Also known as the Landlord Safety Test or Homebuyers Test, the Electrical Installation Condition Report is a safety report concerning the fixed wiring of a particular property. Specifically, the electrician will test periodically to inspect how safe the wiring is. This way, the safety of those living in that home is guaranteed, and electrical accidents can be avoided. Landlords and homeowners are recommended to inspect installations every five years for rentals, ten years for an owned house or flat and any time new tenants move in a rental. This guide will show what is included in the EICR.
Types of Domestic Electrical Installation Condition Report
There are two main types of domestic EICR, which include:
- Periodic Inspection: This is considered a recommended and safer choice for many homes. The inspection is very detailed and spots underlying electrical faults. It is also more comprehensive and tests all hidden circuitry, installations, and other parts, that can cause electrical damage.
- Visual State: When electricians put this report together, they don’t test the electricity as part of this report as they would have already tested the installations recently. The visual safety test ensures that there are no overloaded sockets, and your appliances have RCD protection.
When Do You Need an Electrical Installation Condition Report?
Although you should hire electricians for an EICR inspection every decade, you also have to look for clear signs on the property that show that your installations or appliances are outdated. There are a few signs you can look at that tell you whether you need to replace old equipment.
These include black rubber-coated fixed cables, fabric or lead; old fashioned round pin sockets or light switches; black or brown switches; a fuse box with cast iron switches or a wooden back; braided flex hanging from the ceiling fixtures; sockets mounted into skirting boards, and other signs. These signs indicate that you need an EICR.
There are different reasons why you would need to carry out an EICR check, especially since you cannot see electricity. You might not also be able to view the cables or conduits in which electricity passes through, since they are usually hidden and not immediately visible.
Since we don’t see them every day, we usually forget to check the state of installations and appliances, especially as they are susceptible to wear and tear and damage.
You can reduce the risk of a fire or any other electrical accidents caused by old and faulty wiring by carrying out the EICR examination. It checks your cables, sockets and switches, to ensure that they are in good order.
Aim of an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
The main aim of an EICR is to record the results of the electrical survey to ensure that your equipment is safe until the next survey after a decade. It is carried out to find any wear and tear, and damage that might affect safety.
An EICR is also meant to find components on the electrical equipment that meet the wiring regulations set by IET. It would identify any object or appliance that cause high temperatures and electric shocks, and keep an important record of the electrical installation’s condition at that time.
The EICR can be used for future observations and also referred to if need be.
Process of an Electrical Installation Condition Report
Before the tradesmen performs an EICR on your building, they must register on the “Registered Competent Person” website. As a landlord, you can receive the contact information for electricians who are qualified to carry out the EICR inspection. They would find you through your postcode and carry out the checks.
Electricians treat each EICR examination differently based on the type of house or flat that they are inspecting. The way a large commercial building is surveyed is different from a small house. The first round of observations is simply an initial consultation, as the electrician would note the details of the job, the number of circuits and equipment you have.
The electrician can also highlight anything of concern and include it in the report, and advise you to fix anything that is damaged or replace anything that is undergoing wear and tear. Although it usually takes five or ten years for another inspection, some electricians can decide that your home needs to be checked more regularly.
If there are any issues with your fixtures, circuits or equipment, then you can ask the electrician to correct them.
The cost of an Electrical Installation Condition Report will vary depending on the electrician that you hire and the type and size of the building. The location and how long it takes to carry out the checks, and if you would have to make repairs, can also affect the price.
Electricians usually charge between £150 and £300 for examinations. If you need to repair or replace the appliances, then you would have to spend extra.
Details of an EICR Form
An EICR form has five parts. They include:
- Details of the Client
- Purpose of the Report
- Details of the Installation
- The extent of the Installation and Limitations on the checks and Testing
- Summary of the Condition of the Installation
What’s Next After an EICR Inspection?
After an EICR examination, there are different classification codes that your electrician can give to your property. The classification code determines if there should be any replacements or repairs to bring your property in line with the national electrical standards.
If your home is given C1 or C2, repair work must be carried out on your property. In the report, it will state that the fixtures do not qualify for unsatisfactory use. The F1 code states that further investigation is required, so as the landlord, you are meant to ask the electrician to carry this out.
The final code is C3, which means that your electrical installations only need improvements or updates but not repairs or replacements. You are not required to go through with it, but it would make your fixtures and equipment safer if you do.
It is recommended that you carry out an EICR survey if you already haven’t in the past five or ten years. You can quickly survey the electrical equipment by hiring a registered electrician, and you can rest assured that your home is safe from electrical accidents. It is also a sign that your wiring follows UK regulations.
