EICR - Electrical Installation Condition Report

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an EICR or Electrical Installation Condition Report?

EICR reports are used to ensure offices, factories, churches, housing associations, letting agents & landlords maintain compliance with the Electricity at Work 1989 regulations & the Housing Act 2006. Previously known as a Periodic Inspection Report, an EICR tests electrical installations for defective wiring, accessories & poor workmanship. The purpose is to confirm that all electrical installations meet safety standards for the current BS7671.

Why is an EICR important?

It’s impossible to see electricity and, in many cases, you cannot view the conduits or cables that are using electricity. As cables are often hidden inside walls, and consumer units are located in cupboards, they are not visible.

Electrical components deteriorate over time. It is not really surprising that we often forget to check the condition of our electrical installations for damage or signs of wear and tear.

Faulty and old wiring is one of the main causes of electrical fires in businesses & homes. The risk of fire can be reduced by regularly checking your cables, switches and sockets, to see that they are in good condition.

Who needs to have an EICR?

All commercial & industrial properties need to have an EICR report completed on a regular basis. In addition to this, properties owned by local authorities, private landlords & housing associations are required to have regular EICR tests.

How often is an EICR required to take place?

Guidelines for the frequency of EICR testing:

• Commercial installations: every 5 years or at the change of occupancy.
• Industrial installations & laboratories: every 3 years.
• Rented or buy-to-let properties: every 5 years & prior to new tenants moving in.
• Offices, Retail shops, Churches: every 5 years.
• Caravans: every 3 years.
• Swimming Pools: every year.
• Domestic homes: every 10 years & prior to the sale of property (this does not apply to rented accommodation).

However, the above is just a guideline and the frequency can depend on a number of other factors, such as the age and quality of the installation, who is using it and how often, guidance from the manufacturer and how well the equipment is maintained.

If you’re in Surrey and unsure about whether or not you need an EICR, or have any other questions, please get in touch.

What happens during an EICR Inspection?

• Perform test for equipment overloads
• Check if bonding and earthing comply with current regulations.
• Test for potential fire or shock hazards
• Checking for defective electrical installations
• Test equipment is safe
• Visual inspection of accessories.
• Test and inspect distribution equipment.
• Advise on immediate issues onsite.
• Preparation and completion of EICR report and findings.
• Advised Remedial works coding schedule.
• Client discussion to explain report and findings.

We carry out EICR inspections across Surrey. Just contact us to arrange a test.

What are the potential outcomes of an EICR test?

After the test has been completed, our testing engineer will produce a report for you. This will detail any damages, deterioration, defects or other dangerous conditions. It will also indicate if anything doesn’t match the present-day safety standards that may put people at risk.

Should the EICR test come back as negative, the EICR will be classed as “unsatisfactory.” This means that work needs to be done, without delay, to remove the risk to those living or working at the property. As well as returning an “unsatisfactory” result, the report will specifically detail which electrical system(s) failed the test. Any remedial work required is classified using the following codes:

• C1 – ‘danger is present’, risk of injury is likely and immediate action is required.
• C2 – potentially dangerous and remedial action is needed urgently.
• C3 – improvement to your electrical system is recommended.
• FI – further investigation required.

 (C3 is the only classification code that can appear on a report and still pass the EICR test)

Once your electrical system has passed the inspection, and any urgent remedial work has been completed, you will be provided with a satisfactory EICR report. While this gives you peace of mind about the safety of your electrics, it is important for your business to keep a copy of this report safe, in case you need it in the future.

Is EICR required by law?

While there isn’t any legislation that specifically says homeowners, businesses or landlords should have an EICR report, laws such as the Housing Act 2006 and Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 detail the responsibilities that landlords and employers have with regards to the safety of tenants and employees respectively. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 also requires that measures are taken against the risk of injury sustained from electricity used in work activities.

Also, insurance companies are increasingly asking for proof that routine maintenance, including EICR reports, have been conducted before a claim is processed. Failure to have the proper reports could result in a reduced pay out or none at all.

In the case of rented properties, electrical safety certificates (which include Portable Appliance Testing / PAT Testing certificates) are mandatory before the property can be let. Please see Testing for Landlords

How can I tell if my home needs an EICR?

As mentioned above, it is recommended you have an EICR every decade for your home. You should also look for clear signs that the electrics in your home are outdated, which may help you decide if you need an EICR.

There are some simple things to check, which will indicate if you have old equipment that needs replacing. Things to look for:

• Fixed cables, coated in black rubber.
• Fixed cables, coated in lead or fabric.
• A fuse box with cast iron switches, a wooden back or a mixture of fuse boxes.
• Old-fashioned round pin sockets (or light switches).
• Braided flex hanging from ceiling fixtures.
• Brown (or black) switches.
• Sockets mounted into skirting boards.

All the above indicate that the electrics in question were created before or during the 1960s. This means you should definitely contact us or another approved contractor to arrange an Electrical Installation Condition Report.

Regardless of the age of your electrical installation is, it is likely to suffer some damage or wear and tear. This means its condition at least every 10 years or if you move into a new property. If you’re in the Surrey and would like to see if you need an EICR, please contact us.

Periodic Inspection Report / Fixed Wire Test

This is a common term used for the testing that takes place, prior to issuing an EICR.

There are different guidelines for domestic & commercial properties, so read on.

Periodic Electrical Inspection & Testing Specialists

We are NICEIC Approved electricians, which means we are fully qualified to conduct Periodic Inspection Reports. All our engineers have extensive experience to safely conduct both electrical and visual testing. They will be able to identify any potential dangers or defects in the premises which could lead to harm or injury to employees, tenants and occupants.

Periodic Testing is carried out to BS 7671 – Requirements for Electrical Installations (IEE Wiring Regulations). We will then issue an Electrical Condition Report (EICR) with written reports of any remedial works.

If you are looking for an EICR to be conducted by a company that’s both professional & affordable, please get in touch.

Periodic Inspection & Testing:
 

Periodic Inspection & EICR Reports. What's the difference?

‘Periodic testing’, ‘fixed wire testing’ and ‘Electrical Installation Condition Report’ are all common terms – but what’s the difference between them? In simple terms, the terms period inspection and fixed wire testing have now been replaced by the new term Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) although, in reality, they all mean the same thing.

The previously-named periodic inspection test is now referred to as an EICR test.

What is Periodic Inspection?

Periodic Inspection Reports are used to ensure landlords, offices, factories, churches, housing associations and letting agents are staying compliant with Electricity at Work 1989 regulations & Housing Act 2006. Now known as an Electrical Installation Condition Report, they are used to test electrical installations for defective wiring, accessories or poor workmanship. The purpose is to confirm that all electrical installations meet safety standards for the current BS7671.

Why is periodic inspection important?

It’s impossible to see electricity and, usually, you cannot view the conduits or cables that are using electricity. As the cables are often hidden inside walls, and consumer units are located in cupboards, they are not visible.

Electrical components will suffer wear & tear over time. It is not really surprising surprising that we often forget to check the condition of our electrical installations (those that are visible) for damage or signs of deterioration.

Old, faulty wiring is one of the main causes of electrical fires in businesses & home. The risk of fire can be reduced by regularly checking your cables, switches and sockets, to see that they are in good condition.

Who needs to have periodic inspection & testing?

Properties that typically fall within the new EICR guidelines include those owned by local authorities, private landlords or housing associations as well as all commercial and industrial properties.

How often is periodic inspection required to take place?

Guidelines for the frequency of EICR testing now detail how often periodic inspection should take place

• Commercial installations: every 5 years or at change of occupancy.
• Industrial installations & laboratories: every 3 years.
• Rented or buy-to-let properties: every 5 years & prior to new tenants moving in.
• Offices, Retail shops, Churches: every 5 years.
• Caravans: every 3 years.
• Swimming Pools: every year.
• Domestic homes: every 10 years & prior to sale of property (this does not apply to rented accommodation. Please see testing for landlords.

However, the above is only a guideline and the frequency can depend on a number of other factors, such as the age and quality of the installation, who is using it and how often, guidance from the manufacturer and how well the equipment is maintained.

If you’re unsure about whether or not you need a periodic inspection report (EICR), or have any other questions, please get in touch.

What happens during a periodic inspection?

• Perform test for equipment overloads
• Check if bonding and earthing complies with current regulations.
• Test for potential fire or shock hazards
• Checking for defective electrical installations
• Test equipment is safe
• Visual inspection of accessories.
• Test and inspect of distribution equipment.
• Advise on immediate issues onsite.
• Preparation and completion of EICR report and findings.
• Advised Remedial works coding schedule.
• Client discussion to explain report and findings.

We carry out periodic inspections & produce EICR reports across Surrey. Just contact us to arrange a test.

What are the potential outcomes of a periodic inspection?

After the test has been completed, our testing engineer will produce an Electrical Installation Condition Report for you. This will detail any damages, deterioration, defects or other dangerous conditions. It will also indicate if anything doesn’t match the present day safety standards that may put people at risk.

Should the test come back as negative, the EICR will be classed as “unsatisfactory.” This means that work needs to be done, without delay, to remove the risk to those living or working at the property. As well as returning an “unsatisfactory” result, the report will specifically detail which electrical system(s) failed the test. Any remedial work required is classified using the following codes:

• C1 – ‘danger is present’, risk of injury is likely and immediate action is required.
• C2 – potentially dangerous and remedial action is needed urgently.
• C3 – improvement to your electrical system is recommended.

(C3 is the only classification code that can appear on a report and still pass the EICR test.)

Once your electrical system has passed the inspection, and any urgent remedial work has been completed, you will be provided with an EICR Certificate of Safety. While this gives you peace of mind about the safety of your electrics, it is important for your business to keep a copy of this certificate safe, in case you need it in the future.

Is periodic electrical inspection required by law?

While there isn’t any legislation that specifically says homeowners, businesses or landlords should have an EICR certificate, laws such as the Housing Act 2006 and Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 detail the responsibilities that landlords and employers have with regards to the safety of tenants and employees respectively. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 also require that measures are taken against the risk of injury sustained from electricity used in work activities.

Also, Insurance companies are increasingly asking for proof that routine maintenance, including electrical safety certificates have been issued before a claim is processed. Failure to have the proper certification could result in a reduced payout or none at all.

In the case of rented properties, electrical safety certificates (which include Portable Appliance Testing – PAT Testing certificates) are mandatory before the property can be let.

How can I tell if my home needs a periodic electrical inspection?

As mentioned above, it is recommended you have an EICR every decade for your home. You should also look for clear signs that the electrics in your home are outdated, which may help you decide if you need an EICR.

There are some simple things to check, which will indicate of you have old equipment that needs replacing. Things to look for:

• Fixed cables, coated in black rubber.
• Fixed cables, coated in lead or fabric.
• A fuse box with cast iron switches, a wooden back or a mixture of fuse boxes.
• Old-fashioned round pin sockets (or light switches).
• Braided flex hanging from ceiling fixtures.
• Brown (or black) switches.
• Sockets mounted into skirting boards.

All the above indicate that the electrics in question were created before or during the 1960’s. This means you should definitely contact us or another approved contractor to arrange an Electrical Installation Condition Report.

Regardless the age of your electrical installation is, it is likely to suffer some damage or wear and tear. This means its condition at least every 10 years or if you move into a new property.

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT Testing)

PAT or Portable Appliance Testing is the process by which safety checks are performed on electrical appliances.

This needs to take place in all commercial & rented properties. - NICEIC Approved.

PAT Testing - Portable Appliance Testing Specialists

We are NICEIC Approved electrical contractors, and are fully qualified to conduct PAT Testing across Surrey.

Portable Appliance Testing  (PAT Testing) is essential to ensure that all appliances provided by businesses and property landlords are safe for use. The Health and Safety Executive guidance state the requirement that “any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury is maintained in a safe condition.”

This means that it is important for any business owner, from a sole trader who works from home to a large multi-national corporation, to ensure compliance with this requirement. The responsibility of safe appliances lies with the person who is the duty holder; this could be the business owner, landlord, equipment user, or manager of a premises

Our engineers will test all appliances to ensure that they are safe for use, and free from any wear & tear. Our pricing is clear, to ensure there are no hidden costs, and we’re very competitive.

If you are looking for PAT testing to be conducted by a company that’s both professional & affordable, please get in touch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PAT Testing?

Portable appliance testing (PAT) is the term used to describe the examination & testing of electrical appliances and equipment to ensure they are safe to use. Most electrical safety defects can be found by visual examination but some types of defect can only be found by testing. However, it is essential to understand that visual examination is an essential part of the process because some types of electrical safety defect can’t be detected by testing alone.

Who needs to have Portable Appliance Testing?

All businesses that provide electrical appliances should have them checked on a regular basis, to ensure they are safe for use. This includes every business from a sole trader to a large organisation. Scottish landlords also need to have PAT testing, as part of the process required to obtain a Landlord’s Electrical Safety Certificate.

Does PAT testing need to be done every year?

The Electricity at Work Regulations (1989) requires that any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury is maintained in a safe condition. It may be a surprise to some people, that the Regulations do not specify what needs to be done, by whom or how frequently (i.e. they don’t make inspection or testing of electrical appliances a legal requirement, nor do they make it a legal requirement to undertake this annually).

Furthermore, the frequency of testing also depends on the type of equipment you use and the environment in which you use it. We would always advise PAT testing at regular intervals, to ensure continual safety. A good example is a vacuum cleaner, which is used by a cleaning company. This will be getting used more frequently than a coffee machine in a hotel room. Both should be tested, but the vacuum cleaner more frequently, due to it being handheld, portable & used more often.