Previously a Periodic Inspection, or often referred to as a Landlord report, an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a full inspection of the wiring hidden inside your property.
The main purpose of an EICR is to detect and report on, any factors impairing or likely to impair the safety of an electrical installation.
During an EICR the consumer unit, internal wiring and any connected accessories are fully tested and inspected for faults and discrepancies from the IEE wiring regulations.
What we test
- The adequacy of the earthing and bonding.
- Devices for protection against fire and electric shock.
- Any damage or wear and tear that might affect the safety of the properties inhabitants.
- Identification of any damaged electrical fittings and accessories.
- Identification of any exposed live wires that could cause a fire or injury.
Do I need one?
In short, Yes. Whether it’s your home, business or a property you rent, an EICR will make sure that the electrical wiring inside your property is compliant with current regulations and more importantly is safe for the inhabitants to live or work in.
Most insurance companies won’t insure your property without an EICR, so beware when you rent your home. Check for a sticker on your consumer unit to when your last test has been carried out.
How often does my property need to be tested?
- Property Let or HMO – Every 5 years/change of tenant
- Domestic property – Every 10 years/change of occupancy
- Commercial premises – Every 5 years/change of tenant
- Educational establishment – Every 5 years
I’ve had a report and it’s come back as Unsatisfactory, what does this mean?
If an unsatisfactory certificate is issued it means the electrician carrying out the test has found some faults. As we can only issue a Satisfactory certificate when there are no C1 or C2 issues present, these will need to be rectified before this can happen. Don’t worry, usually the faults we find can be repaired quite easily.
As part of an EICR, we classify the faults found into 4 categories:
C1 – Danger present – Risk of injury, Immediate remedial action required.
C2 – Potentially Dangerous – Urgent remedial action required.
C3 – Improvement recommended
F/I – Further Investigation required – The item needs further investigation and time to check the fault
Sometimes when regulations change this can take your previous Satisfactory certificate to Unsatisfactory. This is often the case with RCD’s. The regulations changed in 2003 and added the requirement for RCD’s on bathroom circuits (if no supplementary bonding is installed). Don’t worry, generally the fix can be simple and only take a hour.