Inspection, Testing, Service & Repair
Empowering You To Keep Your Venue Compliant, Safe and Performance-Ready
When you’re responsible for a performance space, regular inspection and testing isn’t just good practice – it’s often a legal requirement. From electrical safety checks to mechanical rigging inspections, our Venue Services team helps provide you with the necessary information that in turn will empower you to make the right decisions to stay compliant, reduce risk, and keep your equipment running smoothly.
Inspection, Testing, Service & Repair
Support That Starts With Compliance In Mind
Every venue is different – so we never take a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether you’re running a professional theatre, a school studio, a broadcast space or a visitor attraction, we tailor our services to your systems and your requirements as a Duty Holder.
Our experienced engineers and inspectors work nationwide, supporting Duty Holders, Venue Operators, Estate and Facility Managers to plan, document and deliver the inspections and servicing you need – when you need them.
Sectors We Serve
Serving Your Sector
Whether you’re managing a theatre, running a school, delivering corporate events, or leading a house of worship, we’ve got the experience and technology to support you.
Inspection, Testing, Service & Repair
What You Can Get From Us
We offer a wide range of electrical and mechanical inspection services, as well as providing Aftercare solutions for our existing customers – delivered by competent professionals, tailored to your venue.
All works are logged, documented and delivered by competent electrical and mechanical inspectors with production industry specific knowledge.
- ISITEE – In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (Formerly PAT Testing)
- Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR)
- Reports of Thorough Examination (ROTE) for mechanical lifting systems covered by LOLER 1998 and mechanical static systems covered by PUWER 1998
- Aftercare Support – including site visits, repairs and return-to-base servicing
- Statutory Compliance Advice & Guidance
ACCREDITATIONS & CREDENTIALS
Built on Accreditation. Backed by Experience.
You can be confident in the safety and quality of our work. We hold accreditations including NICEIC, ABTT, UKATA and more. All site inspection staff hold an Enhanced DBS and possess relevant industry qualifications.
What People Say About Working with Us
Real Results from Spaces Like Yours
When you’re choosing a technical partner, nothing matters more than trust. Here’s what clients across theatre, education and conferencing have said about working with Stage Electrics.
Royal Shakespeare Company
Stage Electrics were brilliant. Every time we encountered a challenge, they presented a range of solutions and helped us decide which was best for the project. Their on-site engineers worked tirelessly to ensure we stayed on schedule and achieved our target of repurposing wherever possible.
Ben Ranner
Head of Technical Resources
The University of Manchester
The products and services that we have received from Stage Electrics for the past 20 years have never been short of outstanding. For that reason, it was a no-brainer when deciding who was going to assist us with our latest upgrade… The recent upgrade has significantly improved our operations, making life easier for everyone.
Karl Spencer
Martin Harris Centre
ICC Wales
Stage Electrics joined the design team right at the start, saw the project through to completion and proved to be worth their weight in gold. Not many suppliers promise to complete the project on spec and save a considerable amount of money—but that’s what Stage Electrics did.
Russell Phillips
VP Facilities & Development
Inspection, Testing, Service & Repair
Frequently Asked Questions
What regulations do your inspections follow?
We deliver inspections in line with the requirements of EAWR 1989, PUWER 1998, and LOLER 1998 – with full documentation provided
Why do I need my performance lighting system electrically tested?
Electrical installations should have a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) in accordance with BS 7671, The IET Wiring Regulations, and be inspected periodically. Guidance suggests systems used for entertainment and performance have a regular inspection and testing programme. It’s likely licensing for entertainment purposes from your local authority and insurers will also require you to have your specialist systems regularly inspected and tested.
Can you inspect lifting and overhead systems?
Yes – we inspect everything from curtain tracks and winch bars to fly systems and issue Reports of Thorough Examination where needed.
Do I need a report for every inspection?
Yes. Especially for LOLER, reports are legally required and must document any defects.
Do you work with local authorities?
Yes – we regularly support education trusts, councils, and estates teams with structured inspection and testing programmes.
Can you help with Preventative Maintenance?
Yes, we can. There’s nothing worse than equipment breaking down just before or, worse still, precisely when it’s needed. Preventive Maintenance is key to stopping your drama production turning into a crisis.
How often do I need to have my performance electrical system tested?
It’s good practice to have a periodic inspection approximately every twelve months. Licensing authorities, education authorities and insurance companies often stipulate how often they want a new periodic inspection certificate. Commonly, this is every 12 months.
What’s included in an EICR?
Our electricians will inspect, test and report on your electrical installation condition, and provide recommendations to help you prioritise any remedial works. Inspections are mainly carried out in line with the requirements of BS7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations (IET Wiring Regulations). However, there are several other British Standards that apply to electrical installations in performance spaces, and these will be referenced in your report where required. For this reason, it is very important you enlist the services of industry professionals when seeking the correct advice for the ongoing safety and compliance of your electrical installation
What’s the difference between PUWER and LOLER inspections?
PUWER applies to general work equipment; LOLER to lifting systems with strict 6/12-month intervals.
We have equipment that is used for lifting or lowering performance equipment. Does this need to be inspected and how often?
All lifting equipment needs to be inspected regularly. The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998 cover any equipment used at work for lifting or lowering loads. They stipulate several criteria must be met, including the annual inspection of lifting and lowering equipment by “a competent person”. Very much like us.
LOLER regulations also apply to all lifting accessories and any attachments used for supporting the equipment/load. These accessories must also be inspected but, in the case of Lifting Accessories, it’s more frequent than for the Lifting Equipment itself. Lifting Accessories need to be inspected every six months.
Do you test AV or lighting racks?
Yes. Fixed racks may be tested less frequently. Portable ones may need more frequent checks.
Do I have to book outside of term time?
We’re often at capacity during school holidays, but have availability for education venues throughout term time.
Mechanical Inspection and Testing
What is PUWER?
PUWER, or more fully, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, as the name suggests, applies to all work equipment: electrical, mechanical and other. The PUWER regulations require equipment provided for use at work to be suitable, safe, maintained in a safe condition, and inspected to ensure it is correctly installed and isn’t deteriorating.
How does PUWER relate to me?
If you are a venue owner, operator, or manager, you have responsibilities for the health and safety of your employees, venue users, visitors and members of the public. Every organisation has Duty Holder(s) as defined in the relevant laws. If you are a Duty Holder at a venue, you need to be aware of, and ensure compliance with, the PUWER regulations as well as all other relevant health and safety legislation.
What happens if, as a Duty Holder, you don’t carry out PUWER risk assessments?
Firstly, without appropriate risk assessments, you can’t be certain that the work equipment is suitable for its intended task and can be used without putting persons at risk. Appropriately detailed and regular inspection of work equipment by a suitably trained and competent person is likely to be one of the measures your risk assessment identifies as essential in assisting you in your duty of care obligations.
It’s in everybody’s best interest to comply with PUWER and all other applicable health and safety regulations, not only as part of your safety management regime to keep employees and the general public safe from harm, but also to avoid legal repercussions.
Heavy penalties, fines, civil claims, criminal charges, and even imprisonment can be associated with failing to comply with all applicable health and safety legislation.
How do I know if PUWER applies to my mechanical equipment?
Do you have equipment such as fixed overhead lighting rigs, suspension brackets/clamps, stage curtain tracks, stands etc? If so, then it’s almost certain these items and aspects of your installed systems will be subject to the PUWER regulations. Below are some places you can find out more information about PUWER and related health and safety matters. To learn more about how this may apply to your venue and equipment, or to discuss your requirements further, simply call a member of our specialist inspection and testing team today on 03330 142 102.
- HSE official website
- Gov.UK
- Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
- British Safety Council
- Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (formerly PAT testing)
What is ISITEE and how often do I need it?
ISITEE stands for In-Service Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment. The frequency is determined by risk assessment.
As a Duty Holder, you have a responsibility to provide a safe environment within your venue.
In the United Kingdom, the safety of electrical equipment in the workplace is governed, among other regulations, by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER 1998). These regulations place a legal duty on employers and venue operators to ensure that electrical equipment is safe to use and maintained in a safe condition.
Why do I have to have technical equipment inspected and tested?
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that any electrical equipment which has the potential to cause injury is maintained and kept in a safe condition. A good way to decide if your electrical equipment is safe or would benefit from maintenance is to have your equipment inspected and tested regularly.
As a Duty Holder, you have a responsibility to provide a safe environment within your venue.
In the United Kingdom, the safety of electrical equipment in the workplace is governed, among other regulations, by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER 1998). These regulations place a legal duty on employers and venue operators to ensure that electrical equipment is safe to use and maintained in a safe condition.
How often should I get my electrical equipment inspected and tested?
The frequency of ISITEE (formerly PAT Testing) can vary depending on factors such as usage, environment, manufacturer recommendations, and it’s for these reasons that the Duty Holder must determine what is appropriate for their specific context. When considering your decision-making, it’s important to ensure that you are satisfying at least the following criteria:
- Appropriate and regular Visual Inspections are conducted by trained and competent personnel to identify signs of damage or wear which could result in unsafe conditions.
- Appropriate and regular Testing: For equipment used frequently or in harsh/demanding environments, the frequency of in-service Inspection and Testing may need to be more than annually.
Can the company that PAT tests my office equipment test my specialist equipment?
We’ll be honest – the test equipment used for the testing is pretty much the same. But testing is only one part of the work. Effective inspection plays a very significant part in the appropriate performance of ISITEE works (formerly PAT Testing). Not only is our test equipment in the hands of our specialist technicians with relevant sector-specific knowledge, our technicians also carry out inspections appropriate to the equipment and know that an expensive piece of ‘event’-critical equipment needed for that night’s performance is different from checking the office toaster. Because our technicians spend much of their time working on specialist equipment, they can spot many of the issues before even connecting it to the test equipment. We believe this inspection and testing, which forms part of your safety management regime, should be carried out by suitably experienced and competent people and, as the law requires you to select appropriate providers, it’s why we provide this service for your specialist equipment.
Let’s Talk About Your Inspection, Testing & Service Needs
Whether you’re ready to get started or just need a little advice, we’re here to help. Contact our friendly team to talk through what you need.