Premier Technical Services Group Ltd (PTSG) has identified a significant compliance gap affecting many facilities management companies and building operators across the UK. The issue concerns SFG20 44-07 requirements for distribution board maintenance, which are often overlooked in standard maintenance programmes.
Shaun Caddick, Business Director, explains: “We’ve recently discovered that many facilities managers incorrectly believe their regular EICR inspections satisfy the SFG20 requirements for 6-monthly distribution board checks. These are actually entirely separate requirements, and this misunderstanding is creating a compliance gap in many buildings.”
The SFG20 44-07 standard requires specific 6-monthly checks that include visual inspections for physical damage, verification of proper labelling, checking protective devices, identifying overheating issues, and ensuring overall functionality of distribution boards.
Shaun continues: “These regular inspections are designed to catch potential issues before they develop into serious problems. They provide a critical safety function between the less frequent fixed wire tests, and they’re explicitly required for SFG20 compliance.”
Several major FM providers are already taking action to address this oversight. PTSG is currently working with companies managing government facilities, healthcare estates, and critical infrastructure to implement dedicated distribution board inspection programmes across their portfolios.
The implications for facilities managers are significant, especially where contracts specifically require maintenance to be delivered to SFG20 standards. Failure to conduct these 6-monthly checks constitutes non-compliance with both the standard and potentially contractual obligations.
PTSG and its Electrical Services division has developed a streamlined approach to implementing these essential checks across property portfolios of all sizes. The company is now helping clients across multiple sectors ensure their distribution boards receive the required maintenance to maintain safety and compliance.
For more information about distribution board maintenance and compliance with SFG20 44-07, contact PTSG at 01977 668 771 or email [email protected].
