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Electrical systems and installations are a major part of our everyday lives. From domestic to commercial, industrial, and public properties, they are everywhere and have a big role in making our lives easier and more efficient.
Although they are made for our convenience, a lack of safety can turn electrical systems and installations into a hazard. Faults with the electric wiring, switches, sockets, fuse boards, and consumer units can lead to accidents and injuries, and in serious cases, they can also cause electrical fires and be life-threatening.
In order to ensure safety, all electrical installations must meet regulated standards and undergo periodic testing and inspections by certified electricians. Most of the electrical faults mentioned above could be detected beforehand and avoided if the electrical systems are well-maintained.
The best way to make sure that your electrical installations are safe to use and meet industry standards is to have a qualified electrician check them and issue an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) as documented proof.
Read on to find out all about Electrical Installation Condition Reports, what is included in them, why they are so important, and much more:
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal document made by a certified electrician after conducting a thorough inspection of the electrical systems and installations in a domestic, commercial, or industrial property.
Also called a “landlord’s electrical safety certificate” or a “periodic inspection report”, an EICR assesses the condition of an electrical installation and determines whether the system is safe to use and complies with the industry standards.
It inspects all the electrical installations and systems in a property, whether it is a small home or an industrial facility, and makes sure that they are installed and maintained as they should be.
As discussed above, the main purpose of an EICR is to make sure that all electrical systems and installations are safe to use and comply with the relevant safety standards.
A qualified electrician is given the responsibility to check all the electrical installations and make sure they are free of any faults, damages, defects, and deterioration. They are also given the task to check if they are properly installed.
If any damages and defects are identified, corrective action is recommended by the electrician in order to make the electrical installations safe. In the end, the findings are recorded in a report to be used as a reference for future inspections and to serve as documented proof of the testing and inspection being done.
The report contains the results of the inspection, details of any damages, defects, and deteriorations found, and highlights how changes can be made to comply with the regulations and minimise any risk or danger.
An EICR is carried out by a qualified and certified electrical engineer or electrician who understands the electrical safety regulations and possesses the required skill and expertise to carry out the task with ease.
On average, an EICR takes around 1 to 4 hours to complete, although this time depends on several factors such as the size of the property and the type and accessibility of the electrical installations. Also, depending on the findings of the initial assessment, additional inspection may be required which may take longer.
In order to perform the EICR test, the electrician will start by disconnecting the electrical installations from the main supply and check them thoroughly based on the standards set by the Wiring Regulations.
Certain specific issues that may be checked during an EICR include:
According to the law, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) must include the following things:
Once the inspection is completed, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is issued by the electrician which details the overall health and condition of the electrical installations and lists any remedial work that is required to make them safe.
The report includes details of any damages, defects, faults, and deterioration that could turn into a safety hazard. It may also include pictures to emphasise the issue.
If case of any issues being identified, the results will clearly state so and come out as unsatisfactory. Remedial work will be recommended and a quotation for the work will also be given.
Depending on the level of risk and the urgency of the action required, the electrician making the report will indicate a code for the issue. The codes are:
According to the Electrical Safety Standards, you are required to resolve any electrical issues within 28 days from when you received the recommendations from your electrician.
After the remedial work has been successfully completed, the electrician will issue an EICR Certificate of Safety to show compliance and as documented proof that your electrical system is safe to use.
Failure to correct the issues within the recommended timeframe puts you at risk of heavy fines and penalties. If corrective action is not taken within 21 days of a reminder, the local authority reserves the right to send an authorised individual to enter your property and take the necessary action.
You and your property can benefit from electrical installation condition reports in several ways that include:
As the owner or landlord of a property, you are legally responsible for the safety and welfare of all those on your property, whether it is a residential, commercial, or industrial property. Failing to abide by the Electrical Safety Regulations makes the electrical installations on your property unsafe to use and puts you at risk of charges of negligence in the event of an electricity-related accident or injury.
In case of a serious issue, you may be charged for non-compliance and required to pay a hefty fine. It is important to note here that claiming you were unaware of the electrical issues will not help you out of the situation as you are obligated to minimise all such risks.
As mentioned above, an EICR may also determine whether or not your insurer will cover the damages caused by the electrical faults. If it is found that the accident in question was caused by an electricity-related issue and you did not fulfil your duty as a responsible owner or landlord in mitigating the risk, your insurer will most likely deny your claim.
Not only will you have to cover the cost of repair and replacements caused by the damage but also pay heavy legal costs in case you are sued by an occupant, employee, or visitor.
It is recommended in the wiring regulations BS 7671 that a domestic property must be regularly inspected and tested after an electrical installation every 5 to 10 years, or if you are buying/selling the property.
As a business or commercial space, it is a requirement under the Electricity of Work Act 1989 that, you carry out an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) at regular intervals, which can range from 3 to 5 years.
A Landlords Safety Certificate, which provides an electrical installation condition report to identify any issues and to make sure the property is safe for use and up to electrical standards and regulations, must be carried out every 5 years or whenever there is a change in occupancy.
There are other factors that determine how often the electrical installations must be inspected such as the age of the installation, the type of property, environmental conditions, and misuse of the installations.
The EICR needs to be conducted at more regular intervals if the electrical system and installations are old. Similarly, certain types of properties, such as those with a swimming pool, may need more frequent testing and inspections.
If a property has faced extreme environmental conditions such as a flood or fire, the extent of the damage may need to be determined right away which would call for a thorough inspection of the electrical installations.
Misuse of the electrical installations or if they were vandalised or tampered with may also adversely affect their safety and require an inspection right away.
To make it easier to remember when the next EICR inspection is due, the electrician will apply a label to the electrical installation after completing the current inspection. This label would include the date of the inspection as well as the recommended date for the next one.
These details are also mentioned on the EICR. The electrician may suggest a more frequent inspection based on the factors mentioned above. If that is the case, they will also provide the reason and justification in the report to maintain transparency.
The average cost of an EICR for a small house is around £125 to £300, although it can be much higher depending on the level of work required. EICRs for commercial and industrial properties are more expensive as the installations are more complex.
The cost of an EICR can vary based on several factors such as:
To get a better idea, it is always recommended to speak to your electrician beforehand and ask for a detailed quote or estimates before beginning the work. Make sure to discuss all your requirements and understand all the specific costs to avoid any issues later.
To ensure your EICR inspection is a smooth one, always hire an electrician with the relevant accreditations. They should be a member of a government-approved competent persons scheme or employed by a company that is registered with the said scheme, such as the NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting).
We have been providing electrical services to residential, commercial, and industrial properties for over 40 years and are specialists in all aspects of electrical installations, maintenance, and testing.
All our work is fully insured and we work to meet the standards set by the NICEIC to make sure all your electrical installations meet the current regulations and all the notifiable work is signed off by the local authorities.
If you have unplanned issues within your home or business, we can provide a call-out service to rectify and solve any problems such as circuits tripping, loss of power, broken items that need repairing, or to check if you feel something is unsafe or a potential hazard.
Our team can generate a Visual Inspection Report (VIR) to identify anything visual that does not comply with the standards or looks unsafe, as well as a full Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) where we will identify and test each circuit to make sure they are not deteriorating and are safe for use within the current standards and regulations set by the BS 7671.
We can also provide PAT testing of appliances to make sure that any items such as kettles, computers, and microwaves are safe for use in the home and workplace.
Contact us here or call us at 0800 612 3001 to get in touch with our professional electricians for more information on Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs).
Photo by Anil Kumar Shrestha on Unsplash
