AM2 SECTION B

AM2 Section B: AM2 Section B — Inspection, Testing + Certification — 3 hours 30 minutes — GN3 sequence

Section B is the inspection, testing and certification phase. 3 hours 30 minutes to verify your install in the correct IET Guidance Note 3 order — dead tests first, then live tests, then complete the EIC paperwork. The sequence is non-negotiable — testing live before all dead tests are satisfactory is an instant fail.

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10 min readUpdated 2026-05-19Andrew Moore, Founder of Elec-Mate

Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.

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Key Takeaways

  • 1Section B is 3 hours 30 minutes of inspection, testing and EIC certification.
  • 2The test sequence must follow IET Guidance Note 3 (GN3) order. Assessors mark the sequence as much as the readings.
  • 3Continuity of protective conductors is the FIRST test — before insulation resistance, polarity, EFLI or any live work.
  • 4Insulation resistance is tested at 500V DC for circuits up to 500V. Minimum acceptable IR is 1.0 MΩ per BS 7671 Table 64.
  • 5Live testing only begins after ALL dead tests are complete and satisfactory. Testing live before is an instant fail.
  • 6The EIC schedule must be completed accurately — wrong readings, missing entries or unsigned sections lose marks.
01 · AM2 Section B

What Section B covers

Section B is the verification stage. You inspect your installation against BS 7671, perform the full test sequence in GN3 order, record every reading on the EIC schedule, and sign the certificate. The assessor watches your method, your test instrument use, your sequence discipline and your paperwork accuracy. Section B is where many candidates lose marks not through technical error but through poor sequence — testing live before dead tests are confirmed, or jumping between tests rather than completing each cleanly.

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02 · AM2 Section B

The GN3 test sequence (the order matters)

  • Continuity of protective conductors — first test, every time. R1 + R2 method or long-lead method.
  • Continuity of ring final circuit conductors — if the install includes a ring circuit.
  • Insulation resistance — at 500V DC for circuits up to 500V. Test L-L, L-N, L-E and N-E as appropriate.
  • Polarity (dead) — verify L, N and E are correctly connected at every accessory.
  • Earth electrode resistance — if a TT installation or local electrode is present.
  • Live testing — only after all dead tests above are complete and satisfactory.
  • Polarity (live) — verify with a voltage indicator at the supply.
  • Earth fault loop impedance (Zs) — at every final circuit.
  • Prospective fault current (Ipf) — at the origin and the furthest point.
  • RCD testing — operating times at ½× rated, 1× rated, 5× rated. Trip times within BS 7671 limits.
  • Functional testing — switching, isolators, interlocks, RCDs all operate correctly.
03 · AM2 Section B

What assessors mark you on in Section B

  • Following GN3 order — dead tests in sequence before any live work.
  • Correct test voltage — 500V for IR on circuits up to 500V; lower for ELV.
  • Safe instrument use — GS38-compliant probes, fused leads, calibration sticker visible.
  • Accurate reading + recording — every value on the EIC schedule, no blanks.
  • Recognising results — knowing when a reading is out of range and acting on it.
  • Completing the EIC + Schedule of Inspections + Schedule of Test Results in full.
  • Signing and dating the certificate appropriately.

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04 · AM2 Section B

Common mistakes in Section B

  • Skipping the continuity test on the protective conductor.
  • Testing IR with the wrong voltage (250V instead of 500V on a 230V circuit).
  • Going live before all dead tests are complete and satisfactory.
  • Not proving the voltage indicator before live testing.
  • Leaving cells blank on the EIC schedule — every cell must have a value or "N/A".
  • Wrong RCD trip-time pass/fail criteria — confusing the limits for different RCD types.
  • Forgetting to sign the certificate or wrong date.
05 · AM2 Section B

Study with Elec-Mate

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The Elec-Mate AM2 Mock Day mirrors the real assessment phases with the actual NET timings. Times you on each phase and scores you against the readiness rubric — the closest practice you can get to the real day.

AM2 Section B — FAQ

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