Electrical safety testing (EICR) in Broxbourne and East Hertfordshire

What is an EICR?

An Electrical Installation Condition Report, usually called an EICR, is a formal inspection and test of the fixed wiring in a property. An electrician checks the fuse board, circuits, sockets, switches, light fittings, earthing and bonding against the national wiring standard, BS 7671, and records what they find in a written report. It covers the fixed installation rather than plug-in appliances, which is what portable appliance testing (PAT) is for.

An EICR does not repair anything by itself. It tells you the condition of the installation and what, if anything, needs attention.

Who needs one, and how often?

The answer depends on who you are:

• Landlords in England: the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require the installation to be inspected and tested at least every five years, and tenants must be given a copy of the report.
• Homeowners: there is no legal requirement, but guidance commonly suggests a check about every ten years, and when you buy or move into a home.
• Businesses: the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical systems to be maintained so they are safe. Regular inspection is the usual way to show this, and the interval depends on the type of premises. Insurers may also ask for a current report.

The report itself states when the next inspection is recommended, which may be sooner than usual if the installation is older or heavily used.

What do the codes on an EICR mean?

Each problem the electrician finds is given a code:

• C1: danger present, with a risk of injury. Immediate action is needed.
• C2: potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial work is needed.
• C3: improvement recommended. Not dangerous, but it does not meet the current standard.
• FI: further investigation is needed without delay.

If the report contains any C1, C2 or FI codes, the overall result is unsatisfactory. A report with only C3 codes, or none, can still be satisfactory. C3 items often reflect changes in the standard since the wiring was installed, so they are worth noting but do not on their own make the result unsatisfactory.

What happens on the day?

Testing means switching circuits off, so expect the power to be off in parts of the property at times. Clear access to the fuse board and to as many sockets and fittings as possible makes the job quicker. In a rented home, the landlord or agent usually arranges access with the tenant. In business premises, it may make sense to test outside opening hours to keep disruption down. The electrician can tell you how long your property is likely to take.

What if my report is unsatisfactory?

An unsatisfactory result means work is needed to make the installation safe, and the report lists what needs attention. You can ask the electrician who did the inspection to quote for the remedial work, or have it done by another qualified electrician. Landlords must have the work completed within the time the regulations set and obtain written confirmation that it has been done, which they then pass to the tenant. If there is a C1 item, the electrician will normally make it safe before leaving, for example by isolating the circuit, with your agreement.

What should I tell the electrician?

• the type of property and its rough size, such as the number of bedrooms or the floor area
• whether it is your home, a rented home or business premises
• the date of any previous report, and a copy if you have one
• whether there is more than one fuse board, or outbuildings with power
• any date you need the report by, such as a tenancy start or insurance renewal

What happens after I send an enquiry?

Once you agree, we send your enquiry to one local electrician whose area includes your postcode, and to nobody else. They contact you to arrange the inspection and confirm the price with you beforehand. Sending an enquiry is free and you are not obliged to book.

We are an independent enquiry service, not an electrician, and the electrician may pay us a fee for the introduction. Whoever carries out your inspection, you can check that they belong to a recognised scheme on the NICEIC or NAPIT registers or the government's Competent Person Register.