NEN3140

Regarding safety of employees, users and juridical liability (supply chain liability as well), the owner/ tenant conform the Arbo legislation is obligated to have electro technical installations checked regularly. A NEN3140 inspection is meant to determine the (occupational) safety of an existing installation and/or electrical  power tools.

For low voltage installations, the NEN3140 is applicable. The Dutch addition to the European NEN-EN 50110-1 guideline sets demands to the minimum safety level of low voltage installations. One of those demands is that the owners and/or users of this installation have it checked regularly.

The completeness of the inspection is dependent on the application of the installation as well as on the demands that are made by your working conditions (arbo) or insurer.

NEN 3140 essentially consists of three subjects:
1. Electrical installations should be safe to use
2. Electrical tools should be safe to use
3. Persons that work with or near electrical installations should be instructed about safety

Electrical installations
In order to be able to guarantee the safe use of electrical installations as much as possible, the NEN3140 requires electrical installations to be inspected periodically. The inspection consist of a visual inspection and an inspection through measurement and trial. The inspection that is described in NEN3140 applies to existing installations. The conditions of a new installation are described in the NEN1010. An inspection may be conducted by a minimum of one skilled person with knowledge of the NEN3140, NEN1010 and possible additional norms regarding the execution of an inspection.

The labour inspection (Arbeidsinspectie) and insurance companies consider the NEN3140 norm to be binding. If NEN3140 inspections are conducted periodically, then it can be proven to legislator and insurer that every possible action has been taken to comply to established safety demands. If the owner does not comply to the obligations in this field, the labour inspection (Arbeidsinspectie) may take action. In the ‘best’ case, the owner will receive a fine. If there is a situation where there may be acute danger, it can also be decided to shut down work or an entire organisation.

Besides having inspections carried out, the owner is also required to point out a person responsible for installation and a person responsible for work for the installation. The first is responsible for the technical management and maintenance of installations. The second indicates how one should work with these installations. Both tasks can be done by one person, but also by more. Right now, companies, (semi) authorities and landlords/ superintendents are obligated to have the electro technical installations in their buildings inspected periodically. The liability reaches very far! If it turns out a fire has been caused by a faulty installation, then the owner will be held responsible.