Electrical Inspection
What is an Electrical Inspection
EICR stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report. This involves the inspection and testing of an electrical installation to determine whether or not it is safe for tenants, building owners and occupiers.
After the inspection, you will be provided with a condition report. This report will contain:
- Details about the premises that were tested and who they were tested by.
- Any limitations (for example, if only a proportion of the installations were tested or if some circuits were not able to be turned off)
- Whether the inspection was satisfactory or unsatisfactory (i.e. ‘pass’ or ‘fail’),in line with the 18th edition wiring regulations (BS 7671)
- A breakdown of all the issues identified and the classification codes. This will be broken down by individual room or area.
- An inspection schedule showing what has been tested and the results of each test
The electrical engineer will talk you through the EICR report and advise what work needs to be done to bring any installations back into a safe condition.
You can then organise remedial works.
Keep the report safe – you may need to provide a copy to your local authority or insurance provider if asked
Main Aims of an Electrical Condition Report
The five main aims of an electrical installation condition report are:
Record the results of the inspection and testing to make sure the electrical installation is safe to be used until the next inspection (following any work needed to make it safe).
Find any damage and wear and tear that might affect safety, and report it.
Find any parts of the electrical installation that do not meet the IET Wiring Regulations.
Help find anything that may cause electric shocks and high temperatures.
Provide and important record of the installation at the time of the inspection, and for inspection testing in the future.
Why and when might you need an inspection?
If you own a business, office or rental property, you have a legal responsibility to ensure employees, customers and tenants are kept safe.
Old, faulty and malfunctioning electrical installations not only cause electric shocks but also pose a fire risk.
18% of domestic fires in England are caused by faulty wiring and cabling, so it is vital to make sure all electrical installations are safe to use.
An EICR is the most comprehensive way of keeping your installations safe.
Do I need an EICR if I live in a domestic property?
It’s not a legal requirement to get an EICR in the same way as a rental property. However as the homeowner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your property is safe.
For example, if a faulty electrical fitting in your home caught fire and ended up damaging a neighbour’s house, you would be responsible for the damage.
If you claim damage on your home insurance, your insurer may refuse your claim if they believe your electrical systems have not been maintained.
It is recommended that you get an EICR carried out in a domestic property
every ten years.
It is generally assumed that homeowners take more care with their electrical installations than people who are renting. This is why it is recommended that an EICR is carried out every ten years instead of five.
If you are moving to a new house (that isn’t a new build), we’d recommend that you get an EICR carried out when you move in. This will reassure you that the electrical installation in your new home is up to standard.
How can i tell the age of my Electrical Installation
Some of the signs that can help you understand the age of the electrical installation in your home include:
- Fixed cables coated in black rubber (stopped being used in the 1960s).
- Fixed cables coated in lead or fabric (used before the 1960s).
- A fuse box with a wooden back, cast iron switches, or a mixture of fuse boxes (used before the 1960s).
- Older round pin sockets (or light switches), braided flex hanging from ceiling roses, brown (or black) switches, or sockets mounted in or no skirting boards (used before the 1960s).
However old your electrical installation is, it may get damaged and will suffer from wear and tear. So you should get an electrician to check its condition at least every 10 years or when you move into a new property.
How much does an EICR cost?
The cost of an EICR will mainly depend on two factors. The number of circuits in the building and the type of building. In an EICR inspection, sockets, light fittings and circuit breakers all need to be tested, and these count as individual circuits.The type of building has an impact on pricing too.
For example, a rental home will cost less to check than a factory as there are not only fewer circuits, but they are closer together and easier to access. If you request a quote from us, we will provide you with a quote unique to you and your circumstances.
How do I tell how many electrical circuits I have in my building?
When you book an EICR inspection, the company will ask how many circuits you have. This will help them determine a price and how long it will take to carry out your testing. If you don’t know this number, there are two things you can do:
Send the company a copy of your previous EICR report
Send the company a photo of your circuit board. They will be able to use this to work out the number of circuits you have
What happens during an inspection?
During an EICR inspection, a qualified electrician or electrical engineer will inspect the electrical installations in your building. The electrical engineer will carry out a visual inspection, checking for cracks, breaks and signs of overheating. Electrical testing will then be carried out where voltages and currents are used to check the safety of the different circuits. If issues are found, they will be recorded and detailed in the report.
Does the power have to be turned off when carrying out an EICR?
EICR testing involves both live (power on) and dead (power off) tests. Most of the testing is carried out while your electrical system is live. However, to carry out some tests, the power needs to be turned off.
As long as they are clearly labelled, circuits can be powered off individually, meaning there will be less disruption in your building.
However, there are two options if you can’t switch the power off.
If the power cannot be switched off or certain circuits cannot be accessed, our electrical engineers will still be able to carry out the majority of testing for you.
However, we would recommend planning so you can test as much of the installation as possible on the day. This may involve ensuring access to the full building (for example the loft and the basement), and advising staff and tenants that electrical equipment may need to be temporarily turned off. This will ensure that your EICR inspection is as comprehensive as possible and we do not miss anything out. We can help by carrying out testing at quiet times for your business, for example, in the evening or at weekends.