What is an EICR?
Here at PSG Electrical, our team performs EICR's on a very regular basis. In this blog post, we're going to explain everything you need to know about the procedure. Read on for everything you need to know.
EICR = Electrical Installation Condition Report
An electrical installation condition report is a vital task to ensure that an electrical installation is safe and fit-for-purpose. It's an inspection of the condition of an existing installation. The goal is to identify any problems that cause the installation to not meet the necessary national safety standards. The issues identified (if any), are prioritised based on the severity of the deficiency.
The EICR is needed because electrical systems in properties will deteriorate due to wear and tear. Faulty electrics can be very hazardous and any fault must be quickly resolved.
Only once the inspector has completed the inspection will you be given an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).
How Often Is It Required?
The Institue of Engineering and Technology recommends inspection and testing once every 5 years, at a minimum. However, it depends on the type of property, type of system, and use. For owner-occupied homes, 10 years is the recommended minimum. For rental properties, 5 years is recommended. See the table below for more information.
Other times an EICR is suggested is when there is a change of ownership or tenancy.
How much does it typically cost?
It's not a very expensive task. For residential homes, you'd be looking at between £120 and £280 depending on the size of the property. Most companies set prices based on the number of bedrooms. For example, a studio flat should be around £125, and a 5-bed home will be around £280. There are generally some price differences between cities and regions.
For commercial premises - such as offices and stores - the cost is usually higher. Expect to pay around £275, with the cost rising for larger properties with more circuits. Our price for commercial units is £275, which include 10 circuits, with an extra £20 added for every circuit over 10.
What is actually done during the inspection?
The existing fixed installation is inspected and tested in an in-depth manner. The findings are reported to conform to the latest wiring regulations. Furthermore, a visual inspection is carried out to any accessories such as sockets and switches. Some will be looked at to check the quality of the workmanship and material.
The presence of bonding conductors is inspected. The switchgear is checked for suitability and condition. Then every circuit is tested. As each electrical circuit is tested to check that safety measures operate correctly under fault conditions. This can be considered to be the most important part of the test. It determines that the earth fault path is working properly so that it will result in disconnection to the supply in the event of a fault. It checks that the wiring is appropriate and in good enough condition that the RCD is operated quickly enough to protect the user.
During the inspection, an abundance of information is acquired that is very useful for any future engineer working on the electrical systems.
Need a report for your commercial or residential property?
Contact the office for a free quote. We're an established contractor with decades of experience, meaning our electricians can carry out any work required to rectify any problems identified.