to perform inspections?
Inspections may only be performed by an inspection technician with a valid certification for the specific scope of equipment—regardless of whether the technician is a company employee or an external contractor.
Does the same person have to perform the technical inspection as the one who performs the annual inspection?
Not necessarily. A technical inspection is typically performed by a qualified professional, while an inspection may only be performed by an inspection technician with the appropriate certification.
Does the professional exam replace the inspection?
No. The test verifies that the equipment is functioning safely, but it does not, in and of itself, include a check for compliance with the documentation or an inspection of the equipment’s condition, which is required as part of the inspection.
How can I tell what my device needs?
The relevant legal regulation for a specific type of equipment is decisive. There is no single rule that applies to all types of technical equipment. If you are unsure, we recommend having a schedule of inspections, checks, surveys, and tests drawn up by a professional.
How INTECHI Handles It
Our Certified Inspection Technicians They always ensure that the correct type of service is performed in strict accordance with legal requirements for the specific equipment—from inspections and technical examinations to overhauls with a comprehensive overhaul report. After the initial audit, we’ll create a schedule tailored to your facility and manage all documentation through client portal on service.intechi.cz.
Contact Us and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
