Electrical Installation Condition Reporting (EICR)

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), formerly known as a Periodic Inspection Report (PIR), is a report generated following the completion of an inspection and test on a given premises. The report will be either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. A satisfactory outcome indicates that the installation is in good order and safe to use. An unsatisfactory outcome indicates that there are safety issues with the installation that will require remedial works before a satisfactory outcome can be achieved.

Why Do I Need An EICR

An EICR is somewhat like a M.O.T. for a vehicle. The installation is inspected visually and a series of physical instrument tests are carried out on the wiring itself. An EICR will uncover any faults or potential problems with your installation, these faults will be detailed and if required photographs will be taken and included in the report. An EICR will inform you of how old the installation is, how it has been constructed, if it has been constructed in the correct way using appropriate materials and methods and whether or not it is still fit for purpose. It is a very valuable document not only for purposes such as insurance but also for peace of mind and compliance. Electricity can be lethal if it is not delivered safely and a full EICR is the only way to find out if your installation is safe.

What Am I Paying For With An EICR?

You are paying for a full and thorough inspection and report on the condition and safety of your installation by an un-biased experienced inspection engineer. You will find out if there are any safety problems with your installation and what should be done to correct them.

What does an EICR Entail?

Initially our engineer will visually examine the supply intake position and meter, followed by the consumer unit (or fuseboard) making notes on the condition and assessing the suitability of the equipment. Our engineer will be checking for signs of damage, wear and tear, thermal damage, arcing, tightness of connections and condition of the insulation of live parts. The main earthing and main earth bonding will also be checked for its presence and if it is correctly installed.

The outgoing circuits from the consumer unit will then be detailed and documented.

Each outgoing circuit will then individually be firstly visually inspected and then instrument tested. The instrument tests will be measuring the continuity of earth conductors and ring final conductors, followed by insulation resistance, polarity and RCD tests. Each of these tests is essential and carried out thoroughly. The results of these tests are recorded. Any defects found through visual inspection or instrument testing will then also be recorded.

How often should I have an EICR?

Most domestic and commercial premises should be inspected and tested every 10 years. There are exceptions such as construction sites, temporary structures, mobile structures, swimming pools etc that have to be inspected at much shorter intervals.

What Should I Do If The Installtion Fails?

Each item or observation documented is assigned a code indicating its degree of non-comliance or severity. A code 1 item indicates immediate danger requiring attention. A code 2 item indicates that urgent improvement is required. A code 3 item indicates that improvement is recommended. If an installation has any code 1 or code 2 items present it cannot be deemed satisfactory. If your installation fails you must have remedial works carried out to code 1 and code 2 items as soon as possible. Code 3 items can be remedied if you wish but generally do not make an installation unsatisfactory. WEC Ltd can quote for and carry out all remedial works to your installation. We will then re-issue you with an additional EICR indicating the new satisfactory condition. You should retain both for your records.

Why Should I Use WEC Ltd For My EICR?

Our inspection and testing engineers are highly experienced, seasoned former installation electricians. They are highly competent and fully qualified. At WEC Ltd you cannot become an inspector until you have what we feel is the necessary experience as an installer first. We are confident in our engineers knowledge and ability to carry out inspection and testing thoroughly and carefully. We keep records of all EICR reports for 10 years minimum and in the event that you misplace yours we will happily send you an electronic copy free of charge or a printed hard copy for a small administration fee. We have performed thousands of EICR’s over the years and have a huge amount of experience in this area. Our inspection engineers are highly dedicated and trained. You are not in any way obliged to use WEC Ltd for any necessary repair work identified by the EICR. Although we will supply you with a free quote for remedial work you can use the EICR as a guide to obtain quotes for the work to be carried out by another contractor of your choosing.

Certification And Warranty

All works carried out by WEC ltd are warrantied for 1 year minimum and carry a NICEIC certificate. Our warranty covers labour, workmanship and all materials supplied by us. There are different types of certificate according to the type of work carried out. A Minor Works Certificate (MWC) will be issued to cover small works that do not require the installation of additional circuits, such as removing a centre light and installing recessed downlights, or installing additional socket outlets on an existing circuit. An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) will be issued for larger jobs where a new circuit is installed such as a new cooker circuit or air conditioning supply. An EIC will also be issued for complete or partial re-wires. At WEC Ltd we will in some cases issue an EIC for more extensive minor works, where there are many alterations so existing circuits we feel that an EIC is necessary as it is more detailed and thorough than a Minor Works Certificate.