Q18 and Q19: APSAD standards for electrical safety
Q18: visual and functional verification of electrical installations
Q18 and Q19 are two complementary APSAD reports on the electrical fire risk. Q18 certifies the visual and functional compliance of electrical installations (D18 standard). Q19 certifies the absence of abnormal temperature rises measured by infrared thermography (D19 standard). Both are required annually by insurers in addition to the regulatory COFRAC verification. Confusing the two, or forgetting the Q19 during a fit-out operation, exposes the occupant to a claim coverage refusal. Kytom incorporates the Q18 and Q19 requirements from the design phase across its 1200+ projects delivered since 2006, in coordination with the client’s APSAD body.
The Q18 report is drawn up in accordance with the D18 standard published by the CNPP (National Centre for Prevention and Protection). It is issued by a verification and prevention body authorised by the CNPP, following a documentary review and an on-site inspection.
Scope covered: all of the building’s electrical installations, not only premises with a fire or explosion risk. This includes distribution panels, rising mains, terminal feeders, safety lighting, UPS units, EV charging stations and any installation modified since the last verification.
Deliverable content: the fire or explosion hazards identified, their age (new or already flagged during a previous verification), the recommended corrective actions and a summary opinion that can be passed on to the insurer.
Q19: infrared thermography of electrical installations
The Q19 report meets the CNPP’s D19 standard. It is issued by an APSAD-qualified provider following an inspection using an infrared thermal camera of the energised electrical installations.
Principle: the camera measures the surface temperature of electrical components (busbars, connections, circuit breaker feeders, contactors, transformers). An abnormal temperature rise, invisible to the naked eye, signals an emerging fault: insufficient tightening, oxidation, phase imbalance, overload, insulation fault. These faults typically precede a fire or an unplanned outage by several weeks to several months.
Procedures: the work is carried out during normal site activity, without any power outage. The technician opens the energised panels and scans each component. A post-loading delay of 30 to 60 minutes is observed to stabilise temperatures.
Typical scopes: main and sub-distribution panels, rising mains, MV/LV transformers, UPS units and their batteries, server panels and IT rooms, private transformer substations.
Difference from the regulatory verification of electrical installations
Q18 and Q19 are complementary to the periodic regulatory verification applicable to electrical installations in professional settings (articles R4226-1 et seq.). The latter is carried out by a COFRAC-accredited body and aims to protect workers against the risk of electric shock. It is mandatory for the employer, regardless of any insurer requirement.
Comparative overview:
- Regulatory verification: triggered by the regulatory obligation regarding electrical installations, carried out by a COFRAC body, report kept available to the labour inspectorate.
- Q18: triggered by the insurer, carried out by a CNPP-authorised body, visual and functional report, sent to the insurer every year.
- Q19: triggered by the insurer, carried out by an APSAD-qualified provider in infrared thermography, temperature measurement without interrupting activity.
A body can be both COFRAC-accredited and CNPP D18-authorised, but Q19 thermography is often still entrusted to a specialised provider (high-resolution infrared camera, level 1 or 2 ISO 18436-7 technician certification).
When the insurer requires Q18 and Q19
The requirement appears in the specific conditions of the professional all-risks or building all-risks policy. It is typically triggered as soon as one of the following criteria is met:
Consequence of a missing Q18 or Q19: increased deductible, exclusion of cover on the risk concerned, or even cancellation of the policy at expiry. In the event of a claim, the insurer can refuse coverage if the previous year’s report has not been submitted.
Kytom method: incorporating Q18 and Q19 from the design stage
On a commercial fit-out project (partitioning, electrical compliance upgrade, creation of an IT room), Kytom coordinates the Q18 and Q19 requirements upstream with the verification body appointed by the tenant or its insurer.
Studies phase (weeks 1 to 4): review of the site’s latest Q18 and Q19 reports, identification of outstanding reservations, integration of corrective measures into the tender documents. For premises with high heat output (server rooms, MV/LV substations, UPS units), sizing of the ventilation and panel access hatches to enable Q19 thermography without dismantling.
Works phase (weeks 5 to 10): joint acceptance of the electrical panels with the CNPP body before final closure, phase balancing on sensitive feeders, torque tightening of connections according to manufacturer recommendations. Marking of thermographic measurement points to facilitate the annual Q19 inspection.
Acceptance phase (weeks 11 to 12): handover to the tenant of the Q18 and Q19 as-built file including the inspection report, the initial thermal measurement records (reference for subsequent inspections), and the list of corrective actions to be included in the annual electrical maintenance plan.
This upstream integration, aligned with Kytom’s standard 12-week timeframe, avoids the frequent scenario of post-acceptance remedial work when the insurer discovers an abnormal temperature rise at the first annual thermography.
Frequently asked questions
Are Q18 and Q19 mandatory in a regulatory sense?
No. These inspections are not imposed by the general regulations applicable to public-access buildings nor by the texts governing workplace safety. They fall under the insurance contract and become contractually mandatory as soon as the insurer includes them in its specific conditions. Failure to submit them exposes you to an exclusion of cover in the event of a claim.
How often must Q18 and Q19 be renewed?
The standard frequency is annual, aligned with the expiry of the insurance contract. A Q18 or Q19 remains valid for one year from the date of the visit and must be renewed before that date to avoid creating a gap in coverage. An interim visit may be requested after significant works or a claim, or in the event of a change in occupancy of the premises.
Who must order Q18 and Q19 in a leased building?
Responsibility depends on the lease. In a standard commercial lease, the verification of the tenant’s private installations (terminal electrical distribution, sub-distribution panels of the leased floors) falls to the tenant. The common installations (rising main, transformers, building main distribution board) remain the responsibility of the landlord. The exact split must be checked at signing and at each renewal.
Does Q19 thermography require an interruption of activity?
No. Infrared thermography is performed precisely during normal site activity, without any power outage. The installations must be under nominal load so that the measured temperatures reflect actual operating conditions. The technician opens the energised panels with the appropriate personal protective equipment and scans each component with the thermal camera. The work typically lasts 2 to 4 hours for a commercial floor of 1,000 to 3,000 m².
Can the same body produce Q18, Q19 and the COFRAC verification?
Partially. A body can be both COFRAC-accredited for the regulatory verification and CNPP-authorised for the D18, and produce both deliverables in a combined visit. Q19 thermography, however, requires specific equipment (high-resolution infrared camera) and a dedicated technician certification. Many bodies subcontract it to a specialised provider. Kytom works with several providers holding the triple capability COFRAC + CNPP D18 + APSAD D19.
