NAPIT Approved Contractor • Shrewsbury & Shropshire
NAPIT Approved Contractor • Shrewsbury & Shropshire
An Electrical Installation Condition Report, usually shortened to EICR, is a formal inspection and test of an existing electrical installation.
Its purpose is to assess the condition of the wiring and electrical installation at the time of the inspection, identify defects or safety concerns and provide a written report recording the findings.
This is an important distinction. The purpose of the appointment is to inspect and test the electrical installation and produce a report describing its condition.
Defects discovered during the inspection are not automatically repaired as part of the EICR. Once the inspection is complete, any observations or issues can be discussed with the property owner so that an informed decision can be made about what happens next.
If an immediately dangerous condition is identified, however, it may be necessary to make the danger safe or isolate the affected part of the installation before leaving the property. Any substantive remedial work remains separate from the EICR itself.
An EICR involves both inspection and electrical testing. The exact extent will depend on the property and accessibility of the installation.
Accessible parts of the existing electrical installation are visually assessed.
Appropriate electrical tests are carried out to assess the condition and safety of the circuits.
Circuit details, test results and any observations are recorded in the report.
The completed EICR explains the overall outcome and records any items requiring attention or improvement.
There are several situations where an electrical condition report can be required or particularly useful.
Electrical safety requirements for rented homes in England generally require the fixed electrical installation to be inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years, or sooner where the previous report specifies an earlier date.
There are specific legal requirements concerning reports, tenants and any necessary remedial work, so landlords should ensure that the requirements applying to their particular tenancy are met.
Where an observation is recorded, classification codes are used to show the significance of the issue.
A C1 indicates that danger exists and there is a risk of injury. Immediate action is required to make the situation safe.
A C2 identifies a condition that is not necessarily causing immediate danger at the time of inspection but is considered potentially dangerous.
A C3 does not mean the installation is automatically unsafe. Improvement is recommended, but a C3 alone does not make an EICR unsatisfactory.
FI is used where further investigation is required without delay because the inspector cannot fully determine the nature or extent of a potential problem during the inspection.
A satisfactory result means the inspection has not identified observations that cause the overall report to be classified as unsatisfactory.
A report can still contain C3 recommendations and remain satisfactory.
C1 or C2 observations result in an unsatisfactory EICR. An FI observation also indicates that further investigation is required.
The report records the findings so that the appropriate next steps can then be considered.
Once the inspection and testing have been completed, the report provides the property owner with a written record of the findings.
The EICR records the test results, observations and overall outcome of the inspection.
Where issues have been identified, I can explain what has been recorded and what those observations mean.
Any remedial work is separate from the inspection. Where appropriate, the required work can be discussed and priced before anything further is carried out.
The fact that an issue appears on an EICR does not mean that KJ Electrical will automatically undertake or charge for repairs. The report is produced first and the findings are discussed with the property owner.
If further work is wanted or required, the scope and price can then be agreed separately.
The cost depends on the size and complexity of the electrical installation, including the number of circuits and whether there are additional consumer units or sub-boards.
I have included some typical guide figures on the Electrician Costs in Shrewsbury page.
For a particular property, the price can be confirmed before the inspection is booked.
No. The EICR appointment is for inspection, testing and production of the report. Remedial work is separate and would normally be discussed and agreed afterwards.
Electrical testing normally requires circuits to be isolated at various stages, so temporary interruptions to the electricity supply should be expected during the inspection.
No. C3 means that improvement is recommended. A C3 observation on its own does not make the report unsatisfactory.
The observation will be recorded in the report. A C1 requires immediate action to remove the danger, while C2 indicates that remedial work is required because the condition is potentially dangerous.
Yes, where appropriate. Once the report has been completed we can discuss the findings and, if you would like KJ Electrical to carry out the work, agree the scope and cost separately.
KJ Electrical provides electrical inspection and testing for homeowners, landlords and businesses across Shrewsbury and the surrounding Shropshire area.