AI Installation Verification — Automated Quality Checks to BS 7671

AI Installation Verification is a tool within Elec-Mate that automatically checks electrical installation data against the requirements of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. It acts as an automated second pair of eyes — reviewing test results, circuit specifications, protection arrangements, and installation details to identify any non-compliances before you sign off the certificate.

The tool addresses a real problem in the trade. During a busy EICR or commissioning session, it is easy to miss a detail. Perhaps the earth fault loop impedance on one circuit marginally exceeds the maximum permitted value for the installed protective device. Perhaps the voltage drop on a long lighting circuit is 3.2% when the maximum permitted is 3%. Perhaps an RCD protecting socket outlets has a rated residual operating current of 100mA when Regulation 411.3.2 requires 30mA. These are the kinds of non-compliances that can slip through during a manual review, especially on large installations with dozens of circuits.

The AI Verification tool catches these issues by systematically checking every data point against the relevant regulation. It does not replace the electrician's judgement — it augments it by performing the tedious, repetitive cross-checking that humans are not good at doing under time pressure. The electrician still makes all the professional decisions; the AI simply ensures that no individual check is overlooked.

This integrates with Elec-Mate's complete certification workflow, including the AI Board Scanner for data capture, the AI Circuit Designer for design verification, and the certificate forms for EICR and EIC documentation.

The verification engine checks installation data against a comprehensive library of BS 7671 requirements. These are not generic checklists — they are specific, measurable checks that compare actual values to the requirements of the standard. The checks cover every major area of BS 7671:

• Protection against electric shock (Chapter 41) — earth fault loop impedance values checked against Tables 41.2 to 41.6 for the installed protective device type and rating. Disconnection times verified for final circuits (0.4s) and distribution circuits (5s). RCD protection requirements checked for socket outlets, cables in walls, and bathroom circuits per Regulation 411.3.2.
• Protection against overcurrent (Chapter 43) — protective device rating checked against cable current-carrying capacity. Coordination between devices verified. Breaking capacity checked against prospective fault current at the point of installation.
• Voltage drop (Appendix 4) — calculated voltage drop checked against the 3% limit for lighting and 5% for other circuits, measured from the origin of the installation.
• Cable sizing (Appendix 4) — cable current-carrying capacity verified with all correction factors applied: ambient temperature (Ca), grouping (Cg), thermal insulation (Ci), and semi-enclosed fuse factor (Cc) where applicable.
• Surge protection (Section 443) — SPD requirement assessed based on the consequences of overvoltage and the type of installation. Type and location of SPD verified against Regulation 443.4.
• Amendment 4:2024 requirements — Regulation 530.3.2 checked for installations with bidirectional power flow (solar PV, battery storage). Correct protective device directionality verified.

Each check that fails includes the specific regulation reference, the actual value found, the required value, and a recommended corrective action. This level of detail means you can address issues immediately rather than having to look up the regulation yourself.

The verification checklists are not static documents — they adapt dynamically based on the type of installation you are inspecting or commissioning. When you specify the installation parameters (domestic, commercial, or industrial; earthing system; supply characteristics; special locations), the AI generates a checklist that includes only the checks relevant to that specific installation.

For a standard domestic installation on a TN-C-S supply, the checklist focuses on consumer unit compliance, RCD protection arrangements, cable sizing for common domestic circuits, bonding requirements, and the specific checks required for domestic special locations (bathrooms, swimming pools, outdoor installations). For a commercial installation with a three-phase supply, the checklist expands to cover discrimination between protective devices, phase balance, submain calculations, and the additional requirements for commercial environments.

Each checklist item links to the specific BS 7671 regulation that requires the check, so you can reference the standard directly if needed. The checklists also align with the inspection schedule format used in EICR documentation, making it straightforward to transfer your findings to the certificate.

Special location checklists are particularly valuable. BS 7671 Part 7 contains specific requirements for locations such as bathrooms (Section 701), swimming pools (Section 702), saunas (Section 703), construction sites (Section 704), agricultural premises (Section 705), and marinas (Section 709). The AI generates location-specific checklists that ensure you check every requirement in the relevant section, including zone definitions, IP ratings, supplementary bonding, and restricted equipment rules.

When the verification engine identifies a non-compliance, it assigns the appropriate observation code following the guidance in the IET Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment and Guidance Note 3: Inspection and Testing (9th Edition):

• C1 — Danger present: risk of injury. Immediate remedial action required.
• C2 — Potentially dangerous: urgent remedial action required.
• C3 — Improvement recommended: the installation does not comply with the current edition of BS 7671 but did comply at the time of installation.
• FI — Further investigation: further investigation required without delay. The inspection could not be completed due to the extent of the non-compliance.

The AI considers the context when assigning codes. A missing RCD on socket outlets in a 2024 installation is a C2 (it should have been installed under current regulations), but the same finding in a 1990 installation may be a C3 (it complied with the regulations in force at the time of installation). This contextual understanding is what makes the AI classification reliable for real-world inspections.

Each observation includes a professionally worded description suitable for the certificate, citing the specific BS 7671 regulation contravened. This saves significant time during EICR observation recording and ensures consistency in the language used across all your certificates.

The compliance report is the output document that summarises the verification results. It provides a clear, structured overview of the installation status — what passed, what failed, and what needs attention. The report includes:

• Overall compliance score — a percentage score showing how many checks passed against the total number of applicable checks. This gives you an at-a-glance assessment of the installation.
• Prioritised issue list — all non-compliances listed in priority order (C1 first, then C2, then C3, then FI), with the regulation reference, actual value, required value, and recommended corrective action for each.
• Circuit-by-circuit breakdown — the verification status for each circuit showing which checks passed and which failed. This maps directly to the schedule of circuits in your EIC or EICR.
• Remedial cost estimate — an optional section that uses the AI Cost Engineer to produce an indicative cost for addressing all identified non-compliances. This is valuable when providing landlords or property managers with both the inspection report and a remedial quotation.

The report can be exported as a PDF for submission to clients, landlords, managing agents, or scheme providers. It includes your company branding and can be attached to the EIC or EICR as supporting documentation.

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