Electrical Inspection in Belgium: Booking, Re-inspection and AREI Requirements
Booking an electrical inspection with an approved body: how long it stays valid, when a re-inspection is needed, what drives the cost and what the inspector checks – with AREI references.
AuthorStephan BehmWhat is an electrical inspection?
The electrical inspection – the keuring – is the check of your installation by an approved inspection body. A new installation is inspected for conformity with the AREI/RGIE before it is put into use (Book 1, chapter 6.4); after that come control visits, at the latest every 25 years for a domestic installation (section 6.5.2). The inspector reviews the documents, examines the installation, tests the protective devices and measures insulation resistance and earth electrode resistance. For a new installation, the grid operator only makes the power available once a positive conformity report exists (subsection 6.4.6.2).
Which inspection applies to you depends on the trigger: new build, significant extension, periodic visit, sale of a home with an old installation, or an increase in connection capacity. This guide sorts the cases, lists the requirements an inspector typically checks in a home and shows you how to prepare documents that match the installation as built.
Editing and review: PlanElec team, 8 October 2026. All references point to AREI/RGIE Book 1, version 06, applicable since 1 April 2026.
When do you need an inspection?
| Trigger | What is inspected | Book 1 reference |
|---|---|---|
| New installation | Conformity inspection before putting into use | chapter 6.4 |
| Significant modification or extension, for example a new circuit | Added or modified parts; affected unchanged parts with regard to the modified characteristics | subsection 6.4.7.3 |
| Non-significant modification, for example a socket on an existing circuit | No inspection before use; a short description goes into the installation file | section 9.1.2 no. 7 |
| Periodic control visit | Domestic installations at the latest every 25 years, other installations every 5 years | section 6.5.2 |
| Sale of a dwelling with an old installation (before 1 October 1981) | Control visit arranged by the seller | section 8.4.2 |
| Higher connection capacity for an old domestic installation | Control visit before the grid operator increases the capacity | section 8.4.1 |
| Negative report | New inspection once the infringements are corrected | chapter 9.1, section 8.4.2 |
A modification is significant when it has an additional impact on the safety of people or property that no conformity inspection has covered yet (definition in part 2). Describe the actual work to your electrician and the inspection body instead of just ticking "renovation". That way the body schedules the right type of inspection and the right scope.
Booking an electrical inspection: which body?
You book an electrical inspection with an approved inspection body: a body approved by the minister responsible for energy to carry out conformity inspections before use and control visits (section 6.3.1). To be approved, it must be accredited to NBN EN ISO/IEC 17020 and meet the requirements for a type A inspection body (subsection 6.3.3.1 a). The competent authority may also carry out the inspection (sections 6.4.1 and 6.5.1). The current list of approved bodies is published by the FPS Economy.
| Situation | What to know when booking | Book 1 reference |
|---|---|---|
| New installation | Book the inspection before first use; without a positive report the grid operator does not make power available | 6.4.1, 6.4.6.2 |
| Significant modification or extension | Inspection before the new part is used; it is limited to the added or modified part | 6.4.7.3 |
| Periodic control visit | The latest date is stated in the report of the previous inspection | 6.4.6.4 b.6, 6.5.2 |
| Sale of a home with an old installation | The seller has the control visit carried out; the report date is recorded in the authentic deed | 8.4.2.2 a |
| Connection capacity increase for an old installation | The inspection report accompanies the request for the increase | 8.4.1 |
| Re-inspection after a negative periodic visit | The follow-up visit is carried out by the same approved body | 6.5.7.2 b.6, 9.1.3.2 |
| Re-inspection after a sale inspection | The buyer chooses the approved body freely | 8.4.2.2 a |
Have this information ready when booking. The report states, among other things, the name and address of the owner, manager or operator, the installation's EAN code (if available), the address of the installation and the type of premises it supplies (subsections 6.4.6.4 b.1 and 6.5.7.2 b.1). For a conformity inspection, it also names the person responsible for carrying out the work, with VAT number where applicable, and the electricity distribution company. Practical questions to ask when booking are covered further down in this article.
How long is an electrical inspection valid?
A positive report confirms conformity at the time of the inspection; the next control visit must take place at the latest within the interval of section 6.5.2. For a domestic installation that is every 25 years, and the conformity inspection report itself states the latest date (subsection 6.4.6.4 b.6).
| Type of installation | Control visit at least | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic installation | every 25 years | 6.5.2 |
| Other installations, for example non-domestic | every 5 years | 6.5.2 |
| Movable, mobile or temporary installation | every year | 6.5.2 |
| Installation in an explosive atmosphere zone | every year | 6.5.2 |
Book 1 does not provide for "extending" an inspection. As the date in your last report approaches, you have a new control visit carried out; the periodic interval then starts again. After a control visit of an old installation, too, sections 6.5.1 and 6.5.2 apply to every later visit (section 8.4.1 and subsection 8.4.2.3).
When do you need a new inspection sooner?
- Significant modification or extension: conformity inspection of that part before use (subsection 6.4.7.3).
- Sale of a home with an old installation: if the installation dates from before 1 October 1981 and that part has not yet had a control visit (subsection 8.4.2.1).
- Connection capacity increase for an old domestic installation (section 8.4.1).
- Negative report: a re-inspection once the infringements are corrected (see below: bringing the installation into compliance and re-inspection).
- Installation inspected under the old AREI: the first control visit under section 6.5.2 takes place within the interval set in the last report under the old AREI (section 8.1.2).
If you sell a home whose installation has already had a conformity inspection or a control visit, it falls outside the scope of section 8.4.2. You still hand the file with diagrams, plans and reports to the new owner (section 9.1.2), and the interval from the last report continues to apply.
The documents you present
The FPS Economy page on domestic installation inspections lists at least the single-line diagram, the situation plan and – if available – the EAN code of the connection.
- Single-line diagram (eendraadschema / schéma unifilaire): all boards, circuits, protective devices and wiring with their characteristics (subsection 3.1.2.2).
- Situation plan (situatieplan / plan de position): the location of boards, boxes, sockets, light points, switches, fixed appliances and sources (subsection 3.1.2.3).
- Manufacturer documents for special equipment. For a PV system, the file includes operating instructions, safety instructions and the technical data of the components (section 9.1.2).
In a conformity inspection, the report expressly certifies that the installation was built according to the single-line diagram and situation plan (subsection 6.4.6.4, b.4). A plan showing an outdated state stands out just as much as a missing drawing.
The requirements an inspector checks in a home
The table brings together Book 1 requirements that regularly sit at the centre of a domestic inspection. It does not replace the full text, but it shows you where to look before the appointment.
| Requirement | Reference |
|---|---|
| RCD of at most 300 mA at the origin of the installation | 4.2.4.3 b |
| High- or very-high-sensitivity RCD (at most 30 mA) for sockets, lighting, bathroom/shower and washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher; at most eight final circuits per device | 4.2.4.3 b |
| Earth electrode resistance below 100 Ω; above 30 Ω at least two high-sensitivity RCDs with at most 16 sockets each and at most 100 mA for the remaining circuits | 4.2.3.2 and 4.2.4.3 b |
| Protective device matched to the cross-section, e.g. 1.5 mm²: circuit breaker 16 A or fuse 10 A; 2.5 mm²: 20 A or 16 A | 4.4.1.4, table 4.11 |
| Socket circuits at least 2.5 mm²; at most eight single or multiple socket outlets per final circuit | 5.2.1.2 and 5.3.5.2 b |
| At least two separate lighting circuits when the dwelling has more than two rooms | 5.3.5.2 b |
| Dedicated circuit for washing machine, dishwasher, tumble dryer, cooker, hob, oven and every appliance with a fixed location from 2600 W | 5.2.1.2 |
| Main switch-disconnector of at least 40 A in domestic installations | 5.3.5.1 b |
| Insulation resistance of at least 500 kΩ per circuit at a test voltage of 500 V DC | 6.4.5.1, table 6.1 |
The 30 Ω value is not a pass/fail line: above it, Book 1 requires a stricter RCD layout, and the earth must stay below 100 Ω in any case. A cable's current-carrying capacity also depends on installation method, insulation and ambient temperature (4.4.1.4). So have your electrician confirm the sizing and protection concept.
Typical stumbling blocks
These points come up often in practice; no reliable ranking exists:
- single-line diagram missing or showing an outdated state
- too few or wrongly assigned high-sensitivity RCDs
- an earth resistance without the matching RCD layout
- cables not adequately fixed or mechanically protected
- junction boxes without covers or not accessible
- only one lighting circuit in a dwelling with more than two rooms
What happens during the inspection?
The conformity inspection is carried out with the installation de-energised and has four parts (section 6.4.1):
- Administrative checks: documents, installation data, comparison of single-line diagram and situation plan with the installation as built.
- Visual checks: equipment, wiring, covers, labelling and accessibility.
- Checks by testing: for example the operation of protective devices and the continuity of protective conductors and equipotential bonding.
- Checks by measurement: insulation resistance (6.4.5.1) and earth electrode resistance (6.4.5.2).
The report states the earth resistance and insulation level and certifies that RCDs and earth value, as well as overcurrent protection and wiring, are coordinated (6.4.6.4, b.4). If the installation conforms, the inspector endorses the single-line diagram and situation plan and states the date by which the next control visit must take place (b.6).
Under version 06, the inspector also seals the RCD at the origin of a conforming installation. From 1 November 2026, that obligation ends with Book 1 version 07; the details are in our article RCD sealing is abolished.
Compare documents and installation before the appointment
Check both plans systematically against the installation as built:
- Do the circuit labels in the board, on the single-line diagram and on the situation plan match?
- Are ratings, number of poles, cable type and cross-section recorded correctly?
- Are new sockets, light points, fixed appliances and sources on the plan?
- Can connection and junction boxes be found and reached?
- Are the manufacturer documents for PV, charger, battery or other special equipment ready?
A neat drawing of an old state does not help you, and a technically sound installation still needs the prescribed plans. Mark open points and resolve them with your electrician before the appointment.
Prepare for visual checks and measurements
Measured values are taken on the day, on your installation. Do not copy values from an old report and do not put estimated values on the plans. Make sure there is safe access to the board, the earth disconnecting link and every room; labels must be legible and covers complete. Announce special features such as PV, a battery, a backup function, a charging point or older parts of the installation in advance. Opening equipment and measuring live circuits is the electrician's job, not part of your preparation.
Questions when booking
Tell the inspection body whether the use is domestic or non-domestic, which type of inspection you need, how many boards there are and which special sources exist. Ask whether documents are expected digitally or on paper, whether all rooms must be accessible and how an ongoing renovation is handled. Have the fee, payment method and rescheduling terms confirmed directly; another provider's published prices do not automatically apply to you.
For a sale inspection, share the construction year and earlier reports. For a significant extension, describe the existing part and the new part. For PV, storage or a charger, state the operating mode and the manufacturer documents. That lets the body plan the inspection type and duration correctly.
What does an electrical inspection or re-inspection cost?
Book 1 sets no fees: you agree the price of an inspection or re-inspection with the approved body. What the regulation does show is what determines the scope of the inspection – and therefore the work on site:
| Factor | Why it matters | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Type of inspection | Conformity inspection, periodic control visit and sale inspection each have their own content and report | 6.4, 6.5, 8.4.2 |
| Domestic or non-domestic | Different report content and a different interval | 6.4.6.4, 6.4.6.5, 6.5.2 |
| Size of the installation | A control visit report states the number of boards and final circuits | 6.5.7.2 b.3 |
| Domestic PV installation (≤ 10 kVA) | Additional tests: disconnection when grid voltage is absent and operation of the residual current device | 7.112.3 |
| Missing plans during a sale inspection | The inspector draws up a summary description and sketch; the absence is recorded as an infringement | 8.4.2.2 d |
| Modification or extension | The inspection is limited to the added or modified part | 6.4.7.3 |
| Re-inspection | The check covers the removal of the infringements found | 9.1.3.2 |
So ask for a price for your specific inspection type and installation, and have it confirmed whether a re-inspection is charged separately. Another body's fee or one from an old report does not automatically apply to you. If the single-line diagram and situation plan are ready, the inspector does not need to draw a makeshift sketch during a sale inspection – and you avoid an infringement at the same time.
On the day
Have a contact person available who knows the installation. Do not remove fixed covers in advance unless the body asks you to; safe access matters more than improvised opening. Make sure pets, stored items or locked rooms do not block access.
Write down questions, but do not change the installation during the inspection. When you receive the report, check name and address, inspection type, scope of the installation and the documents listed. Raise technical objections in writing, referring to the specific finding. If a room or part of the installation was not accessible, read in the report how that affects the conclusion and ask whether an additional visit is needed.
After the report
Positive report: it confirms the assessment at the time and within the scope of the inspection. Keep it with the single-line diagram and situation plan in the installation file, which you hold in duplicate and hand over to the new owner when you sell (section 9.1.2). Record every later modification in that file.
Negative report: deal with each infringement separately. The consequences depend on the type of inspection:
| Type of inspection | Consequence of a negative report | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Conformity inspection before use | The affected part may not be put into use until the infringements are corrected and inspected again | 9.1.3.1 |
| Periodic control visit | Correct the infringements without delay; new visit by the same body within one year | 9.1.3.2, 6.5.7.2 b.6 and b.7 |
| Sale inspection of an old installation | The buyer has the corrections inspected within 18 months of the deed of sale and chooses the body freely | 8.4.2.2 a |
The FPS Economy overview of inspection types explains the procedures further. For a step-by-step approach after a negative result, read Electrical inspection failed – what now?.
Bringing the installation into compliance and re-inspection
Bringing your electrical installation into compliance means having every infringement in the report corrected and having the correction checked by an approved body. After a control visit, the work is carried out without delay and, as long as the installation stays in service, you take measures so the infringements pose no danger to people or property (subsection 9.1.3.2). After a conformity inspection, the affected part may only be used after correction and a new inspection (subsection 9.1.3.1).
- Read each infringement with its reference. The report lists the infringements (subsections 6.4.6.4 b.5 and 6.5.7.2 b.5); deal with them one at a time.
- Have the correction carried out and confirmed by your electrician, per infringement and with the circuit concerned.
- Update the documents. If the correction changes circuits, protective devices or points, update the single-line diagram and situation plan and record the change in the installation file (section 9.1.2). During a sale inspection, missing plans are an infringement in themselves (subsection 8.4.2.2 d).
- Book the re-inspection with the right body. After a periodic control visit, the same approved body carries out the follow-up visit before the date stated in the report (subsection 6.5.7.2 b.6). After a sale inspection, the buyer informs the body that issued the first report of their identity and the date of the deed, and has a body of their choice check that the infringements have been removed at the end of the 18-month period (subsection 8.4.2.2 a).
Doing nothing has consequences: if infringements remain at the second visit after a periodic inspection, the approved body sends a copy of the report to the Directorate-General for Energy (subsection 6.5.7.2 b.7 d). The full approach after a negative result is in Electrical inspection failed – what now?.
Record the inspected scope after the visit
Note which boards, rooms, sources and operating modes were actually part of the inspection and compare that with the description in the report. A positive report for a clearly delimited part says nothing about parts added later or not visited. Keep the plan version presented at the inspection unchanged with the report, and create a new, dated version for later work. That way you can always show which state of the installation was assessed. If you later change fixed wiring, protective devices or PV, battery or charging functions, check whether a new conformity inspection is required.
How PlanElec helps
Documentation is often the heaviest part of the preparation. PlanElec brings floor plan, circuits and distribution board together in one project and generates your documents from it:
- Single-line diagram from the electrical topology you entered, as a PDF
- Situation plan based on your floor plan with a Belgian symbol library, as a PDF
- AREI/RGIE self-check that surfaces design errors in the supported rules before the inspection
- Installation dossier with cover page, document index and continuous page numbering
- Four languages: Dutch, French, German and English
The roles are clearly split: the self-check shows you findings from the project data you entered, your electrician confirms sizing and workmanship, and the inspection with measurements is done by the approved inspection body. The list of approved bodies is published by the FPS Economy.