If you’re a landlord of a building or in charge of the safety of an industrial building, you will need to be familiar with an electrical installation condition report (EICR). In this article, we take a look at the EICR and everything you need to know about the report.
What is an EICR?
An electrical installation condition report is a report that looks at the safety of the electricals in a building. It ensures there are no damaged sockets, the installation has been done correctly, and the property complies with the most recent regulations. An EICR ensures that the building is safe for tenants and workers to operate within; it will identify any potential dangers with the electrics and ensure that these are fixed to keep the occupants safe. This report is a legal requirement for landlords and workplaces; there are substantial fines of up to £30,000 if an EICR isn’t obtained. In addition, if you don’t have an EICR and there is an issue with the building's electrical system that leads to injury or damage, the business or landlord will be liable for the cost of the damage.
Who carries out EICR inspections?
The law states that an EICR report needs to be done by someone that’s qualified and competent, which in some respect is a fairly vague description. If you’re paying for an EICR, it is your responsibility to check that the person carrying it out has the right qualifications and experience. A qualified electrician with several years of experience in various size buildings doing EICR is the best person for the job. They will be able to assess your building and ensure that everything is safe for the people working or living on the premises. Make sure you ask for details about the qualifications held and previous experience before agreeing to go ahead with the EICR. In addition, you should find out whether they’re up to date with the latest regulations and ensure they have the correct insurance. Reviews can also be useful to give extra reassurance that the person or company you’ve chosen is right for the job.
What happens if the EICR is unsatisfactory?
On some occasions, the EICR report will be unsatisfactory, and it will come with a list of recommendations that need to be implemented to ensure the building is safe for the occupants. It is important that you act on these recommendations and implement them as soon as possible to ensure the building is safe for the occupants. The time frame given for landlords is within 28 days. As long as these recommendations have been implemented and you have proof to that effect, you don’t need to get another report completed. The electrician that completed the work should be able to send you a letter or proof that the recommendations have been completed.
EICR codes
On the EICR, there are several codes that classify the level of work that is required to ensure the building is safe from an electrical point of view. C1 is the highest level which poses a risk of injury; these issues need to be sorted out immediately to keep occupants safe. C2 is the second level which is potentially dangerous. The third level is FI which stands for further investigation; this will require more work and investigation to ensure the electrics are up to standard. The final code is C3, which stands for improvement recommended; this means that there are things that should be improved but nothing that will pose a risk to the occupants. You are not obliged to make these changes if your report has a C3 code; it is simply a recommendation of best practice. Read more about EICR codes.
Many fires start in homes and industrial premises because of electrical issues. Electrical safety is extremely important, and failing to take steps to keep buildings safe is irresponsible and illegal in some situations. An EICR ensures that the electrics of the building are in line with the latest regulations and they don’t pose a risk to the occupants. This certification can help to prevent fires of an electrical origin and can even help to save the lives of people that live or work in the building. Always ensure you use a qualified professional to conduct the EICR report.