What Is an EICR?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal document that records the condition of an electrical installation against the requirements of BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations). It’s the electrical equivalent of a gas safety check — a systematic inspection and test of the fixed wiring in a property.
EICRs are required for rental properties every 5 years under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, for commercial premises, and as good practice for homeowners. The EICR replaces the old Periodic Inspection Report (PIR).
Getting EICRs right matters. A thorough, well-documented report protects your client, protects you, and demonstrates the professional standard that separates competent electricians from the rest.
EICR Structure: The Three Schedules
Every EICR is built around three schedules. Understanding what goes where is fundamental to producing a complete report.
Visual checks of the installation against the requirements of BS 7671. Covers consumer unit condition, cable types and routes, protective devices, earthing arrangements, bonding, socket outlets, switches, and accessories.
The measured values from your testing. Continuity of protective conductors, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance (Zs), prospective fault current (PSFC/Ipf), and RCD operation times.
Where you record any defects found, classified by severity code. This is the schedule that determines the overall outcome of the report.
Classification Codes
Every defect you find must be classified using one of four codes. These codes determine whether the overall report is Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
| Code | Meaning | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present | Immediate remedial action required. Risk of injury. |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous | Urgent remedial action required. |
| C3 | Improvement recommended | Not dangerous but would improve safety. No obligation to fix. |
| FI | Further investigation | Cannot determine condition without further investigation. |
A single C1 or C2 makes the overall report ‘Unsatisfactory’. C3 codes alone still allow a ‘Satisfactory’ outcome. FI codes should be resolved and re-inspected.
What to Test: The Testing Sequence
The order of testing matters. Dead tests must be completed before the supply is restored for live testing. Here’s the correct sequence:
Continuity of protective conductors (R1+R2), continuity of ring final circuit conductors, insulation resistance (minimum 1MΩ at 500V DC for most circuits), polarity verification.
Measured at the furthest point of each circuit. Must not exceed the tabulated maximum for the protective device. Compare against Table 41.2, 41.3, or 41.4 of BS 7671.
Measured at the origin. The breaking capacity of each protective device must exceed this value.
Test at 1×, 5× rated residual current. 30mA RCDs must trip within 300ms at 1× and 40ms at 5×. Also test the RCD test button. Record all trip times.
Operation of switches, isolators, interlocks. Check circuit breakers trip mechanically.
Documenting Observations
The quality of your observations separates a professional EICR from a rushed one. Every defect, every limitation, and every noteworthy finding needs to be recorded clearly.
- Record every observation with its location (distribution board, circuit number, room).
- Be specific: “Damaged cable sheath to lighting circuit in kitchen” not just “damaged cable”.
- For C1/C2 codes, note what immediate action was taken.
- Photograph any significant defects for your records.
- Record limitations — areas you couldn’t access or test (e.g. “unable to access loft space”).
Write your observations as if someone else will need to find and fix the issue using only your report. If they can’t locate the defect from your description alone, it’s not detailed enough.
Common Pitfalls
These mistakes come up again and again. Avoid them and your reports will be stronger than most.
Not testing every circuit (yes, even the one behind the kitchen units)
Recording Ze when you mean Zs, or vice versa
Forgetting to test RCDs at 5× (not just 1×)
Not recording limitations of the inspection
Issuing a ‘Satisfactory’ with unresolved FI codes
Missing the prospective fault current measurement at the origin
The Do’s and Don’ts
Do
- Test every circuit — don’t skip circuits that are difficult to access without recording a limitation.
- Record Zs at the furthest point of each circuit, not just at the distribution board.
- Include clear locations for every observation: circuit number, room, and specific location.
- Photograph significant defects before and after any remedial work.
- Check the breaking capacity of every protective device against the measured PSFC.
- Record all RCD trip times at both 1× and 5× rated residual current.
Don’t
- Issue a Satisfactory report with unresolved C1 or C2 codes — it’s always ‘Unsatisfactory’.
- Leave FI codes unresolved without explaining why further investigation is needed.
- Forget to record limitations — if you couldn’t access an area, say so.
- Test with circuits energised when doing dead tests. Confirm isolation properly.
- Copy Zs values from previous reports — conditions change, always re-test.
- Skip the visual inspection. More defects are found visually than by testing.
Related Certificates
Create an Electrical Installation Condition Report with CertBox.
Minor Works CertificateFor small jobs that don’t involve a new circuit.
Electrical Installation CertificateRequired for all new circuits and major alterations.
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CertBox walks you through every section of the EICR with built-in validation. Classification codes, test results, and schedules, all in one place. Export professional PDFs your clients will trust.
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