EICR Testing Process & Standards
An Electrical Installation Condition Report shows whether fixed wiring remains safe and meets BS 7671. We inspect, test and record the condition of circuits, protective devices and connections, giving homeowners, landlords and managers clear findings before faults become urgent.
What the EICR Process Gives You
If you’re buying, letting or managing a property, we inspect fixed wiring before testing circuits. We check continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earthing and RCD operation with test equipment.
You receive a clear report against BS 7671:2018+A2:2022, with coded observations and priorities. It gives you a practical record for maintenance, property transactions or letting decisions, with technical findings explained.
For homes and rental properties
Buying, letting or managing a property means you need the fixed wiring assessed, not just the visible accessories. Our NICEIC-registered electricians inspect the installation and record its condition in an EICR.
A structured inspection
Older wiring, alterations and signs of damage can affect safety. We inspect the consumer unit, circuits, switches, sockets, connections and earthing before carrying out the electrical tests.
Tests that find hidden faults
A circuit can look sound and still have poor insulation or ineffective protection. We test continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earthing and RCD operation using calibrated test equipment.
Findings coded clearly
A list of technical observations is difficult to act on without priorities. We record findings against the EICR coding system, showing which issues need attention and which are recommendations for improvement.
A report against BS 7671
Landlords, buyers and property managers need a recognised technical record. We issue a clear report against BS 7671:2018+A2:2022, with the installation condition and observations explained in plain language.
Safety issues identified
Some defects need correcting before the installation can be considered satisfactory. The report distinguishes urgent safety concerns from items to monitor, so you can plan the right next step.
Useful for property decisions
An EICR can inform a purchase, tenancy or maintenance plan. You receive the paperwork needed to discuss remedial work, budget for improvements or keep property records up to date.
Plan Ahead
A tenancy, sale or insurance deadline leaves little room for remedial work, so arrange inspection early enough to address findings.
Clear Evidence for the Next Decision
An EICR gives you more than a pass or fail. We trace each recorded observation to its circuit, explain its priority and leave you with evidence you can use to plan repairs, budgeting or future inspections.
Questions About the EICR Testing Process
How should I prepare my property for an EICR?
If testing uncovers a dangerous fault, we explain the risk before leaving and advise what needs attention first. Less urgent observations remain recorded, so you can plan remedial work sensibly.
How are EICR observations coded?
We use C1 for immediate danger, C2 for potentially dangerous conditions, C3 for improvements, and FI where further investigation is needed. The report explains each code and recommended next step.
What should I expect during an EICR inspection?
On arrival, we confirm the areas covered, identify any equipment that needs switching off, and work through accessible rooms methodically. We explain anything needing attention before completing the final report.
How often should a domestic EICR be repeated?
Your next inspection depends on the property and its use. For a typical domestic installation, we recommend periodic checks at suitable intervals, while landlords should follow current legal letting requirements.
Does an EICR test appliances and portable equipment?
An EICR covers fixed wiring and permanently connected equipment, not portable appliances. We can note visible concerns, but portable appliances require separate PAT testing, which is outside the report’s scope.
What happens after the inspection?
If parts of the installation are inaccessible, damaged or outside the agreed inspection, we record the limitation clearly rather than making assumptions. An EICR covers fixed electrical systems, so we explain when an appliance or other item needs a separate check.
If testing uncovers a fault that needs attention, we explain what we found before recommending remedial work. You receive a written quotation before anything proceeds, with the repair options and any further testing set out clearly.
How the report is coded
A coded observation tells you how seriously we need to treat a condition, rather than reducing the installation to a simple pass or fail.
From observation to priority
We use the coding categories in BS 7671 to distinguish immediate danger, potentially dangerous conditions, improvements and matters needing further investigation. The report links each code to the affected circuit or part of the installation, so you can see what needs action first and what can be planned later.
What BS 7671 means for an older installation
An older installation isn’t automatically unsafe because it was installed under an earlier edition of the standard. We assess its present condition and the risks created by its use.
A current safety assessment
BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 provides the reference for our inspection and testing. We look at protective measures, earthing, bonding, consumer units, wiring and connections in context, then record any condition that affects safety. This gives you a current assessment without suggesting that every older component must be replaced simply because newer guidance exists.
Will the power need to be switched off?
Some tests require circuits to be isolated, so plan for temporary interruptions to power during the visit. We explain what needs to be switched off before testing begins.
Testing without guesswork
We carry out dead tests and live tests where appropriate, using calibrated test equipment and safe isolation procedures. Sensitive equipment should be shut down in advance, and someone should tell us about medical equipment or other systems that must remain powered. We restore supplies after testing and explain any circuit that could not be tested safely.
What if further investigation is needed?
A report may identify a suspected issue that cannot be confirmed without access, dismantling or additional testing. We record that uncertainty instead of treating an assumption as a definite fault.
Clear limits and next steps
We explain why further investigation is needed, what part of the installation it concerns and what the investigation may involve. You can then decide whether to proceed with that work, based on a written quotation rather than an unexpected charge. Our NICEIC-registered electricians use the recorded evidence to keep any follow-up work focused.
How do I use the finished report?
The useful part of an EICR is knowing what the findings mean for the property and what needs attention next. We explain the report so you can make a sensible decision about repairs or future checks.
A record for the next decision
We talk through the observations, priorities and any limitations recorded in the report. That helps a homeowner plan work, gives a landlord or property manager a clear maintenance record, and shows which items need a separate quotation. If remedial work goes ahead, we explain what will be repaired and whether additional testing is needed afterwards.
If you’re arranging an EICR, tell us whether it is for a home, tenancy or property transaction, and mention any known electrical concerns. We can confirm the inspection scope before the visit, including areas that need access.
After the inspection, the report gives you a written basis for deciding whether to monitor the installation, budget for remedial work or arrange further investigation.