How often should the electrical installation in a Spanish home be checked?

How often to check home electrics in Spain

The question has two answers: what the law requires and what is sensible. The periodic inspection by an authorised inspection body (OCA) set by ITC-BT-05 only applies to certain installations: premises open to the public, communal installations in residential buildings above 100 kW, large garages or pools above 10 kW, among others. An ordinary flat (apartment) or detached house has no such obligation.

What you can do yourself

• Every month: press the TEST button (T) on each RCD (diferencial). It should trip instantly. If it does not, it is not protecting you.
• Now and then: look out for yellowed sockets, plugs that get hot, a burning smell or flickering lights.
• After a heavy storm: check that everything works and that the surge protector, if you have one, is still operational.

When a professional inspection makes sense

• When you buy or rent a resale home.
• If the installation is over 20 years old or has never been renovated.
• Before adding heavy loads: induction hob, air conditioning, aerothermal heat pump or EV charger.
• If the power trips often, you feel shocks or something heats up.
• As preventive maintenance. An annual plan finds faults before they show, especially in large houses or homes with a pool.

What an inspection includes

• Condition of the fuse board and tightness of connections.
• Measuring the earthing (grounding) and the insulation of the circuits.
• Trip test of the RCDs.
• Checking cable sizes against the protective devices.
• Risk points: open boxes, loose cables, sockets without earth.
• A report on what is fine and what should be corrected.

What it costs

When to call an electrician

Call if you have never had your installation checked or any of the cases above applies. In Seville, Spain, we carry out electrical safety testing, offer a home maintenance plan and, before you sign for a property, an electrical survey before buying.