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Wiring inspection: when, what gets measured and what the report says

Latvian fire rules require a wiring check every 10 years. What the electrician measures, what goes with the report and when to check sooner.

Sep 3, 2026 · NextTek

Short answer: point 56 of the Latvian Fire Safety Regulations requires the wiring, including earthing and lightning protection, to be checked every 10 years. More often in explosive or chemically aggressive areas. There is no exemption for a flat or a private house.

Who is responsible

The owner is responsible for fire safety in a home. In an apartment building the manager usually checks the stairwell, risers and basement. The wiring and panel inside a flat are the flat owner's part.

What the electrician measures

Point 57 and annex 6 list what has to be checked and written into the report:

Insulation resistance. Whether a wire leaks anywhere into the wall or a neighbouring wire. Standard LVS HD 60364-6 asks for at least 1 MΩ on a normal 230/400 V circuit, measured at 500 V.
Phase–neutral loop. Whether a short circuit draws enough current for the breaker to trip in time.
Earthing resistance. Whether there is an earth at all and whether it holds.
Protective conductor continuity. Whether the green-yellow wire from the socket really reaches the panel.
Lightning protection, if the building has it.

Point 58 requires connections to be checked with a thermal camera, with a separate report under annex 7. The camera sees a hot screw in the panel or a loose contact in a socket before it starts to smell.

What goes with the report

Under annex 6 the report comes with a copy of the electrician's certificate showing their electrical safety group, the calibration or verification certificate of the meter, and a diagram with the ratings of the protective devices. If anything is missing, ask for it before you pay.

Measurements are done by a certified electrical specialist (LBN 261-15, point 55). Before you book, ask for the certificate number. You can ask any electrician for it, NextTek included.

When to check sooner

Check before a renovation

While the walls are open, replacing wires is cheap. After plastering it is expensive. The measurement shows which circuits are still fine and which must go.

Check when buying a flat or house

The date and content of the old report tell you more than a new panel door. If there is no report at all, plan a check in the first month.

Check after a flood

Water in a riser or wall damages insulation in ways you cannot see from outside. The insulation test shows it.

Check if the breaker trips for no reason

Also when a socket gets warm, a light flickers or something smells of plastic. That does not wait for year ten. The usual causes are in the post about RCDs.

What it costs and how long it takes

The price depends on the number of circuits, the panel and whether the diagram must be drawn from scratch. A flat with one panel is often a few hours of work. An exact figure is possible from a photo of the panel and the number of circuits.

What NextTek does

NextTek looks at the panel, fixes hot contacts and labels the breakers so a diagram is possible at all. The measurements and the report go to an electrician entitled to sign them. That is also written on the electrician page. If you plan a smart home, start here — more in the post on what to fix first.

Sources: Fire Safety Regulations (points 56–58, annexes 6 and 7), LBN 261-15 (point 55), LVS HD 60364-6. Checked in October 2026.

Common questions

How often must wiring be checked?

Every 10 years under point 56 of the Fire Safety Regulations. More often in explosive or chemically aggressive areas. There is no exemption for flats or private houses.

What must the wiring inspection report contain?

Insulation resistance, the phase–neutral loop, earthing resistance and protective conductor continuity. Attached: a copy of the electrician's certificate, the meter's certificate and a diagram with breaker ratings.

What insulation resistance is enough?

Standard LVS HD 60364-6 asks for at least 1 MΩ on a normal 230/400 V circuit, measured at 500 V. If the reading is close to the limit, look at that circuit more closely.

Who may sign the inspection report?

A certified electrical specialist with the right electrical safety group. A copy of their certificate goes with the report, so feel free to ask for the number before the job.

Does a flat owner really have to do this?

Yes. The rules do not exclude flats. The manager usually checks the stairwell and risers, but the wiring and panel inside the flat are the owner's responsibility.

Why is a thermal camera needed?

A loose contact heats up before it burns out. The camera sees it in a loaded panel where a meter shows nothing. Point 58 of the rules requires it along with the measurements.

How long does a check in a flat take?

A flat with one panel often needs a few hours. It takes longer if circuits are unlabelled and the diagram has to be drawn from scratch. Circuits are switched off one by one while measuring.

What if the check finds problems?

The report lists which circuits fail. They are repaired or replaced and then measured again. Do not file a report with failures in a drawer, it is a to-do list.

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