EICR testing & reports for safe, compliant electrical installations

Expert electrical engineers across the South West. We inspect, test and certify your electrical installations to BS 7671 — covering offices, factories, churches, housing associations, letting agents and landlords.

EICR classification codes

How findings are classified in your report

Every issue found is given a code — from “danger present” through to “improvement recommended”. Understanding the codes makes it clear what needs to happen next.

What we do

EICR reports for commercial & rental properties across the South West

We have a team of expert electrical engineers available throughout the South West for any electrical testing requirements. EICR reports are used to ensure offices, factories, churches, housing associations, letting agents and landlords maintain compliance with the Electricity at Work 1989 regulations and the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.

Previously known as a Periodic Inspection Report, an EICR tests electrical installations for defective wiring, accessories and poor workmanship. The purpose is to confirm that all electrical installations meet safety standards for the current BS 7671.

Why is an EICR important?

It’s impossible to see electricity, and in many cases you can’t view the conduits or cables that are carrying it. Cables are often hidden inside walls, and consumer units sit in cupboards — out of sight, out of mind.

Electrical components also deteriorate over time. It’s not really surprising that we often forget to check the condition of our electrical installations for damage or signs of wear and tear. Faulty and old wiring is one of the main causes of electrical fires in businesses and homes — the risk of fire can be reduced significantly by regularly checking your cables, switches and sockets to see they’re in good condition.

Who needs to have an EICR?

All commercial and industrial properties need to have an EICR report completed on a regular basis. In addition to this, properties owned by local authorities, private landlords and housing associations are required to have regular EICR tests.

How often is an EICR required?

Guidelines for the frequency of EICR testing:

Above is just a guideline — the actual frequency can depend on factors like the age and quality of the installation, who is using it and how often, guidance from the manufacturer, and how well the equipment is maintained.

What happens during an EICR inspection?

A full EICR inspection covers a defined sequence of tests and checks:

What are the potential outcomes?

After the test, our engineer produces a report detailing any damages, deterioration, defects or dangerous conditions. The report indicates if anything doesn’t match present-day safety standards.

Should the EICR test come back as negative, it will be classified as “unsatisfactory” — meaning remedial work needs doing without delay. The report will specifically detail which electrical systems failed the test, and any remedial work is then classified by code (see diagram on the left).

Once your installation has passed inspection — or once urgent remedial work has been completed — you’ll receive a satisfactory EICR report. This gives you peace of mind about your electrics; keep a copy safe in case you need it for insurance, sale, or a future inspection.

Is EICR required by law?

There isn’t a single law that says “homeowners and businesses must have an EICR” — but the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 together require landlords and employers to safeguard tenants and employees against electrical risk.

Insurance companies are also increasingly asking for proof that routine maintenance — including EICRs — has been conducted before processing a claim. Failure to provide proper reports can result in a reduced payout or no payout at all. For rented properties, electrical safety certificates (including Portable Appliance Testing) are mandatory before the property can be let.

How can I tell if my home or business needs an EICR?

As mentioned above, we recommend an EICR every 10 years for a domestic home and on the frequencies above for commercial premises. Beyond age though, there are some simple visual signs that the electrics in a building may be outdated and need replacing:

All of the above indicate that the electrics in question were created before or during the 1960s. If any of these are present in your property, you should definitely arrange an EICR. Regardless of the age of your installation though, it’s likely to suffer some damage or wear and tear — every 10 years (or whenever you move into a new property) is the safe minimum.

Why BLEC for EICR testing

Compliant, certified, clearly explained

Six things that come as standard on every BLEC EICR test — from the inspection itself through to the certificate in your hand.

BS 7671 tested

Every circuit verified against the current BS 7671 wiring regulations — the standard insurers, building control and licensing bodies expect.

NICEIC approved contractor

BLEC is an NICEIC approved contractor — certificates issued by us are accepted by every insurer, lender and regulator we've come across.

In-house engineers

Every test carried out by a directly employed BLEC engineer — never sub-contracted out, never rushed.

Plain-English reports

Your EICR report comes with a client discussion — we walk you through what every code means and what (if anything) you need to do next.

Remedial work in-house

Failed EICR? We can quote and complete the remedial work too — fix it once, retest, certify, done. No coordinating multiple contractors.

South West & UK coverage

Based in Plymouth with active coverage across the South West and beyond — we can handle single sites or a multi-property estate.

Related security & safety services

Access control sits inside a wider security and life-safety system — we cover the whole picture.

Remedial Works

Failed EICR? We'll quote and complete the remedial work needed to bring your installation up to BS 7671.

Electrical Maintenance

Planned electrical maintenance contracts — keep your installation safe and compliant between EICR tests.

Emergency Lighting

BS 5266 emergency lighting installation and testing — required in commercial premises alongside your electrical certification.

Client Feedback

Trusted by the UK's leading block managers.

Real reviews from the property managers, estate agents and freeholders we serve nationwide.

Common Questions

EICR questions answered.

The questions we get asked most often when landlords, letting agents and property managers are booking an EICR for the first time. If yours isn’t here, just call or drop us a line.

Still have questions?

Our team responds to enquiries within one working hour during business hours.

Call us · 01752 659415 →

Is an EICR a legal requirement?

There isn’t a single law that specifies “you must have an EICR” — but the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 require landlords and employers to safeguard tenants and employees against electrical risk. An EICR is the recognised way of demonstrating that. For rented properties specifically, electrical safety certificates are mandatory before the property can be let.

How long does an EICR take?

For a typical domestic or small commercial property, allow 3–4 hours on site. Larger commercial sites can take a full day or longer, particularly if there are multiple distribution boards. The certificate itself is usually issued within a couple of working days of the inspection.

What's the difference between C1, C2, C3 and FI codes?

C1 means danger is present and immediate action is required — usually we’ll make safe on the spot. C2 means potentially dangerous, with remedial action needed urgently. C3 means improvement is recommended (and is the only code that can appear on a satisfactory report). FI means further investigation is required to fully evaluate. Any C1 or C2 means the report is classified Unsatisfactory until rectified.

What happens if my installation fails?

The report will detail exactly which circuits or accessories failed and why, with each issue coded C1, C2 or FI. We provide a written remedial works quote covering everything needed to bring the installation up to standard. Once the remedial work is done and retested, you get a fresh satisfactory EICR. We can do the remedial work in-house, so it’s one team start to finish.

Will you need to turn the power off?

Yes — at least briefly. Some tests can only be done with the circuits dead, so we’ll need to isolate each one in turn. We work circuit by circuit to minimise downtime, and we agree the schedule with you up front. For commercial premises we’ll often do this out of hours so it doesn’t disrupt the working day.

My building is old — does it definitely need rewiring?

Not necessarily. Age alone isn’t a fail criterion — what matters is the condition of the installation. That said, if you see black rubber or fabric-coated cables, cast-iron fuse boxes, round-pin sockets, or sockets in skirting boards, the wiring almost certainly pre-dates the 1960s and a rewire is highly likely. The EICR tells you for certain, with a clear coded breakdown of what does or doesn’t need replacing.