Glossary

What is a schedule of test results? Explained

What is a schedule of test results? The BS 7671 schedule explained column by column: circuit details, continuity, insulation, Zs, RCD times and common errors.

Published 14 September 2026 · Updated 14 September 2026 · Certio Software Ltd

A schedule of test results is the BS 7671 Appendix 6 form, one per distribution board, that records the measured values for every circuit during initial verification or periodic inspection: circuit details, protective device, continuity (r1, rn, r2, R1+R2 or R2), insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance (Zs), RCD operating time and AFDD test. It must accompany every Electrical Installation Certificate and EICR; without it, the document is incomplete under Chapters 64 and 65.

Key takeaways
  • One schedule per distribution board, with the board's own supply details in the header.
  • Every circuit gets a line, and every cell gets a value, LIM or N/A; never a blank.
  • The columns follow the test sequence: dead tests first, then live tests.
  • Measured Zs is compared with the maximum for the protective device on the same line.
  • Transcription from the tester to the form is where most errors happen.

What is a schedule of test results in practice?

The schedule is the evidence behind the certificate. The EIC and EICR both declare that the installation has been inspected and tested; the schedule is where the numbers live. IET Guidance Note 3 treats it as an integral part of the certificate or report, and NICEIC and NAPIT assessors read it line by line. One row describes one circuit completely: what it is, what protects it, what the limits are and what was measured, so an assessor can see at a glance whether the measured Zs is below the maximum and the RCD tripped in time.

When is a schedule of test results needed?

Document Schedule required?
Electrical Installation Certificate Yes, for every board covered by the work
EICR Yes, for every board within the agreed extent
Minor Works Certificate No; the essential tests are recorded on the certificate itself

For an EICR the extent of testing is agreed beforehand; where sampling is agreed, GN3 expects the sample percentage to be stated and untested circuits shown as LIM.

What does the schedule of test results contain?

Header

Board designation and location, the device and circuit supplying it, Zs and prospective fault current at the board, and the serial numbers of the test instruments used.

Circuit details (one row per circuit)

Column What goes in it
Circuit number and description As labelled on the board, e.g. "3, Kitchen sockets"
Type of wiring and reference method Cable type code and installation method from BS 7671 Appendix 4
Conductor CSA, live and cpc In mm²
Overcurrent device: BS EN, type, rating, breaking capacity e.g. BS EN 60898, B, 32 A, 6 kA
Maximum disconnection time 0.4 s for most final circuits, 5 s for distribution circuits
Maximum permitted Zs From BS 7671 Chapter 41 for the device
RCD: BS EN, type, rating, IΔn e.g. BS EN 61009, A, 32 A, 30 mA

Test results

Column Test Units
r1, rn, r2 Ring final circuit continuity, end to end Ω
R1+R2 or R2 Protective conductor continuity Ω
Insulation resistance, live-live and live-earth At 500 V DC for 230 V circuits, minimum 1 MΩ
Polarity Confirmed correct Tick
Zs Measured earth fault loop impedance at furthest point Ω
RCD operating time At 5 × IΔn for 30 mA additional protection; 40 ms limit ms
RCD and AFDD test buttons Operated, where fitted Tick
Remarks Limitations, notes, anything unusual Text

Continuity and insulation resistance are dead tests, done before the circuit is energised; Zs and RCD tests are live and done last.

Common mistakes with schedules of test results

  • Blank cells. The most common assessor finding. Every cell needs a value, LIM or N/A.
  • Zs above the maximum on the same row with no observation raised.
  • R1+R2 recorded for a ring without r1, rn and r2, which are needed to prove it is a ring.
  • Insulation resistance shown as a made-up number such as 300 MΩ when the instrument reads ">200".
  • RCD time in the wrong column, 1 × recorded as 5 ×.
  • Copying results from the previous certificate. Identical figures across years are a red flag to assessors.
  • Transcription errors from the tester's display to the form, the root cause of most of the above.

Related terms

How Certio helps

Certio records this on the BS 7671 model forms without the typing: photograph the board to draft the circuit schedule, point the camera at a Megger MFT-X1 to capture readings, or dictate them. Starter is free for 7 days.

Straight answers

Questions

Is a schedule of test results the same as a schedule of inspections?
No. The schedule of inspections records the visual checks made against each part of the installation, with tick boxes for acceptable, unacceptable, not applicable or limitation. The schedule of test results records the measured values for every circuit. Both must accompany an EIC and an EICR under BS 7671 Chapters 64 and 65.
Do I need a schedule of test results for every distribution board?
Yes. Each board has its own schedule, headed with the board designation, its location, the device supplying it, its Zs and prospective fault current, and the instruments used. A house with a consumer unit and a garage sub-board needs two schedules, each listing the circuits on that board.
What does R1+R2 mean on the schedule?
R1+R2 is the combined resistance of the line conductor and the circuit protective conductor of a circuit, measured end to end during continuity testing with the two linked at the board. It confirms the circuit protective conductor is continuous and, added to Ze, gives a calculated Zs to compare with the measured value.
What do I write when a test cannot be done?
Use LIM for a test limited by agreement with the client, N/A for a test not applicable to the circuit, and record the reason in the remarks column or the limitations section of the report. Never leave a cell blank; a blank looks like a test that was forgotten, and scheme assessors treat it that way.
Should insulation resistance be recorded as more than 200 or 999?
Record the value the instrument shows. If the tester's range tops out at 200 MΩ or 999 MΩ, record it as '>200' or '>999' rather than inventing a number. The BS 7671 minimum for a 230 V circuit is 1 MΩ, and IET Guidance Note 3 advises investigating anything below 2 MΩ.
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