we are about to sign off on selling our apartment, but the notary has asked whether we have a recent OIBT report (Ordonnance sur les installations électriques à basse tension, Niederspannungs-Installationsverordnung, NIV). However, such a control hasn't been done for our apartment (it is only 10 years old).
I understand a registered electrician can perform the control; is it a complicated procedure, or simply a case of measuring the supply at various points in the house for safety?

Sorry I can't answer the specific question, but is a simple "yes" or "no" an acceptable answer?

We just bought and I'm very confident there was no electrical check so maybe it's just a question rather than a requirement.

Maybe this link helps you?

https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classifi...tion/20012238/

(Hoping your French is better than mine, mine is a bit rusty)

It's a pain in the ass, a specialised electrician comes in and checks the whole system is ultra conform with the regulations, takes a while, you're expected to move furniture that hides any electrical sockets.

For a 150m Chalet, took 3 hours and cost Chf 700.--

Once the guy has been he either issues a cert of conformity or tells you what needs doing. You employ ANOTHER electrician to do the work and providing it's not too much, he can sign off, stamp the form, send it back to the original electrician who did the control and he will issue the cert.

Maybe use Group E, they can organise the control and then the subsequent work, if necessary.

They'll be one along soon, any notification in the land/property register will set the wheels in motion, may take a few months though....

Somebody will be along that is for sure, it's an easy way forthem to make money

Yes, you have to use an official 'contrôle électrique' person- not just any qualified electrician. We had to do this last year- they check absolutely everything, every socket is unscrewed and visually checked, then measure, check all appliances are earthed, etc, etc. In our case, the guy found a small part of the house still had the old fashioned paper covered wire- and a few sockets on a wood clad room didn't have a metal back to prevent fire- and a few other niggles. We then had a year to get all the problems resolved by a qualified registered electrician- and he then had to send an official report to say it had been done.

When the electrician's came and put the metal back plates in the wood clad lounge- he found a lot more had to be replaced than the original report had said- so we were a bit annoyed- but bit the bullet and had it all done- so we know all is ship shape and safe. Obviously, our house is very old and some of the electrics were pre-war. The worst was that the clothes dryer (which we use very very rarely) was not earthed, and this could have been fatal!

Look in the phone book for 'contrôleur électrique' or ask your Commune for a list.

I think you will find, providing it was authorized at the time of construction they cannot insist it be changed, they can advise that it is though....

Standards change every year, it would be impossible to make everybody change to the latest standard

However, saying this, a renovation of the system maybe enforceable if the installation is considered as a risk, fire hazard or just plain dangerous

Old thread, but seeing as it came up on page 1 of Google search for this topic I thought I'd update it in case else (like me) also needs it.

Per the ordonnance in force since 01.07.21 (https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2002/22/fr) private houses, flats etc have a control period of 20 years. Per annex 3:

3 Electrical installations subject to inspection every 10 or 20 years

Electrical installations subject to inspection every 10 or 20 years must also be inspected after* any change of ownership, if the last inspection was carried out five years ago.

*
The French says 'after'
The German is less clear - 'whenever' (there is a change)
The Italian says 'at' (each change)

My wife tells me that our vendor paid for the inspection and submitted it to the notaire, so I guess it's indeed with the vendor.

PS

NB that change of ownership can have other forms - interesting FR legal text at https://www.bulletin.ch/fr/news-deta...prietaire.html, which also includes the legal basis for the testing itself at change of ownership

PPS

It is also clear that if you own a house for 20 years, you need to do a control, which people may not know!

The liability for this check can be transferred to the buyer. Just a clause is needed in the selling contract. I had it done when I bought an older flat.

Same here, we had it done after we bought. Found a few little problems, which we expected.

Indeed! Been there, done that, recently. And in VD they (OIBT) remind you and send you all the details.

I bought an apartment, I had to do it, not the vendor.