Who is authorised to carry out mandatory inspections

The cheapest inspection quote may not be the best value if signed by someone without the proper authorisation. The report will then be invalid, and you typically discover this at the worst possible moment, when an insurer or inspectorate arrives to check after damage has occurred. For every trade, the law specifies who is permitted to carry out an inspection, so it is worth verifying this before you book the technician.

Verifying a technician's credentials is not difficult, simply request proof (a certificate of competence, certification or trade licence) before placing an order and check that it covers the relevant field for the inspection. A reputable technician will show this document without hesitation; if they refuse or make excuses, it is a warning sign.

Chimney sweep for flue gas inspection

For chimneys and flue gas ducts, Decree No. 34/2016 Coll. Applies: cleaning and inspection may only be carried out by a holder of a trade licence in the chimney sweep sector, while the inspection (i.e. Assessment of whether the flue gas duct is capable of safe operation) must be performed by an authorised flue gas duct inspector with the relevant professional examination. These are therefore two distinct roles: a standard chimney sweep for cleaning and inspection, and an authorised inspector for the formal inspection itself. In practice, both roles are often combined in one person, but not always, following a chimney fire, it is advisable to obtain confirmation directly from the authorised inspector, not merely from the chimney sweep carrying out routine checks. More information on the page chimney sweep inspections.

Competent person for solid fuel boilers

Inspection of the technical condition and operation of solid fuel boilers in accordance with Act No. 201/2012 Coll. May only be carried out by a professionally competent person. That is, a technician holding the qualification and authorisation required by this Act, not just any heating engineer. How this obligation differs from servicing a gas boiler is explained in our article. Mandatory boiler inspection: what the law says.

Service organisation for fire extinguishers

Checks of operational readiness and periodic tests of fire extinguishers in accordance with Decree No. 246/2001 Coll. May only be carried out by an authorised person or a service organisation holding the relevant authorisation for repairs and refilling of fire extinguishers. A control sticker lacking legible details on who performed the check and when is a warning sign that something is wrong. Details on the page fire extinguisher inspection.

Certified technician for air conditioning and F-gases

Leak testing of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2024/573 may only be carried out by a certified technician. Certification applies to work with fluorinated refrigerants and is a prerequisite for the leak test report to be valid at all. More on the page air conditioning inspection.

Reserved technical facilities in general

Electrical, gas, pressure and lifting equipment (including lifts) are classified as reserved technical devices under Act No. 250/2021 Coll., on safety at work in connection with the operation of reserved technical devices. Inspections may only be carried out by an inspection technician holding a valid authorisation: the specific scope and deadlines are then set by implementing regulations according to the type of device and the environment in which it is operated. For guidance, visit the website: electrical inspection, inspection of gas installations, inspection of pressure vessels and elevator inspections.

Qualifications can also change over time, certificates and accreditations often have limited validity and must be renewed regularly. Even a long-standing technician may therefore have an expired authorisation without realising it themselves, let alone the customer.

In all cases the same rule applies: ask the technician about their authorisation and have them show it to you before signing the order. If an inspection is carried out by someone without the appropriate qualification, there is a risk that the insurance company or inspectorate will not accept it during an audit, even retrospectively.