Let’s get your Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)…

What is an EICR Report?

An Electrical Installation Condition Report is a thorough inspection and assessment of all your electrical installations in a property.

Here in the UK, it’s the standard process of evaluating safety and compliance of electrical systems in homes, commercial buildings, and other premises.

And while there are costs associated with conducting an EICR, such as hiring a qualified electrician and potential remedial works, these expenses are typically minimal compared to the potential risks and liabilities associated with electrical faults. The long-term benefits of safety, compliance, risk mitigation, and property value preservation far outweigh the initial investment in obtaining an EICR. You can read more on this below!

Why you need an EICR

In sectors where operational continuity is paramount and unexpected downtime results in significant financial and reputational losses, preventive measures like EICR are not just about safety but also about safeguarding business interests.

EICRs are commissioned for many reasons, however in practice, and whatever kind of premises you have, most people commission an EICR for safety or compliance reasons:

Safety Assurance: For the benefit of occupants, employees or general building users, ensuring their safety by identifying potential electrical hazards.

Regulatory Compliance: In many jurisdictions, including the UK, regular electrical inspections are required by law, especially for commercial and rental properties.

Is an EICR the same as Fixed Wire Testing?

In the UK, the term ‘EICR’ is well known. But you may know this process as Fixed Wire Testing. However you refer to it, it’s a vital procedure that involves inspecting the fixed wiring, including circuits within walls and concealed cables, to identify potential issues and wear and tear that can jeopardise safety over time.

As experts in electrical maintenance and incident investigation, we know that fixed wiring is often where the fault can be found. So, when electrical complications arise, our investigators typically check the integrity of wiring first and foremost.

Many electrical concerns trace back to faults in fixed wiring. By implementing routine EICR assessments, potential issues can be flagged and rectified before they, at worst, cause serious damage, or at best, disrupt operations.

What are the Benefits of an EICR?

Cost can be a barrier to carrying our frequent electrical installation condition reports. But here’s the bottom line: what is the cost of not getting an EICR?

An EICR can help to take care of all of this:

Safety Assurance

Ensuring the safety of your occupants, tenants or employees is paramount. Electrical faults and deficiencies can pose serious safety risks, including fire hazards and electric shocks. Identifying and rectifying these issues through an EICR helps prevent accidents and potential injuries.

Legal Compliance

Across the UK, and depending on the sector you operate in, property owners have a legal obligation to ensure the safety of electrical installations. You may be compelled to get an EICR to ensure you are compliant with regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of legal liabilities and penalties.

If you’re not sure, just get in touch.

Risk Mitigation

Regular EICRs help mitigate the risk of electrical failures and breakdowns, reducing the likelihood of costly repairs and downtime. Identifying issues early allows for proactive maintenance, minimising the risk of major electrical failures that could result in significant expenses.

Insurance Requirements

Some insurance providers may require an EICR as part of their risk assessment process. By obtaining and maintaining a valid EICR, you may also be able to go beyond fulfilling insurance requirements to potentially secure lower premiums and improved coverage terms.

Property Value Preservation

Ensuring that electrical installations are in good condition helps preserve the value of the property. A property with a valid EICR is more attractive to potential buyers or tenants, as it’s an assurance of safety and compliance.

Peace of Mind

For property owners, tenants, or occupants, knowing that the electrical systems have been thoroughly inspected and deemed safe provides peace of mind. It reduces anxiety about potential electrical hazards and enhances overall satisfaction with the property.

Expert, Experienced & Qualified

There is no overarching body or specific legal qualifications required to carry out an EICR, but the industry standard strongly favours engaging registered electricians.

Our professional industrial electrical engineers are qualified to carry out every kind of EICR – and are especially skilled and experienced in complex industrial environments. We keep our skills and knowledge up to date with rigorous testing and regular assessments.

We’ve also built a proactive approach into our business, our team and processes, ensuring our industrial and commercial customers benefit from maximum uptime and minimum downtime. Our flexible, responsive approach means we’re also equipped to work around your operations, ensuring minimal disruption.

Find out what makes Randoll Industrial a partner you can trust.

Who needs an EICR in the UK?

Everyone! Of course, in most cases it’s not mandatory. Homeowners aren’t compelled to get an EICR, while industrial factory operators will need to get an EICR as frequently as health and safety regulations state. But there are many good reasons for getting an EICR.

Here’s a reminder of who should get an EICR and why…

Landlords

If you’re a landlord, you’re legally responsible for ensuring the safety of electrical installations in the properties you rent out.

Landlords in England are legally required to have an EICR conducted by a qualified electrician at least every five years, or at the beginning of a new tenancy.

Homeowners

It’s not a legal requirement for homeowners to get an EICR but it can be a really great idea. This is especially true if you have an older property, are buying an older property or are selling a property – giving assurance to potential buyers about the condition of their new home’s electrics.

Businesses

If you as a business owner are responsible for the safety of people who use your premises, like employees and visitors, regular EICRs help ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and mitigate the risk of electrical accidents in the workplace.

Depending what industry you work in, and EICR may be subject to regulations – give us a call if you’re not sure what you need to do and when you need to do it.

0800 433 2019

Public Places and Spaces

Nowhere is electrical safety more important than where people work, live, learn and are looked after. A lot of this national infrastructure is in the public sector and so subject to rigorous rules and regulations.

Schools must of course be safe places for children, while electrical safety is critical in hospital environments where care relies on dependable supply. Everywhere, safe electrical installations are essential to protecting staff, students, patients, and visitors.

We work with individuals, landlords, all kinds of businesses and public sector bodies in the way that you need us to. We’re reliable and responsive, expert and qualified.

Read more about the importance of frequent maintenance: Energise Operations: Why Regular Electrical Maintenance for Industrial Facilities is Better for Your Bottom Line.

What does an EICR test for?

We test all the components and equipment involved in the electrical supply and distribution in a property. These can differ from property to property but, from the main power intake to each individual outlet and appliance, usually include:

• Wiring – all conductors: cables or wires
• Distribution boards – fuse boxes or consumer units)
• Sockets and switches
• Light fixtures
• Electrical appliances
• Earthing and bonding
• Electrical accessories
• Specialist components or systems such as fire alarms, security systems and electric vehicle charging points
  

What does an EICR involve?

We thoroughly and comprehensively assess the condition of all components, identifying any defects, wear and tear or potential hazards.

We then create a detailed EICR report that outlines the findings of the inspection, along with any recommendations for improvements or remedial actions required to ensure the electrical installation is safe and compliant with relevant regulations, such as the Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) in the UK.

As you might imagine, given the scale and scope of our customers’ operations, the scope of EICRs we carry out are equally extensive. A typical EICR can include:

Preliminary Assessment

This includes a documentation review, where we begin by checking previously documented electrical layouts, schematics, and past inspection reports.

We’ll also do a site walk-through, taking a visual tour around your premises to get an understanding of the layout and immediately identify any obvious concerns, such as visible damage or non-standard installations.

Visual Inspection

Here we’re looking for the physical condition of the installation and checking for signs of wear, corrosion, damage or ageing of electrical equipment, components, and containment.

Correct Labelling

Circuits, fuse boards, and equipment must be correctly labelled. This also helps to make future inspections and maintenance more straightforward – helping us all to work more efficiently and safely.

Adequate Ventilation

We’ll also check that equipment which generates heat, like transformers or inverters, has appropriate ventilation.

Circuit Testing

Integrity Checks

To verify that circuits are complete, continuous, and in proper working order.

Earth Fault Loop Impedance

We measure the impedance of earth loops to ensure the system can carry fault currents and trigger protective devices efficiently.

Insulation Resistance

By testing the insulation quality of wires, we can help to prevent potential short circuits or ground faults.

RCD Testing

By confirming that residual-current devices trip correctly within stipulated times, we can provide protection against electrocution and electrical fires.

Device and Equipment Testing

Functionality Check

Our checks can ensure devices such as switches, relays, and circuit breakers function correctly.

Protection Settings

We can verify that protective devices, such as overload relays, are set to the right specifications for the equipment they protect.

Earthing and Bonding Assessments

System Earthing

We check the primary earthing system to ensure it effectively connects to the ground.

Supplementary Bonding

This involves verifying that supplementary bonds, especially in areas of increased shock risk such as bathrooms, are present and effective.

Equipotential Bonding

We check to confirm that all extraneous conductive parts are electrically connected, reducing the risk of electric shock during fault conditions.

Thermal Imaging (Thermography)

Where needed, we can carry out thermal imaging to identify electrical defects such as loose connections and over loaded circuits – which are the main cause of electrical fires. We can also identify transformer cooling faults, motor winding faults and induced currents.

Hotspot Identification

By using thermal cameras, we can identify components that are overheating or connections which could present potential issues or inefficiencies.

Specialist Equipment and Machinery Inspection

Specialised industrial and commercial environments can be complex. As industrial electrical engineering professionals, we use tailored methodologies to test specific machinery or unique installations. It’s our area of expertise!

Reporting

Observations and Recommendations

We document any concerns that we identify, outline their severity and potential impacts and outcomes, recommending the best remedial actions for your business or premises.

Categorisation of Observations

We’ll classify all findings based on their potential risk and urgency, giving you clear guidance on how best to deal with issues in the context of your business needs.

The intricacy of an EICR goes beyond mere regulatory compliance. It’s a cornerstone for ensuring the safety of operations, personnel, and assets. Regular EICR assessments are essential for maintaining a high standard of operational continuity and safety.

What does an Electrical Installation Condition Report include?

We provide our customers with a detailed and informative report that gives a clear picture of their industrial/commercial electrical installations.

You can expect to receive:

EICR Documentation & Certificate

Inspection Certificate: A formal certificate or report indicating the overall condition of the electrical installation. It will state whether it is “satisfactory” (no remedial work required) or “unsatisfactory” (requiring remedial work).

Observations

Detailed Findings

We report in detail on our observations made during the inspection. These can range from minor issues to significant safety concerns.

Categorisation of Observations

Observations are usually categorised based on their severity and potential risk. By categorising these observations, we make it easy to identify solutions.

Typical categorisations include:

Code C1 – Danger Present

A risk of injury and immediate remedial action is required.

Code C2 – Potentially Dangerous

Potential danger and recommendations for urgent remedial action.

Code C3 – Improvement Recommended

While not necessarily dangerous, the observation suggests that the installation could benefit from improvements.

Code FI – Further Investigation Required

A potential issue that requires more detailed exploration.

Recommendations

Remedial Action Guidance

Our inspectors provide detailed guidance on how to address any issues discovered during the inspection, ensuring compliance with current electrical standards.

Photographic Evidence

Where possible and applicable, inspectors might include photographs of specific issues or concerns – it’s a great way to provide visual clarity on the observations and to help in planning remedial actions.

Summary of the Installation

Our reports include an overview of the installation, detailing aspects like the type of wiring, the age of the installation, and any changes made since the last inspection.

Testing Results

We provide detailed results from the various tests carried out, such as insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, and RCD functionality tests, will be included.

Future Inspection Recommendations

Based on the current condition and age of the electrical installations, the inspector will suggest a suitable timeframe for the next EICR inspection.

Signatures and Verification

We validate our reports with the signature of the competent person or inspector who carried out the assessment, affirming the authenticity and accuracy of the observations and tests.