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EICR codes explained: Everything you need to know

11 May 2023

Our insightful guide to EICR codes conveniently breaks down the reporting process, to provide a clearer understanding of your EICR results and recognise where remedial action is needed. 

What is the purpose of an EICR inspection? 

Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR) play a critical role in ensuring the safety and compliance of electrical infrastructure in residential and commercial premises. During an EICR, an electrical engineer will inspect and test your electrical systems to identify and mitigate any potential risks to your people and equipment, potentially preventing serve accidents and injuries.    

What is an EICR report?   

An EICR report is one of the most efficient ways to test the safety of your electrical systems.    

When an EICR test is being carried out, the electrical engineer will conduct a series of tests on powered-down electrical systems, including:   

  • Visual Inspections: This step involves looking for obvious signs of damage or wear. 
  • Dead tests: These are carried out without power to check for continuity, insulation resistance, and polarity. This will show whether the electrical components are correctly insulated and connected.  
  • Live tests: This involves assessing the electrical system’s response to faults and electric shock injuries.  
  • Further examination: This is only conducted if any problems are identified during the initial tests. 

 

With these techniques, the electrical engineer can identify any issues or faults, to gauge whether the electrical installation is safe for continued use.    

 

EICR reports are also used to determine:   

  • The integrity of an installation.
  • Whether there’s any damage to sockets and switches.  
  • That the premises is up to date and compliant with the latest regulations.   
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What do EICR codes mean? 

A comprehensive EICR report will be provided following an electrical inspection, where you will receive information on the condition of your electrical systems, and whether your electrical infrastructure is considered either satisfactory, or unsatisfactory for further use.  

A breakdown of EICR codes:  

  • EICR C1:

    Danger or risk of injury is present. For example, this could be damage to the installation, poorly modified enclosures or maintenance panels that have live conductors exposed and accessible.

  • EICR C2: 

    Potential danger is present. For example, this could be due to a lack of reliable earthing to a Residual Current Device (RCD) that does not trip when tested.

  • EICR C3:

     Improvement is recommended. For example, out-of-date wiring that doesn’t meet the latest regulations but isn’t a risk to you or your team.   

  • EICR FI:

    Further investigation required. This is when an electrical engineer notices an issue that doesn’t necessarily breach B2 7671 standards, such as a circuit that hasn’t been verified at the time of testing. 

For buildings that are determined to be unsatisfactory, the EICR report will highlight any electrical faults found, along with the level of risk posed. Immediate action is required to resolve any issues highlighted, as this could mean the premises are unsafe and could result in severe consequences such as injuries, accidents, fires, or legal action.   

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Who needs an EICR Certificate?

It’s a statutory requirement that commercial premises and businesses have their electrical systems checked, as stated by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.  For commercial or SME industrial premises, the duty holder or facilities manager is responsible for ensuring electrical installations are kept safe and compliant.   

EICR inspections should be conducted every 1 to 5 years, depending on the property and the level of risk involved.  For example, swimming pools need to be tested more frequently than an office building.  This is due to environmental differences, such as exposure to extreme temperatures and moisture.

Get in touch to discuss your EICR requirements

Minimise your operational downtime

Whilst EICR reports offer a comprehensive overview of your electrical installations, potential downtime may be unsuitable for commercial premises such as manufacturing facilities and factories.  We also provide comprehensive EICR reports during shutdown periods to minimise disruption.

Our accredited team of Thermographic and Ultrasonic Scanning (TEGG) specialists offer comprehensive electrical inspections without the need for costly shutdowns at your site. At BES Group Electrical, we’ll tailor our solutions to suit your unique requirements, to ensure comprehensive compliance with minimal disruption to the daily operations.

Discover our TEGG services

BES Group Electrical Solutions

At BES Group Electrical, we’re proud to deliver high quality Electrical Installation Condition Reports to ensure safety and legal compliance.   

Our accredited team of engineers offer a flexible approach to meet your electrical safety requirements, no matter your location or operational schedule.  Safety is our priority, that’s why we provide end-to-end electrical inspection services to ensure electrical infrastructure compliance.   

Our key electrical solutions include; 

 

  

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