Processing Timelines for Completion Certificates

Certification is mandatory for all Controlled Electrical Works to ensure that it has been carried out in accordance with the Technical Rules.

At Safe Electric, we are required to validate all Certificates returned, which will confirm that the Certificates contain all the requisite information, that test values are within acceptable limits, and that the Certificates was sold to the certifying Registered Electrical Contractor (REC). After the cert is validated, it is sent to ESB Networks for connection.

The Safe Electric Certification Department are validating over 700 pre-connection and post-connection certificates per week. They have identified the top 5 reasons for certificates failing the validation stage, these are:

  1. Expired insurance
  2. Incorrect test results
  3. Using expired and incorrect QC numbers
  4. Incorrect or incomplete address
  5. Incorrect MPRN numbers and illegible MPRN numbers

Other common reasons for certificates failing the validation process

  • Bonding & polarity
  • Pre-Connection date
  • Test record sheet number
  • Not ticking construction & test for new installation
  • Ticking incorrect box for New, Alteration & reconnection
  • Max Import Capacity

For ECC certificates

  • Not including QC number in the comments box

Timelines for Validating Certificates

This year, we have processed over 15,000 pre-connections and post-connection certificates. At least 3,000 certificates failed to pass the validation stage.

The normal processing times for returned certificates are 3-5 working days. However, please allow An Post up to 5 working days to deliver your cert and up to 10 working days for certs to be validated before contacting a member of the certification department.

If your REC has submitted a pre-connection (or post-connection) certificate to Safe Electric, you can click here to check the status of your certificate. The website is updated at 1pm on working days. Please visit the website before inquiring.

If you have any questions please email us on info@safeelectric.ie and your query will be redirected to the certification department.

Please note that we will only discuss the status of the certificate with the REC that issued the certificate. If the status shows “issue found”, please allow 3-5 working days before following up with your REC as the issue will likely be resolved by then.