Electrical Installation Condition Report
Do businesses need an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)?
Electrical systems are easy to take for granted. Day-to-day, most businesses rely on alarms, CCTV, lighting, emergency lighting, power supplies, machinery and IT equipment without giving much thought to the wiring behind the scenes.
However, those same systems can become a serious safety and fire risk if they aren’t checked and maintained properly. That’s where an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) comes in.
An EICR is a formal assessment of the condition of your fixed electrical installation – think of it as an MOT for your building’s electrics. It looks at the wiring, distribution boards, isolators, sockets, lighting, and other fixed components, and checks whether they remain safe for continued use and are broadly compliant with current regulations, such as the Electricity at Work Regulations.
After the inspection, you’ll receive a written report setting out:
The overall condition of the installation
Any defects or damage identified
Any areas that present a safety risk or fire hazard
Recommended remedial works and timescales
This may sit alongside other testing, such as fixed wire testing and portable appliance testing (PAT).
How often should a business have an electrical inspection?
Visual and informal checks (for example, staff noticing damage to sockets or switches) should be happening continuously as part of good housekeeping.
In addition, a formal periodic inspection and testing of the fixed installation should be carried out by a commercial electrician on a regular cycle. For many commercial premises, this is at least every 3–5 years, but the exact interval will depend on:
The type of business and how the premises are used
The age and condition of the installation
Any changes to the layout or electrical load
Updates to regulations or standards
If you are aware of any faults (e.g. frequently tripping circuits, overheating equipment, visible damage) and do not arrange an inspection or repair, this could have serious implications for health and safety and may affect how your insurers deal with a claim.
What is the purpose of an Electrical Installation Condition Report?
During an EICR, a qualified electrician will inspect and test accessible parts of your electrical installation in line with agreed limitations and scope.
Broadly, an EICR aims to:
Confirm suitability for continued use
Verify, so far as reasonably practicable, that the installation is safe to operate until the next recommended inspection date (subject to any essential remedial work being carried out).Identify damage, defects and wear and tear
Highlight any deterioration, damage, loose connections, or signs of overheating that could compromise safety or lead to failure.Highlight non-compliance with current standards
Point out elements of the installation that no longer meet current wiring regulations or best practice, even if they were acceptable when originally installed.Reduce the risk of electric shock and fire
Detect conditions that could result in electric shock, burns or excessive temperatures, helping to prevent accidents and electrical fires.Provide a formal record for future reference
Create a documented benchmark of the installation’s condition at a specific point in time, which can be used to plan maintenance, demonstrate due diligence and compare against future inspections.
Is an EICR a legal requirement for businesses?
Business owners and employers have a legal duty to ensure the safety of employees, customers, visitors and anyone else who may be affected by their work activities. This includes managing risks arising from the use of electricity at work.
While legislation may not always specifically name “EICR,” it does require that electrical systems be maintained to prevent danger. In practice, periodic inspection and testing via an EICR are among the main ways to demonstrate compliance with these duties.
In many cases:
Landlords, managing agents or freeholders will require EICRs for commercial tenants
Insurers will expect evidence of regular electrical inspections
Health and safety regulators will look for inspection records if there is an incident
Failing to maintain safe electrical installations can result in injury, fire, business interruption, enforcement action and insurance issues. Regular EICRs are therefore not just a “nice to have” – they are a key part of managing risk. Insurers require all businesses to have a valid, satisfactory electrical inspection certificate to offer insurance.
How can a business arrange an EICR?
Arranging an EICR is straightforward:
Choose a competent contractor
Use a suitably qualified and experienced electrical contractor (for example, one registered with a recognised trade body). Ask them specifically for a periodic inspection and testing of the fixed installation with an EICR report.Agree on the scope and timing
Discuss which areas will be inspected, any operational limitations (e.g. 24/7 equipment), and the best time to carry out the work to minimise disruption.Receive and review the report
Once the inspection is complete, review the EICR carefully. Recommendations are usually coded to indicate their urgency and safety impact.Complete remedial actions
Arrange for any required remedial work to be completed within the recommended timescales, and keep records of what was done.Retain documentation
Keep copies of the EICR and invoices with your health and safety and insurance documents. These may be requested by your insurer, landlord or regulators.