Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
EICR - Everything you need you know.
What is a EICR?
An EICR also commonly known as a periodic inspection is a official document(certificate) that outlines the safety inspection of your property's fixed electrical installation and to identify any deficiencies against the current wiring regulations.
The frequency of an EICR depends on the type of property:
- Occupied Homeowners - Every 10 years
- Rented Homes - Every 5 years
- Caravan - Every 3 years
- Educational Establishments - Every 5 years
- Office, shops & commercial buildings - Every 5 years
Is it a legal requirement ?
for a landlord or business owner Yes it is.
for homeowners no....but! have that peace of mind!
According to a report by Electrical Safety First, electrical fires affect 20,000 homes in the UK every year. Electrical Products cause 89 per cent of fires, while 11 per cent is caused by faulty wiring. Most of these incidents could be avoided by regular inspection and maintenance of electrical systems.
Landlords are expected to ensure the safety of every tenant throughout their tenancy in the property. This includes making sure that electrical appliances, wires and fuse boxes are safely installed and working properly under the "landlords and tenants Act 1985".
For business owners, under the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act it states that employers are ‘responsible for the health and safety of their employees’ and The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires that precautions must be taken in order to prevent the risk of injury from electricity used as part of work activities. It is recommended that an EICR inspection should be carried out at least every 5 years.
What Does an EICR involve?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report involves the inspection and testing of an electrical installation to determine whether or not it is safe for tenants, building owners and occupiers. Among other things, an EICR helps identify the following:
- The integrity of the installation
- Damage to things like sockets and switches
- Ensuring the property complies with relevant regulations
During an EICR, the electrician will be test the electrical installations and systems in your property against British Standards Requirements for Electrical Installations (IET Wiring Regulations).
This involves performing a number of visual inspections and electrical tests and the main areas looked at are:
- Incoming power and supply and meter
- Cabling and wiring
- Individual sockets and switches
- Special locations e.g. Bathrooms and shower rooms
- Dead and Live testing
The outcome will conclude with either a ‘satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory’ of the overall report.
What Happens if my EICR is found unsatisfactory?
If the EICR is unsatisfactory, you will not need to have another one. Instead, you have to make sure that any work that needs doing is done, or if it requires further investigations then that is carried out within 28 days unless the report states another time period.
Once the Work has been rectified you will then get issued with a passed criteria of a EICR certificate.
Get in Touch today for a free quote for the service of a electrical condition report of your property.
