ABSTRACT
The surveyor is expected to carry out a visual examination, without tests, of the services that are readily accessible without risk of causing damage to the property or injury to the surveyor. The condition of the services should be assessed and any obvious non-compliance with safety or other regulations identified. Where fire alarms, security installations, CCTV or other services exist, these should be located and identified. Modern-day installations have a ring main system: the cable comprising the live, neutral and earth wires runs from the fuse in the consumer unit, serving each socket or appliance in turn, before returning to the consumer unit. Separate from the ring main there are usually radial circuits running from the consumer unit to supply appliances that are permanently connected and which have a high load , such as a cooker, immersion heater or shower.
