What Is an EICR?

An EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report — is a formal inspection and test of the fixed electrical wiring in a property. It checks whether your electrics are safe, identifies any defects or deterioration, and tells you whether any remedial work is needed.

It is not a quick visual check. A proper EICR involves opening your consumer unit, testing every circuit, inspecting accessible wiring and accessories, and producing a detailed report with observation codes that classify the severity of any issues found.

We carry out EICRs across Rotherham, Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and the whole of South Yorkshire. Whether you are a landlord, homeowner, or business owner, here is exactly what happens during the inspection.

Before the Inspection

When you book an EICR with us, Mat will ask a few basic questions about your property — how many bedrooms, roughly when the electrics were last tested or upgraded, and whether you have had any issues like tripping or flickering lights. This helps us estimate how long the inspection will take and whether there are likely to be any complications.

For a typical three-bedroom house, an EICR takes around two to three hours. Larger properties, commercial premises, or homes with very old wiring may take longer.

You will need to be at the property during the inspection. We need access to your consumer unit, all rooms, the loft (if accessible), and any outbuildings with electrical supplies.

Important: the power will need to be switched off for parts of the inspection. We test circuits one at a time, so the whole house is not usually off at once, but you should expect individual circuits to be without power for short periods. If you work from home, it is worth planning around this.

What the Electrician Checks

An EICR follows the process set out in BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations) and the associated guidance in the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing. Here is what we inspect:

Consumer unit. We remove the cover from your fuseboard and inspect the internal condition. We check for signs of overheating, loose connections, green goo (copper corrosion), damaged components, and whether the board meets current regulations. We check that RCDs and MCBs are the correct ratings for the circuits they protect.

Earthing and bonding. We verify that your main earthing conductor, main bonding conductors, and supplementary bonding are all present, correctly sized, and properly connected. Earthing and bonding are your primary protection against electric shock — if these are missing or inadequate, it is a serious safety issue.

Wiring and cables. We inspect accessible wiring throughout the property. We check the cable types and sizes, how they are routed and supported, and whether the insulation is in good condition. In older properties across Rotherham, we often find outdated cable types like rubber-insulated wiring or lead-sheathed cable that need replacing.

Sockets, switches, and accessories. We check every socket outlet, light switch, and electrical accessory for damage, correct wiring, and proper earthing. We look for signs of overloading, scorch marks, cracked faceplates, and loose connections.

Light fittings. We inspect light fittings and their connections, checking for correct cable sizes, earthing where required, and any signs of overheating.

Circuit protection. We verify that every circuit has the correct overcurrent protection (the right size MCB or fuse) and that RCD protection is provided where required by current regulations.

The Electrical Tests We Carry Out

The testing phase is where we use specialist instruments to measure the actual performance of your electrical installation:

Continuity of protective conductors. We test that the earth wire in every circuit provides a continuous, low-resistance path back to the main earthing terminal. If this path is broken or has high resistance, the circuit cannot safely clear a fault.

Insulation resistance. We apply a high voltage (typically 500V DC) between the live, neutral, and earth conductors of each circuit and measure the resistance. This tells us whether the cable insulation is intact or whether current could leak between conductors. Low insulation resistance is a common cause of nuisance tripping.

Earth fault loop impedance. We measure the total impedance of the earth fault path for each circuit. This determines whether the protective device (MCB or fuse) will disconnect quickly enough in the event of a fault. If the impedance is too high, the circuit is not safe.

RCD testing. We test every RCD at its rated tripping current (usually 30mA) and at five times its rated current. The RCD must trip within the time limits specified in the regulations. We also test the RCD trip button to ensure it functions correctly.

Polarity. We confirm that all connections are the right way round — live to live, neutral to neutral, earth to earth. Reversed polarity is dangerous because it means parts that should be dead when a switch is off are actually live.

The EICR Report

After the inspection and testing, we compile a formal report. This document lists every observation and classifies each one using a standard coding system:

C1 — Danger present. There is an immediate risk of injury. This requires urgent attention. Examples include exposed live parts, missing earthing, or severely damaged cable.

C2 — Potentially dangerous. The defect is not immediately dangerous but could become so. This needs attention as soon as possible. Examples include deteriorated insulation, missing bonding, or a consumer unit with green goo.

C3 — Improvement recommended. The installation does not fully comply with current regulations but is not dangerous. This is advisory. Examples include a lack of RCD protection on socket circuits (common in pre-2008 installations) or outdated cable types that are still functional.

FI — Further investigation required. The electrician has found something that could not be fully assessed during the inspection and needs further investigation. This might be because wiring is concealed or an area was inaccessible.

The report also gives an overall assessment: Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. Any installation with a C1 or C2 observation is classified as unsatisfactory.

What Happens After the EICR?

If your EICR comes back satisfactory, you receive the report and you are done until the next one is due. We will recommend when to have the next inspection based on the condition of your installation and the type of property.

If the report is unsatisfactory, we will talk you through the observations, explain what each one means in plain English, and give you a clear quote for the remedial work. Common remedial items include consumer unit upgrades, adding missing bonding, replacing damaged cables, and fitting RCD protection.

For landlords, an unsatisfactory EICR means you have a legal obligation to carry out the remedial work within 28 days (or sooner if there is a C1 observation). We can usually schedule the work quickly to keep you compliant.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an EICR take?

A typical three-bedroom house takes two to three hours. Larger properties or those with very old wiring may take longer.

Will the power be off the whole time?

No. We test circuits individually, so only one circuit is off at a time. The total time with any given circuit off is usually just a few minutes.

Do I need to move furniture?

We need access to all sockets and your consumer unit. If sockets are blocked by heavy furniture, it helps if you can move things slightly beforehand. We can work around most situations.

What if something fails?

We explain every observation clearly and give you a fixed quote for any remedial work. There is no pressure — you can take time to decide, although C1 issues should be dealt with immediately. Read our guide on what to do if your EICR fails.

Book Your EICR

Whether you are a landlord meeting your legal obligations, a homeowner who wants peace of mind, or a buyer who wants to know what they are getting, we can help. Mat carries out every EICR personally — no subcontractors.

WhatsApp Mat to Book an EICR

Or call 07817 171954 — we cover Rotherham, Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and all of South Yorkshire.