The post Is an electrical safety certificate a legal requirement? appeared first on UK Construction Blog.

There are usually many questions surrounding surveys and houses in general, and an EICR is usually one of them that pops up. An EICR is usually necessary if you are trying to sell your house, if you are a landlord under a duty of care requirement, or if you are a diligent building owner seeking reassurance on the condition of your electrical installations. However, EICR’s can come with confusion and questions, so let’s break it down for you.

What is an EICR certificate?

An EICR certificate is an electrical installation condition report.  You are recommended to have this every 5 years. It includes checks like wires in the house and making sure it’s up to standard. This is especially important for landlords and business owners who are responsible for the safety of their tenants and employees, but also for homeowners.

Is an EICR a legal requirement?

An Electrical Safety Certificate is a legal requirement for your commercial property. Also known as a Fixed Wiring Certificate or an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), it pretty much does what it says on the tin.

What is an EICR report?

The report itself is intended to provide an assessment of the safety of the electrical system in a building and identify any potential risks or hazards. A qualified electrician typically carries out an EICR,  reporting any defects found during the inspection, along with recommendations for remedial action that needs to be taken to bring the installation up to the required safety standards – upon which a quote for the fixes will be given.

How can an EICR benefit you?

An EICR certificate overall ensures your safety. It also makes sure everything is in compliance with regulations. Even though it is a small investment, it can provide significant long-term benefits. Once you’ve done your EICR, there are two possible outcomes:

Unsatisfactory, where these are the findings:

• Immediately dangerous
• Potentially dangerous
• Further investigation required as no clear cause of the problem could be diagnosed on this visit; this usually results in further costs once the cause of the defect has been found

Satisfactory, where these are the findings:

• Should no code 1 or 2 items be found or any items requiring further investigation

If you need an EICR for your property, make sure to look for a highly qualified and experienced electrician who can perform a thorough report on any property type.