SwitzerlandGuides · Updated on 11.09.2026
Overdue OIBT Inspection: Deadlines, Reminders and Penalties
The ordinance sets an inspection interval for each type of installation and a staged reminder process. Being late is not serious if dealt with quickly; it becomes costly once the file reaches ESTI.
Inspection intervals
20 years for dwellings, houses and residential buildings; 10 years for most commercial premises (offices, shops, schools, hotels); 5 years for premises with special hazards (farms, damp workshops, fire-risk premises); 1 year for temporary and construction-site installations.
The reminder process
The DSO notifies you in writing no later than six months before the deadline (Art. 36 OIBT) and sets a time limit. If no report is submitted, it sends a reminder with a new deadline. If there is still no response, the file is passed to the Federal Inspectorate for Heavy Current Installations (ESTI).
What ESTI can do
ESTI sets a final deadline, charges its own fees, and can order the inspection at the owner's expense. The Electricity Act (LIE) also provides for fines for breaches of the ordinance.
Uncorrected defects
A safety report cannot be issued while defects remain. The correction deadline is stated on the defect list; if it is exceeded, the DSO may, in the event of danger, go as far as cutting off the power supply.
Resolving the situation quickly
Book an inspection, inform the DSO of the scheduled date (this often suspends the process), and have any defects corrected without delay. On OIBT pro, the first available slot is shown immediately, usually within ten business days.
Frequently asked questions
Can I request an extension?
Yes, from the DSO, in writing and before the deadline, stating the booked inspection date. The extension is granted at its discretion.
Who receives the fine, the owner or the managing agent?
The owner of the installation is responsible under Art. 5 OIBT, even if management has been delegated to a managing agent.
Does being late affect the price of the inspection?
No, the inspection price does not change. Only ESTI's fees and, potentially, an inspection ordered at the owner's expense are added if the process goes that far.