Which item is not typically checked during a visual inspection of a new installation?

• A. Continuity of live conductors under load.
• B. Integrity of insulation.
• C. Presence of test labels.
• D. Secure fixings.

Answer: (A)

When you do a visual inspection of a new installation, you’re looking for observable, physical signs of safety, workmanship, and correct installation before any power is applied. This means you check that insulation looks intact and undamaged, cables and components are properly routed and secured, and labels or test markings are present for identification and future maintenance. These are all things you can see with your eyes.

The item that isn’t typically checked during a visual inspection is continuity of live conductors under load. That kind of check requires electrical testing with the circuit energized, using appropriate equipment to measure continuity and current flow. A visual inspection can’t verify whether live conductors have a continuous path under load, and doing such tests while live would be unsafe. Those tests are part of subsequent electrical testing procedures after the installation is energized, not part of the visual survey.

So, while insulation integrity, secure fixings, and the presence of test labels are all things you can verify by sight, continuity of live conductors under load belongs to electrical performance testing performed with proper safety precautions and equipment.