The EICR is a report which determines that the electrical system in a building is safe for use and all landlords in the United Kingdom must have one. A special report which determines if the electrical system in your commercial premises is safe, a valid EICR from a registered electrician became a legal requirement as of July 2020 that all landlords and commercial property owners must-have. Care Projects boasts a highly skilled team of experienced electricians who can assist you with your EICR Report in Plymouth.
It is the responsibility of landlords of business owners to ensure that your Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is up to date. Depending on your commercial property’s purpose, you could be putting your tenants and/or service users at risk if your EICR is outdated. Procrastinating when it comes to faulty electrical systems could result in hefty fines, or even serious injury or death.
At Care Projects we offer a fair and affordable price for our EICR testing service, during which we will test sockets, electrical circuits, the main fuse board, switches, fittings, plug sockets and earthing and bonding. We will also carry out further checks for higher risk areas such as bathrooms where we will carry out an inspection on the shower, as well as your kitchen if you have one, where we will check your appliances for any sign of damage.
Once we have completed your EICR, we will return the paperwork to you with advice and any necessary further steps. The EICR will contain a number of codes, which will correspond with action that may need to be taken in inspected areas. In some cases, it may be necessary to carry out further checks but this will depend on the type of property and the needs of the business owner and/or landlord.
You will need to carry out the necessary work immediately if it is found that the property is electrically unsafe. In other cases, these codes will offer advice for further work needed to maintain the safety of the building.
Please see the FAQ section below for any further questions you may have, or get in touch with a member of the Care Projects team. Should you need to book an EICR in Plymouth, or require further work to maintain the safety of your property following an EICR, we are more than happy to help.
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 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.