DGUV V3 inspection: having electrical equipment tested in your company

Power strips, printers, coffee machines and cables in the office are portable electrical work equipment that companies must have inspected regularly by a qualified electrician (Elektrofachkraft) under DGUV Vorschrift 3, the German statutory accident insurance regulation.

In short: DGUV Vorschrift 3 obliges every company to have its electrical equipment and installations inspected by a qualified electrician: portable equipment in the office every 1–2 years, on construction sites every 3 months, fixed installations every 4 years. All employers with electrical work equipment are affected. Failure to comply risks fines of up to €10,000 as well as recourse claims by the employers' liability insurance association (Berufsgenossenschaft).

Who is subject to the DGUV V3 inspection?

Every company that operates electrical equipment or installations is obliged to have it inspected under DGUV Vorschrift 3, regardless of industry or size. This applies not only to workshops and construction sites but also to perfectly ordinary offices: power strips, extension cords, printers, coffee machines or kettles are portable electrical work equipment just like tools and machines. This applies to trades businesses as well as to service providers, medical practices or law firms, wherever electrically powered devices are used. The employer or company management is responsible for compliance, even if the actual inspection is delegated to external specialists.

What do companies need to do in practice?

First, a complete inventory of all portable electrical equipment in the company must be compiled, before a qualified electrician or an approved inspection service is commissioned with the recurring inspection. A complete and current overview is the basis for economical and gapless inspection planning, since it avoids duplicate trips and ensures that no device slips through. In concrete terms, the following steps are necessary:

1. Record the inventory of all portable electrical equipment (cables, power strips, printers, coffee machine…).
2. Set the inspection interval (office generally 1–2 years, correspondingly shorter with more frequent use).
3. Commission a qualified electrician or an approved inspection service to carry out the inspection.
4. Attach inspection stickers and archive the inspection records.
5. Have fixed installations (distribution boards, permanent wiring) inspected separately at least every 4 years.

Which of these obligations apply to your company in detail is shown by a tool such as Company Audit. It also makes sense to check newly purchased devices for visible defects in an initial inspection before first use, before they are taken into the regular inspection cycle.

By when and how often must inspections take place?

The inspection intervals depend on the use and location of the equipment: portable electrical work equipment in the office must be inspected every 1 to 2 years, on construction sites, because of the higher mechanical stress, as often as every 3 months. The reason for the shorter intervals on construction sites is the greater mechanical and weather-related load on the equipment, while office equipment is used under comparatively gentle conditions. Fixed installations such as distribution boards or permanent wiring must be checked by a qualified electrician at least every 4 years. Many external inspection services offer fixed annual appointments, which considerably simplifies keeping to the deadlines in day-to-day operations and avoids duplicate work.

What are the risks of violating the inspection obligation?

Anyone who misses the recurring inspections under DGUV Vorschrift 3 risks fines of up to 10,000 euros. If an accident at work occurs as a result of an uninspected device, the employers' liability insurance association (Berufsgenossenschaft) can additionally claim recourse against the company: the costs of treatment and loss of earnings are then no longer borne by the statutory accident insurance alone. This risk can be avoided with manageable effort: anyone who keeps to the inspection intervals and documents the evidence properly is legally protected in the event of damage and at the same time protects employees from avoidable accidents caused by defective electrical devices. Gaplessly archived inspection records and attached inspection stickers are therefore not only an obligation but, in an emergency, also the decisive proof towards the supervisory authority and the employers' liability insurance association.

Frequently asked questions

Does the DGUV V3 inspection also apply to small offices with few employees?

Yes. The obligation applies to every company that operates electrical equipment, regardless of company size: even a one-person office with a printer and a power strip is affected. The cost of an external inspection is manageable with few devices and can often be combined with other appointments of the inspection service.

Who may carry out the inspection under DGUV V3?

The inspection must be carried out by a qualified electrician or a person instructed in electrical engineering under the guidance of a qualified electrician; alternatively, companies commission an approved external inspection service.

What happens to the inspection results?

Inspected devices receive an inspection sticker with the date of the next inspection due. The complete inspection records must be archived so that compliance with the obligation can be proven during a check or after an accident. This makes it possible to see at a glance which devices are currently inspected and when the next inspection is due.

Do newly purchased devices also have to be inspected?

Yes, newly purchased electrical devices should be checked for visible defects in an initial inspection before first use, before they are taken into the regular inspection cycle.

Does the same deadline apply to fixed installations as to devices?

No. Portable devices are inspected, depending on where they are used, every 3 months to 2 years, whereas fixed installations such as distribution boards or permanent wiring only at least every 4 years. This longer interval is possible because permanently installed systems are mechanically stressed less often than mobile devices.

Source: DGUV Vorschrift 3 · BetrSichV (German Industrial Safety Ordinance). This article is general information and does not replace legal advice in individual cases. As of: July 2026.