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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 (Scotland) 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 & 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 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.
- Domesitic homes: every 10 years & prior to the sale of property (this does not apply to rented accommodation…see above).
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 the South West 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
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. C3 is the only classification code that can appear on a report and still pass the EICR test
- FI - further investigation required
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, 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 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 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.