What is the DGUV V3 inspection?

DGUV V3 inspection: what exactly is inspected?

DGUV Regulation 3 is an accident prevention regulation of the German statutory accident insurance. It requires businesses to have electrical installations and equipment inspected for proper condition before first use and at set intervals thereafter (Section 5). Together with the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (BetrSichV), it forms the basis for electrical testing in the workplace.

A distinction is made between two groups, each with different intervals:

DGUV V3 inspection intervals: the table

The intervals are set out in the implementation guidance for Section 5 of DGUV Regulation 3. For portable equipment, they are guide values that can be extended if the inspection record is good.

The 2 percent rule

The failure rate is the share of devices that fail an inspection. If it is below 2%, the chosen interval is considered sufficient – and may be extended up to the maximum values. Conversely, if you don’t evaluate your inspection results per device group, you can neither justify nor use a longer interval.

Guide values are not a free pass. The employer sets the actual intervals in its risk assessment (Section 3(6) BetrSichV). If devices are heavily used or many defects are found during inspections, the interval must be shortened.

Inspection interval finder: calculate the next due date

Choose the equipment, enter the date of the last inspection and read off the interval, next due date and legal basis. With one click, you add the date to your calendar with a reminder 14 days in advance. Besides electrical equipment, the finder also covers ladders, racking, forklifts, vehicles and fire extinguishers.

How a DGUV V3 inspection works

For portable equipment, the repeat inspection follows the standard DIN EN 50699 (VDE 0702), formerly DIN VDE 0701-0702. The procedure is always the same:

1. IdentifyRecord the device with its asset number and assign it to the inspection register.
2. Visual inspectionCheck housing, cable, plug and strain relief for damage.
3. MeasureMeasure protective conductor and insulation resistance as well as leakage current with the tester.
4. FunctionSwitch on the device and check that it works safely.
5. DocumentRecord the result and attach an inspection sticker with the next due date.

If a device fails, it is locked out immediately and only released again after repair and re-inspection. Records must be kept at least until the next inspection (Section 14 BetrSichV) – in practice, keeping the full history per device pays off.

Who may carry out the DGUV V3 inspection?

Inspections are carried out by a qualified electrician (Elektrofachkraft): a person who, based on training, knowledge and experience, can assess the work and recognise possible hazards. For portable equipment, an electrically instructed person may also inspect, provided they use suitable measuring and test equipment and work under the direction and supervision of a qualified electrician.

Many businesses hire an electrical contractor who works through all due devices in a batch inspection once a quarter or every six months. Larger businesses train their own staff. Either way, the employer remains responsible for making sure inspections happen.

Example: inspection effort at a construction company

This requires documentation with results per device and area. Without it, you’re left with the guide value – or an extension nobody can prove if something goes wrong.

5 common DGUV V3 inspection mistakes

• Forgetting private devices. Someone’s own kettle or phone charger in the break room must be included in the inspection – or not be allowed in the workplace.
• Devices aren’t there on inspection day. The inspector arrives, but half the drills are on job sites. If you know where every device is, you can plan inspection days without gaps. More on this in the guide Stop tool loss.
• The failure rate isn’t evaluated. Then you’re stuck with the shortest interval, even though longer ones would be possible.
• Failed devices stay in circulation. A defect without a lockout is worse than no inspection, because it is documented.
• New devices are missing from the inspection register. For new devices, the manufacturer’s test counts – but the repeat inspection still has to be scheduled from day one.

And in Switzerland? The DGUV does not apply there. The basis is Art. 32b of the Ordinance on Accident Prevention (VUV): work equipment must be maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and intervals follow from the manufacturer and the risk assessment. For electrical work equipment, businesses follow the recommendations of Suva and Electrosuisse rule SNR 462638.

Organise DGUV V3 inspections with Scanwiz

With the Maintenance & Inspections module, inspection intervals are attached directly to the device. Scanwiz reminds the responsible person in good time, guides them through the inspection with a checklist and files every report in the device’s log. And because you can see in Scanwiz who has which device right now, it’s also there on inspection day.

• Templates with interval and checklist – create once, apply to all electrical devices
• Bulk inspection for many devices in one pass, every result goes to the device
• Record defects with a photo, lock out the device, order the repair
• DGUV import for existing inspection data, so your history doesn’t start from zero

All details on the page Maintenance and inspections. Intervals for ladders, racking, forklifts and vehicles are in the guide Inspection intervals for work equipment.

Frequently asked questions about the DGUV V3 inspection

Sources & methodology

1. DGUV Regulation 3, Section 5 with implementation guidance, Tables 1A and 1B. BGN Branchenwissen (German), accessed 10 Nov 2026.
2. German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (BetrSichV), Section 14 Inspection of work equipment. gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed 10 Nov 2026.
3. Suva: Inspecting electrical work equipment correctly. suva.ch, accessed 10 Nov 2026.
4. Worked example: Scanwiz’s own calculation with realistic values from a construction company.

Note: This page provides a practical overview and does not replace advice from an occupational safety specialist, the employers’ liability insurance association or Suva. Updated November 2026 · Scanwiz editorial team