EICR (FIXED WIRE TESTING) - DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL

In April 2021, the UK government made it mandatory for Housing Associations and Social Housing to seek an EICR certificate every five years – although this is not a legal requirement for commercial buildings.  

Within commercial premises, the Duty Holder has a legal responsibility to ensure electrical installations are safe and compliant, by managing regular maintenance inspections and documentation. Duty Holders have a legal obligation to ensure a duty of care. 

An EICR is a reliable way to ensure your electrical system is safe and fully functional. A competent and qualified engineer will check every aspect of you installation in line with BS7671.

Those issues will be categorised using the EICR codes C1, C2, C3 and F1.

EICR C1 :

Starting with the most serious code, EICR C1 indicates that danger is present on your electrical installation. The danger poses a risk of injury to anyone using the installation, meaning that immediate remedial action is required.

An example of a C1 code would be damage that leaves live conductors exposed and accessible. It’s recommended that you don’t use your electrical system until action has been taken. Failure to follow that recommendation could result in serious harm, damage, and costs from both repairs and legal proceedings.

EICR C2:

Taking one step down, EICR C2 means that something on your installation is potentially dangerous. That could be, for instance, a lack of reliable earthing. Over time, that issue could worsen and lead to a shock risk.

As a result, C2 EICR codes require urgent remedial action. You may be able to continue using your system in the meantime, but you should arrange for repairs to be made as soon as you can. Like a C1 code, any issues categorised as C2 will mean the EICR is unsatisfactory until action is taken.

EICR C3:

Moving onto EICR C3, this code means that improvements are recommended for your electrical installation. An example could be wiring that doesn’t meet the latest regulations, but that isn’t a risk in itself.

To be clear, no danger is present and there is no typical sequence of events that could lead to someone accessing live wires. As a result, EICR certificates can still be satisfactory when C3 issues are identified.

All that said, it’s best to have C3 issues rectified to improve the safety of your electrical installation and avoid more expensive issues developing over time.

Finally, EICR F1:

Finally, there’s F1 – which stands for further investigation. This is when the person completing the report notices something amiss that doesn’t necessarily breach the BS 7671 standards, such as a circuit that is not verified at the time of testing.

More specifically, it means further investigation is required without delay. FI codes can be enough to make an EICR unsatisfactory. If lots of circuits aren’t verified, for example, it would be irresponsible for an electrician to deem the installation satisfactory as a whole.

What happens next if a code is identified?

If any these codes are identified, your EICR assessment will be deemed unsatisfactory. It’s mandatory for you to organise Electrical Remedial Work for these issues within 28 days of inspection. Once complete, the engineer can provide written confirmation they have carried out the works. There’s no need to have another EICR carried out after this final inspection from a qualified engineer, unless it is deemed F1.   

1 - We complete a full visual inspection of the installation:

Our electrical engineers begin the EICR report by conducting a thorough visual examination of your electrical infrastructure, meticulously inspecting every aspect of the system for potential hazards.

• Cracks or breaks 
• Overheating 
• Loose connections 
• Exposed wires or conductors 
• Damaged insulation 
• Evidence of water damage 

2 - Dead Testing:

Once the visual inspection is complete, our electrical engineers will carefully disconnect the installation from the mains power supply, creating a safe environment for thorough Fixed Electrical Wiring Testing.

This initial step ensures that no electrical currents flow through the system during testing, minimising the risk of electrical shock or accidents. Under dead conditions, our engineers will perform rigorous tests to assess the integrity and safety of individual circuits within the electrical installation. These tests include: 

• Insulation resistance test 
• Continuity test 
• Earth Fault Loop Impedance (EFLI) test 

3 - Live Testing:

After completing the necessary dead tests, our engineers will carefully reconnect the power supply to perform live testing.

This process involves applying a controlled amount of current to the electrical system while monitoring for abnormalities or potential faults. The main goal of live testing is to identify any hidden or intermittent faults that may not be detectable during dead testing. This includes checking for:

• Overheating 
• Earth fault current 
• Voltage drop 

4 - Further Examination:

 Once the live and dead testing is complete, our electrical engineer will also check the installation’s components, conducting examinations of: 

• Earthing and bonding 
• Switches, power outlets, and light fittings 
• Sockets 
• Overcurrent protection 

Once the inspection has finished, if any issues or faults are found, our engineer will record them and detail them in the EICR report for further corrective action. 

5 - Remedial Action:

After the engineer has finished testing your entire electrical system, the results are recorded and provided to you after 10 working days – within a detailed EICR report.

This will allow you to:

• Access your report via email or our online reporting system. 
• Identify the EICR codes allocated to your electrical systems. 
• View all critical and essential remedial works needed. 
• Request a quotation from for all remedial works required. 

Here at Eco Electro, our testing and remedial engineer teams are completely independent of each other. Therefore, you can be reassured our remedial advisories are only based on the necessary work your premises requires.

EICRs are a legal requirement for Housing Associations and Social Housing. They are not a legal requirement for commercial buildings, although an up-to-date Fixed Wire Electrical Test Certificate proves that a building’s electrical systems are safe and compliant with regulations like the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.  

Electricity at Work Regulations require the Duty Holder to legally conduct maintenance inspections and documentation to ensure the electrical installation is safe and fit for purpose. Although, this does not need to be completed with an EICR.  

The BS 5266 Standard works in conjunction with other regulations and codes, such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Building Regulations 2010. These regulations mandate that adequate emergency lighting is in place and maintained to ensure the safety of occupants. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment, and can also invalidate insurance policies.  

Fixed electrical wiring testing can cause minor disruption to daily operations as it involves a sequence of examinations such as dead testing, which will temporarily switch off power within the area that is being tested. 

However, at Eco Electro, we understand the importance of productivity and keeping your business operational. Therefore, our electrical engineers will safely work around your schedule and keep disruption to a minimum. We also encourage plants and premises to maximise testing capabilities during shutdown periods, as this will allow for examination and testing to take place without interfering with daily operations.