What the price depends on
The price depends on the number of circuits in the consumer unit, not the floor area. A flat with one board and a handful of circuits is a very different job from a house with two boards, a garage and a garden. If you need other tests alongside (earth fault loop impedance, RCD testing, earthing), that affects the price too. Labour rates are in the table.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Insulation resistance test | 200–600 zł |
Indicative prices. Ranges for a typical scope. Fixings included, materials separate. Minimum order 300 zł.
Check in the offer whether the test report is included. If the results mean wiring, sockets or breakers need replacing, that’s a separate job, and materials are paid separately.
What it costs and how to book: handyman in Warsaw.
Why and when it’s needed
Polish building law (Prawo budowlane, Article 62) requires a building’s electrical installation to be checked at least once every five years, and insulation resistance is part of that check. In a block of flats it’s usually arranged by the administration or housing cooperative; in a house it’s the owner’s job.
Beyond the periodic check, it’s worth testing after new wiring or electrical work, when buying or letting an old flat, when the RCD trips for no obvious reason, when a socket sparks or a cable runs warm. Sometimes an insurer asks for the report.
How it works: an insulation tester puts a DC voltage on a disconnected circuit (500 V for an ordinary 230/400 V supply) and shows the resistance between conductors and between each conductor and earth. The PN-HD 60364-6 standard sets a minimum of 1 MΩ for these circuits. A result well below that means the insulation is damaged somewhere: moisture in a junction box, a chafed cable, old brittle sheathing.
Who can test, and safety
In Poland, electrical testing with a formal report is done by someone holding an SEP qualification certificate (świadectwo kwalifikacyjne) that covers measurements. A general handyman without one doesn’t do this work, and nobody would accept their report anyway. When choosing an offer, ask for the certificate number and group; it’s a normal question.
The test is done with the installation switched off, and that’s not a formality: the test voltage is higher than mains. Sensitive appliances are unplugged beforehand, or the electronics in a washing machine, boiler, router or LED drivers can be damaged. A multimeter can’t test insulation, and poking around a live consumer unit is dangerous.
How the test goes
- The electrician asks about the installation, whether there’s a diagram and old reports, and what you’ve noticed.
- They tell you when the power will go off and ask you to unplug appliances.
- The board is isolated and anything that mustn’t see the test voltage is disconnected.
- Each circuit is tested between line, neutral and earth in every combination.
- Results are recorded, everything is reconnected, and lights and sockets are checked.
- A report is drawn up with the results, the date and the electrician’s certificate details.
Common mistakes
- Booking the test with someone who has no SEP certificate, then having the report rejected.
- Leaving appliances plugged in, so the test voltage kills the electronics.
- Getting a bad result and doing nothing, because it’s always worked.
- Confusing an insulation test with an RCD test, though they’re different measurements.
- Losing old reports, so there’s nothing to compare the new results with.
What to prepare
- Access to the consumer unit, and circuit labels if there are any.
- The wiring diagram and old reports, if you still have them.
- Appliances unplugged, expensive electronics above all.
- A warning to the household or staff that the power will be off for a while.
- A note in the job saying what the report is for: the administration, an insurer, selling the flat.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the test take?
It depends on the number of circuits. The electrician says in the offer how long the power will be off.
What if the resistance is too low?
The fault has to be found: the electrician splits the circuit into sections and tests them one by one. Often it’s a single damp junction box or socket; sometimes a length of cable is replaced. With old wiring whose insulation is crumbling, it may come down to rewiring.
Do I need my own report if the cooperative inspects the building?
Ask the administration whether your flat was covered by the last inspection and where the report is. Your own is useful if you’ve had the wiring changed, you’re selling, or an insurer asks for it.
Can just one circuit be tested?
Yes, for example the one that trips the RCD. Say so in the job.
How to order
Describe the installation in the app: flat or house, roughly how many circuits, what’s worrying you and whether you need a report, and add a photo of the consumer unit. Electricians near you will send offers with their own price and timing. Pick one by reviews and SEP certificate details; only that person sees your address.
You pay directly and the electrician issues the invoice. They stand behind their own work: if there’s a mistake in the report or a circuit was missed, they’ll fix it. The condition of old wiring they only measured is not on them.
Hold SEP qualifications and do electrical testing? Create a profile and pick up testing jobs in your town. You work for yourself and choose your own business setup. Create a tradesperson profile
Order in the app
Describe the job, add photos and the address. Tradespeople send their own prices and dates, and you pick one of the offers.
Open the app
