As a business owner or landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that your Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is up to date. A special report which determines if the electrical system in your commercial premises is safe, as of July 2020 all landlords and brick and mortar businesses must have a valid EICR from a registered electrician. Care Projects hosts an experienced team of highly skilled, experienced electricians right here in Devon. We can assist you with your EICR in Devon.
Delays in fixing faulty electrical system can result in fines or injury. You could be putting others at risk if your EICR is outdated, as well as the building itself.
At Care Projects we offer cost-effective pricing for our EICR service to the Southwest community. Based in sunny Devon, a member of our team can test your sockets, electrical circuits, the main fuse board, switches, fittings, and plug sockets as well as the earthing and bonding in your property. We will also carry out further checks for higher risk areas such as bathrooms where we will carry out an inspection on the shower, and your kitchen if you have one where we will check your appliances for any sign of damage.
Once your EICR has been completed, paperwork will be returned to you with advice and any necessary steps. Your EICR will contain a number of different codes, which will correspond with action that may need to be taken. In some cases, it may be absolutely necessary to carry out further checks. This is dependent on your property and the needs of your business and/or tenanted property.
In certain circumstances, these codes will offer advice but work may not need immediate action. Critical errors will need to be actioned immediately.
Please read the FAQ section below for further information. If you require further work to maintain the safety of your property or need to book an EICR, then get in touch with a member of the Care Projects team.
EICR stands for electrical installation condition report and is a term used to describe an electrical inspection. Just as you may get your car serviced, it is also recommended that your electrical installation is inspected by a qualified electrician. Failing to maintain your electrical installation can be a hazard to both the property and the people within it. According to The Health Safety Executive (HSE) here in Great Britain, thousands of incidents are reported to them each year.
As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to ensure that the electrical installation within your property is safe and fit for purpose. For a house of multiple occupancies (HMO), it is currently required by law that an EICR is carried out every 5 years.
We price EICRs per circuit and they start from £120 + VAT for up to 8 circuits. This is usually enough for most flats and small to medium size houses. Please note that we ideally like to check all circuits where possible, so when obtaining quotes, please ensure you’re comparing like for like, as some contractors offer very cheap prices, however, may only test a percentage of the circuits. This sample can go as low as 10% which can give electricians and homeowners alike a misleading view of an installation. A sample as low as 10% is not recommended.
Also, some electricians may price an EICR cheaply, planning to make up the costs during any remedial works which may follow an EICR. It is absolutely crucial that homeowners consider the quotes they are given and do not immediately accept the first low quote that is offered.
It can take up to four hours to complete an EICR for a typical three-bedroom property. You can call us today to discuss your EICR on 01752 214980.
There are a number of areas your electrician will want to check in order for your EICR to be carried out successfully. Below is a list of areas your electrician will likely want to inspect.
While every property is different, this list should give you some idea of what is involved during an EICR test and what your electrician will be looking for.
On your Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) observations made by your electrician will be recorded on your Fixed Wiring Report. They are the aspects of your electrical system that require attention and may require rectifying. They are coded according to the level of urgency required, using the codes C1, C2, C3 and FI.
A (C1) observation means ‘Danger present. Risk of injury. Immediate remedial action required’ and poses an urgent threat to the safety of yourself, your family, and anyone else who may be visiting or staying at your property.
A C1 observation requires immediate action. An example of this level would be accessible live conductors due to damage, poorly modified enclosures or removed maintenance panels. Once your electrician identifies a C1, they will immediately notify you of the risk of injury that exists should the issue not be remedied as soon as possible. Your electrician may even have to isolate the circuit immediately until it the issue has been remedied, although it depends on what the issue is.
Although a C2 code is not as severe as a C1, it is still a potentially dangerous defect that could harm the occupants of your home. A C2 is described as ‘Potentially dangerous – urgent remedial action required’ and although it may not pose an immediate danger, it is likely to escalate further should the issue not be resolved.
The term ‘potentially dangerous’ has been coined to warn homeowners about the risk of injury that could occur should a sequence of events escalate the issue.
A C3 code is described as ‘Improvement recommended.’
A C3 means an issue has been identified that does not comply with building regulations. The issue is not dangerous necessarily and does not warrant an overall unsatisfactory report. For example, you may have damaged fittings in your home which are not exposed.
An FI observation code is described as ‘Further investigation required without delay.’
This means that your electrician has observed an abnormality whilst carrying out their tests. For example, insufficient test results could display something unusual that requires additional inspection.
To comply with building and electrical safety regulations, you will need to address C1, C2 and FI faults if required as soon as possible. However, it is also always worthwhile considering, inspecting, and rectifying any faults in your electrical system. While you are not obliged to use the same electrical contractor to both test and carry out remedial repairs, you should always ensure you receive your report for any additional inspections or work that is required.
You can call the Care Projects team today to discuss your EICR requirements on 01752 214980 or fill in the contact form below.
If you’re a private homeowner or landlord looking for a domestic electrician near me, Care Projects can help. From our offices in Plymouth, we offer a comprehensive range of domestic electrical services including installations, fault finding and repairs. Our domestic electrical services include:
Looking to enhance your home with new and improved lighting? Or are you looking to save on energy bills? Whatever your reason, our team of professional electricians are experienced in all elements of house lighting design and installation.
At Care Projects, our team of professional electricians come highly trained with the skills and expertise they require to handle every part of the electrical rewiring process. We’ll work with you every step of the way to ensure minimal disruption.
At Care Projects, we install high-quality 18th edition consumer units. Our highly skilled electricians boast decades of combined experience installing and maintaining consumer units and will strive to complete your installation to the highest possible standard.
An EICR determines whether or not the electrical system within your home is up to date and safe to use. If you own your home, it is recommended you receive a valid EICR from a registered electrician to ensure you, your home and your family aren’t at risk.
If you have an issue with your lighting circuits or consumer unit, Care Projects can help. Our team of experienced electricians can identify and diagnose all kinds of electrical faults, and resolve the issue with efficiency and professionalism.
Are you in need of a professional electrician for your commercial property? Care Projects boast an exceptional team of experienced electricians with plenty of experience servicing commercial and industrial properties. Our commercial electrical services include:
Whatever fire detection system you require, Care Projects can provide a FREE survey of your property. Our team of professional electricians will design a system that meets your unique requirements as well as install, service and maintain it to the highest possible standard.
In the UK, it is a legal requirement that all commercial buildings including tenancies have a valid, up to date EICR from a registered electrician. At Care Projects, we offer a fair and affordable EICR testing service.
The team at Care Projects specialise in electrical services for care environments, including the installation of nurse call systems. We work with the UK’s top manufacturers to ensure you receive a high-quality, fit-for-purpose nurse calling system.
The EV sector has evolved dramatically in recent years, making electric vehicles a much more viable option for many. At Care Projects, we install a vast array of different car chargers and charging stations. We’re also OLEV approved.
Care Projects specialise in emergency lighting systems for commercial and industrial properties, including medical and education facilities. We design and install functional, efficient emergency lighting systems that meet regulations and ensure the safety of all occupants.
If you are a care provider looking for electrical, fire or nurse call services, we can offer an all in one solution. We also offer a range of domestic electrical services for owner-occupied homes and landlords, including electrical repairs, home lighting, rewiring and electrical tests and inspections.