Electrical

What is an EICR? A practical guide for UK firms

5 min read · Updated 11 June 2026

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) records the condition of a fixed electrical installation against BS 7671, the IET Wiring Regulations. It is the document that proves an installation has been inspected and tested by a competent person.

When is an EICR required?

EICRs are carried out at periodic intervals recommended by BS 7671, commonly up to every five years for commercial premises, and at change of occupancy. In the private rented sector in England, landlords must ensure an inspection at least every five years and supply the report to tenants.

What the report contains

  • Installation and client details
  • The extent and limitations of the inspection
  • A schedule of inspections
  • A schedule of circuit test results
  • Observations, each given a classification code

Observation codes

  • C1, danger present, risk of injury, immediate action required
  • C2, potentially dangerous, urgent remedial action required
  • C3, improvement recommended
  • FI, further investigation required

Issuing an EICR efficiently

The bottleneck is rarely the testing, it is capturing circuit-by-circuit results, coding observations and producing a defensible certificate the same day. CertFlow gives engineers a guided BS 7671 workflow on mobile, works offline, and turns any C1/C2 into a remedial job in a tap.

References

Sources & official guidance

Links to primary UK legislation and official regulator guidance. CertFlow is independent and not affiliated with these bodies.

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