Complete Guide on EICR

No matter it is about your tenants or your family, a safe dwelling is something you can’t compromise on. Though the reasons differ, you must always make sure to provide an environment where they don’t just “feel” safe, but are actually safe. And for that, keeping everything to work in tip-top condition is an absolute must. Be it your central heating system, your gas connections, or even your smallest electrical wiring, negligence in any of these can have adverse consequences.

Given that each of the aforementioned areas has its special maintenance requirements and terminologies for testing, we will discretely concentrate on your electrical system, its maintenance, and how a regular check on its condition, or in other words, Electrical Installation Condition Report is necessary. To make sure you don’t miss out on any delicacies of the process, reading this complete guide on EICR will help you a lot.

What is an EICR Report?

So, if we had to define it into the simplest words, an EICR report is a detailed visual and technical inspection of all the fixed wiring within a property, that is done after a specified period of 5-10 years depending on the current condition of the equipment.

In the EICR testing, a highly qualified electrician will check your house wiring to its smallest details, mainly focusing on the installation’s age, current condition, whether it’s safe to use, and any signs of dysfunction in development.

In any case, you will be handed over a detailed report with specified actions required to be taken for the inhabitant’s safety.

Is it a legal requirement?

In succinct words, Yes! It’s a legal requirement for every Landlord to take steps that ensure his/her tenant’s safety. Since EICR is directly related to ensuring tenant’s safety, therefore it’s a legal obligation to carry out the test to prevent any legal problems in future, if needed.

Although it wasn’t a legal requirement before, the law regarding EICR has been changed quite recently, in June of 2020 as an attempt to improve the condition of tenant’s safety. It’s also necessary for your own house to provide a safe, sound environment to your family to avoid any unfortunate events.

Why is an EICR report necessary

Given the fact that you can’t have any idea of the condition of your house’s electrical wiring until it starts showing signs (it’s the point where the system has already been considerably damaged), a seasoned electrician will check it before the point where inconvenience is inevitable.

Another reason is the positioning of the wiring. So even if you are a little bit experienced, you still can’t take the risk of exposing wires hidden inside the wall or cupboards etc because of the possibility of damage inflicted.

As a professional is highly skilled in his respective field (if you choose the right one), you will stay rest assured any fault will be detected and reported effectively without extra damage to your property. Moreover, even if it happens accidentally, most of it will be compensated within the company’s insurance policy.

However, that was just the first part. After carrying out a detailed inspection of all the electrical installations, your electrician will hand you over a list containing specialized codes that point towards different measures to be taken.

The report is categorized as:

●    C1

These are the type of faults your electrician will fix on the spot as he carries out the testing. However, he will include it in the report anyway to inform you of the threats it can pose in near future.

●    C2

This is something that requires a detailed inspection on immediate measures. You will be required to investigate and tackle the problem within 28 days after the report is issued.

●    C3

The report is satisfactory and the property is safe for the tenants. However, improvement is recommended to maximize safety. You can either do it or leave it.

What is particularly checked amidst testing?

During the EICR testing, all of your fixed wirings are thoroughly inspected by a professional who will then decide if there’s a room for improvement or signs of any potential threats. Here it’s necessary to mention that any wiring/electrical installation present in your house that is older than 1960 will be recommended to replace without any compromise. If you have newly bought or shifted to a new property, here are some of the most basic signs that indicate that the installation is older than the aforementioned duration:

• Fixed cables coated in fabric/lead
• Cables coated in black rubber
• Round pin sockets
• Wooden fuse box
• Brown coloured switches

Apart from this old equipment, Stuff that is normally checked during the process include:

• Sockets
• Plugs
• Consumer unit
• Light fittings
• Light switches
• Electrical leads/cables
• Extension leads
• Earthing
• Bathroom safety
• Kitchen safety
• Wear and tear
• RCD protection system
• Any visible signs of burns
• Age of the equipment

What is the main aim of an EICR report?

An EICR report has many aims and benefits. It not only gives you a sense of satisfaction but also ensures that all your equipment complies with the current regulations specified by the UK government. By having a report, should any unpleasant incident take place involving your tenant and electrical equipment, you will have written evidence to defend yourself against any penalties.

Some of the common aims of an EICR report are:

• To find damage and wear and tear in your electrical installation that could pose any threat and report it.
• To find components that do not comply with the IET wiring regulations as specified by the UK government.
• To identify appliances that could be affected by the poor condition of the wiring in the form of shock or heat.
• To report any sort of damaged wiring that could result in a safety breach.
• To provide you with a detailed report that you can use as a reference for the next testing and as a record/evidence, or use for carrying out necessary electric repairs.

Note: Your appliances are excluded from EICR. To check their condition, you are required to carry out PAT testing.

Types of EICR report

Generally, there are two types of EICR reports based on the nature of inspection carried out:

Visual condition report

Although not a detailed report, this is a good option if you have recently checked up your electrical installation and just want to ensure that everything’s working tip-top until the next report. This adds a layer of safety to your existing system

Periodic inspection report

This a detailed check of every visible and non-visible installation/wiring in your household. In other words, a highly comprehensive report of every small detail involved in your wiring. This is done after every 7-10 years duration.

Have Your EICR Now!

If you are looking for a trusted service provider in London to carry out your visual condition report or periodic condition report, call Serviceteam right now. We are a local multi-trade maintenance company operating all across Greater London and its surroundings. With our highly skilled tradesmen, we are confident to provide you with exceptional service at the most affordable price. Be it your periodic testing, or any other repair and maintenance work, our team is ready to help and guide you 24/7. Our customer reviews on online reviewing platforms like checkatrade and Trustpilot speak volumes of our commitment.

For further queries or to get a free quote, visit our website at https://serviceteam.co.uk/ or simply call us at 02039259529.