What to expect from an EICR inspection

Helpful video reference. We use Electrician in Poole's walkthrough "How we carry out an EICR" as the video reference here. It shows a qualified UK electrician working through a domestic EICR from consumer unit to socket testing — good preparation if you want to know what to expect on the day and why certain circuits get switched off temporarily during testing.

1. What an EICR actually is

An EICR is an inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation: the consumer unit, the cables in the walls, the earthing and bonding, and all the accessories (sockets, switches, light fittings). It does not cover portable appliances — that is PAT testing, which is a separate thing.

The report is issued under BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations) and records the condition of the installation against current standards. Older installations are not automatically failed — the question is whether they are safe, not whether they are identical to a new installation.

2. Preparing for the visit

Clear access to the consumer unit. The electrician will need to switch circuits off one at a time, so do not book the EICR at a time when you cannot afford to lose power temporarily. Unplugging sensitive equipment (computers, NAS drives, smart home hubs) before the visit is sensible. Make sure the electrician can access all rooms, the loft if wiring runs through it, and any outbuildings powered from the same supply.

Have the previous EICR or any electrical completion certificates to hand if you have them. They give the electrician useful context.

3. The visual inspection

The electrician starts with a thorough visual check before any instruments come out. This covers:

• The consumer unit: type, condition, whether it has RCD or RCBO protection, signs of overheating or amateur work.
• Main earthing and bonding: the main earth cable from the consumer unit to the earthing point, and the main bonding cables to gas and water pipes.
• Visible cables: any surface-run cables, condition of insulation, whether cables in vulnerable positions are protected.
• Accessories: sockets, switches and light fittings checked for damage, poor fixings or visible wiring concerns.

4. Dead testing

With each circuit isolated (switched off), the electrician carries out dead tests. These include:

• Continuity of the circuit protective conductor (earth): Confirms the earth path is complete and has low enough resistance throughout the circuit.
• Ring circuit continuity: For ring final circuits (most socket circuits), checks the ring is unbroken and correctly connected at both ends.
• Insulation resistance: Measures the resistance between live conductors and earth. A healthy cable reads very high — hundreds of megaohms. A low reading points to damaged insulation or a fault.

5. Live testing

With circuits restored, the electrician carries out live tests:

• Earth fault loop impedance: Measures the resistance of the fault path. This determines whether a fault would cause a breaker or fuse to operate quickly enough to prevent a dangerous shock or fire.
• RCD trip time and current: Each RCD or RCBO is tested with an instrument (not just the test button) to confirm it trips at the correct leakage current and within the required time — 40 milliseconds for a 30 mA RCD.
• Prospective fault current: Usually measured at the consumer unit, gives an indication of the fault energy the installation could see.

6. The report and codes

The completed report records every circuit and every observation. The overall result is either Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. Individual observations are coded:

• C1 — Danger present: Risk of injury. Should be made safe before the report is issued, or the supply to that part of the installation should be disconnected. Rare in owner-occupied homes but not unheard of in older properties or after poor DIY work.
• C2 — Potentially dangerous: Urgent remedial action required. The installation passes overall only if there are no C1 or C2 items. C2 observations might include missing main bonding, deteriorated cables in accessible locations, or inadequate RCD protection.
• C3 — Improvement recommended: Not dangerous, but not up to current standards. C3 items do not make the report unsatisfactory. They are advisory — worth addressing when the opportunity arises.
• FI — Further investigation: Something the electrician could not fully assess without more work (opening walls, tracing cables, further testing). Should be resolved before the report is closed.

7. After the report

If the outcome is Satisfactory, you receive the report and it stands for the agreed period (5 years for a rental, 10 years for owner-occupied). If it is Unsatisfactory, the C1 and C2 items need remedial work. Once that work is done, the electrician issues a minor works certificate (for small corrections) or a fresh EICR (for more extensive work) to confirm the installation is now satisfactory.

Keep the report somewhere safe. If you sell the property, the buyer's solicitor may ask for it. If you rent the property, you must give a copy to existing tenants within 28 days and to new tenants before they move in.

When to book one

If you are buying a property, buying before exchange gives you the chance to negotiate remedial costs into the price. If you are a landlord, the 5-year cycle is a legal requirement — do not let it slip. If you are an owner-occupier in an older home (particularly anything pre-1970), an EICR is a worthwhile investment even outside the standard 10-year cycle.