Guide
When does a building need an EICR?
What an electrical installation condition report is, how often you need one, and what the codes in the report mean.
The short answer
Most commercial buildings, schools and rented homes need an EICR at least every five years, and the report itself states when the next inspection is due.
01
What an EICR is
An electrical installation condition report (EICR) records the condition of a building's fixed electrical installation: its wiring, distribution boards, circuits and accessories. It is carried out to BS 7671 and states whether the installation is satisfactory for continued use.
02
How often you need one
The recommended interval depends on how the building is used. Industry guidance typically recommends a maximum of five years for commercial premises, schools and rented homes, with shorter intervals for some higher risk buildings. The report itself gives the date the next inspection is due.
03
Rented homes
In England, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require landlords to have the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every five years, and to give a copy of the report to their tenants.
04
Other times you may need one
✓
Before buying or letting a property
✓
When the use of a building changes
✓
After flood or fire damage
✓
When an older installation has not been checked for some time
05
Understanding the codes
Any C1, C2 or FI observation means the report is unsatisfactory. C3 items do not, on their own, make the installation unsatisfactory.
Any C1, C2 or FI observation means the report is unsatisfactory until the work is done.
✓
C1: danger present, and immediate action is needed
✓
C2: potentially dangerous, and urgent action is needed
✓
C3: improvement recommended
✓
FI: further investigation needed without delay
06
After the report
C1 and C2 items, and anything needing further investigation, must be dealt with before the installation can be classed as satisfactory. The remedial work is then recorded, usually with a Minor Works certificate or an Electrical Installation Certificate depending on what was done.
At a glance
5 years
The longest interval for most commercial buildings, schools and rented homes
BS 7671
The standard an EICR is carried out to
C1, C2, FI
The codes that make a report unsatisfactory
Did you know?
Landlords in England must give tenants a copy of the latest electrical safety report.
Related service
EICRs and electrical testing
We carry out EICRs for commercial buildings, schools and residential blocks, from a single building to a whole estate.
Find out more →Talk to us about your building
Send us the details or a short brief and we will come back to you with a clear written quotation.
Contact us