ᐅ Electrical Installation by a Friend – Is an Inspection Mandatory for Insurance Purposes?
Created on: 2 Aug 2025 10:30
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BoPaDi24
Hello everyone,
A good friend of mine is a certified electrician and works as an industrial electrician. Since we need a sub-distribution board in the garage, he offered that I could do the cable pulling and he would handle all the connections.
My only concern is whether this might cause problems with the insurance, as I would not have an invoice or documentation for the work done.
Would I then need to have the installation inspected and approved by another electrician afterward?
I can’t quite imagine that another electrician would take responsibility for that.
Best regards
A good friend of mine is a certified electrician and works as an industrial electrician. Since we need a sub-distribution board in the garage, he offered that I could do the cable pulling and he would handle all the connections.
My only concern is whether this might cause problems with the insurance, as I would not have an invoice or documentation for the work done.
Would I then need to have the installation inspected and approved by another electrician afterward?
I can’t quite imagine that another electrician would take responsibility for that.
Best regards
nordanney schrieb:
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MachsSelbst2 Aug 2025 21:02And since he’ll probably do it for a case of beer without a written contract, he will never have been there if any damage occurs. Prove otherwise...
It’s a gray area. At least you’re not doing it yourself but hiring someone who knows how to do it.
If he works in the industry, maybe he can borrow a VDE tester? Then he can do the necessary measurements, and that’s it.
If you want it legally secure, a certified master electrician must perform the measurements, document them, and sign off. Of course, that will cost you.
It’s a gray area. At least you’re not doing it yourself but hiring someone who knows how to do it.
If he works in the industry, maybe he can borrow a VDE tester? Then he can do the necessary measurements, and that’s it.
If you want it legally secure, a certified master electrician must perform the measurements, document them, and sign off. Of course, that will cost you.
BoPaDi24 schrieb:
A good friend of mine is a trained electrician and works as an industrial electrician. See NAV § 13 regarding installations.
BoPaDi24 schrieb:
My only question is whether this could cause problems with the insurance since I wouldn’t have an invoice or similar documentation for the work. In case of property damage or even personal injury, the primary concern is that the recognized technical standards (= minimum norms) have been followed. When the work complies with these standards, the qualifications of the person performing the work and whether they are registered with a network operator (VNB) are less important, which your friend apparently cannot demonstrate.
BoPaDi24 schrieb:
Do I then have to have the installation inspected by another electrician afterwards? Even electricians registered with a network operator do not perform authoritative duties like structural engineers or official inspectors. Therefore, an electrician with a license does not “approve” the combined work of a layperson and an industrial electrician. Instead, as the client, you accept their service as an inspection.
BoPaDi24 schrieb:
I honestly can’t see that any electrician would want to take that on. Quick inspections offered at a “fair price” are a business of their own. In such quick checks or so-called “remote approvals,” it is usually ignored that the registering electrician is not allowed to cover others’ work under their own name.
BoPaDi24 schrieb:
I will check that – thanks. If nothing is mentioned, can I then assume that nothing special is required? Insurance differentiates between intentional damage and negligence.
They will certainly not require old invoices that may have been lost or destroyed; instead, they bear the burden of proof. Experts or appraisers can be involved for this purpose.
The issue you described does not usually arise, because even private individuals are allowed to issue invoices. There is also the legal principle of neighborly assistance.
However, it is also completely legal to have the electrical work professionally inspected and approved if you believe the contractor is not complying with the applicable standards, such as DIN.
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MachsSelbst2 Aug 2025 22:03With an electrical layperson, it is generally assumed that they cannot perform the work properly due to lack of training... anything else would be completely absurd.
Neighborly help, sure. But what electrician is so foolish that they would admit to having connected the subpanel in this context after a fire? I would honestly like to shake that person’s hand.
If they actually admit to it and the fire started there, they are legally liable for damages. Companies are often insured against such mistakes, but private individuals rarely are...
But in the end, don’t trust your friend? Then have a professional company do it.
Neighborly help, sure. But what electrician is so foolish that they would admit to having connected the subpanel in this context after a fire? I would honestly like to shake that person’s hand.
If they actually admit to it and the fire started there, they are legally liable for damages. Companies are often insured against such mistakes, but private individuals rarely are...
But in the end, don’t trust your friend? Then have a professional company do it.
MachsSelbst schrieb:
Neighbourly help, yes. But which electrician would be foolish enough to admit to having connected the subpanel in this way after a fire? I would honestly like to shake their hand.
Does he really admit that? That’s a good one! No one even asks that afterward. Intent or negligence. In the latter case, payment is made because it’s only a technical fault.
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