Introduction
ProElec undertake a wide range of electrical periodic inspections and electrical installation condition reports in St Helens, Warrington, Wigan and Liverpool, ranging from landlords electrical certificate, insurance companies, letting agents to full commercial certification of new and existing installations.
An Electrical Installation Condition Report is an inspection on the condition of an existing electrical installation, to identify (in order of priority) any deficiencies against the national safety standard for electrical installations.
If you think your wiring is unsafe this is something you should have done.
Overview
We also carry out landlord electrical safety reports and electrical installation condition reports for insurance and licensing purposes (Public Entertainment licence) e.g. Theatres, Pubs, Clubs, and Hotels etc.
We have a sensible approach to electrical testing and are fully aware of the increasing costs of staying on top of ever expanding electrical regulations, we will work with you to find the most economical way when rectifying any faults / problems, to ensure you have an electrical safty certificate.
We carry out Electrical Installation Condition Reports for several local Estate Agencies; we will collect keys for access to properties for your convenience with the assurance that all our electricians and staff are uniformed and carry company identification.
What will an Electrical Installation Condition Report show you?
- Reveal if any of your electrical circuits or equipment is overloaded
- Find any potential electrical shock risks and fire hazards in your electrical installation
- Identify any defective DIY electrical work
- Highlight any lack of earthing or bonding
Tests are also carried out on wiring and associated fixed electrical equipment to check that it is electrically safe.
Useful information
The main purpose of the report is to report on the safety condition of an existing installation. It should describe the overall condition as either ‘satisfactory’, in which case no immediate remedial work is required, or ‘unsatisfactory’ which means remedial work is required to make the installation safe to use.
EICR codes explained
- C1 Danger present, risk of injury, immediate action required
- C2 Potentially dangerous, urgent remedial action required
- C3 Improvement recommended
- FI Further investigation required
A C1 indicates a dangerous condition that requires urgent attention to make the installation safe. Once you have had an electrician do the necessary remedial work, an appropriate certificate would be issued to confirm that the remedial work has been carried out in accordance with BS 7671.
Please note a C3 does not fail the report. It is an improvement we would recommend, not something you are obliged to have done.
The electrician will give you a summary of the inspection in the report, which will give a clear indication of the condition of the electrical installation, taking into account all relevant circumstances.
Why is an Electrical Installation Condition Report needed?
Every electrical installation deteriorates with use and age. It is important for the person responsible for the maintenance of the installation to be sure that the safety of users is not put at risk, and that the installation continues to be in a safe and serviceable condition.
How often is an inspection needed?
If you let the property, the law decides this for you. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 a rented domestic property requires an Electrical Installation Condition Report at least every 5 years, and at the start of a new tenancy.
For a property you live in yourself, it is recommended that an inspection is carried out at least every:
- 10 years for a domestic installation
- 5 years for a commercial installation
- 3 years for caravans
- 1 year for swimming pools
Other instances when an electrical inspection should be carried out are:
- When a property is being prepared to be let
- Prior to selling a property or when buying a previously occupied property
Who should undertake the inspection?
Electrical installation condition reports should be carried out by a competent electrician.
What happens during the inspection?
The electrician will check the electrical installation against the requirements of BS 7671, Requirements for Electrical Installations (IET Wiring Regulations), as amended, which is the national safety standard for electrical installations. The inspection will take into account all relevant circumstances including the following factors:
- Adequacy of earthing and bonding
- Suitability of the switchgear and control gear e.g. consumer unit e.g. an old fusebox with a wooden back, cast iron switches, a haphazard mixture of such equipment is likely to need replacing
- Serviceability of equipment e.g. switches, socket-outlets and light fittings e.g. older round pin sockets, round light switches and braided flex hanging from ceiling roses to light fittings, black switches, sockets mounted in skirting boards may require replacing.
- Type of wiring system and its condition e.g. cables coated in black rubber, black rubber was phased out in the 1960s so these could be sixty years old or more, or cables coated in lead or fabric which are even older and may need replacing (modern cables use pvc insulation)
- Provision of residual current devices for socket-outlets that may be used to plug in electrical equipment used outdoors
- Presence of adequate identification and notices
- Extent of any wear and tear, damage or other deterioration
- Changes in use of the premises which have led to, or might lead to, deficiencies in the installation.
What tests are carried out on an electrical condition report?
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Details of the electrical system are recorded with the owners name and property address.
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What type of installation is it, domestic, commercial or Industrial.
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Make of the fuse board or consumer units it has and Number of circuits used.
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Number of sockets, lights, etc, also what’s on each circuit.
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Visually Checking for any defects.
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Dead testing of each circuit to obtain test results to check the safety of each circuit.
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Live testing of the circuits to check they are safe.
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Check that the correct cable sizes are used on each circuit.
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Check to see if the main earthing conductor is present and correct.
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Test if the gas pipe is earth bonded and installed correctly with the correct size cable.
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Check if main water pipe is earth bonded and installed correctly with the correct size cable.
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Check the RCD’s are working correctly, if fitted, and the right size milliamp is used, also test to see if it tripps in the correct time.
What happens after the inspection?
After the electrical tests ProElec will provide you with a BS 7671 Electrical Installation Condition Report along with a schedule of test results, evidence of any defects and departures from the IET wiring regulations and a circuit chart to be placed either onto or near to the fuse board / consumer unit.
Additionally you will be provided with professional technical advice from one of our qualified electricians in conjunction with notification and advice relating to the frequency and extent of required future periodic reports.
If the electrician reports any recommends or improvements to the installation, ProElec will give you a fixed price quotation for the remedial work. The improvements do not necessarily have to be carried out by the electrician who provided the report.
Information for landlords and tenants
Are you letting a property and unsure what you are legally required to hold?
You need a satisfactory Electrical Installation Condition Report, dated within the last five years, and a copy of it goes to your tenants. Satisfactory means no C1 or C2 codes left outstanding. If the report comes back with either of those, the remedial work has to be done and written confirmation supplied within 28 days, and the local authority can ask you for the report at any time.
Electricity is dangerous and can kill. By law it is essential that your property meets all the current safety standards.
If your a property agent, commercial or industrial we can discussed prices for electrical tests on a one to one basis. Please contact us for further information for on call-out charges etc, and management contracts.
ProElec are happy to offer a free no-obligation quote for the report and for any remedial work it turns up.
More information
For more information please contact us or telephone us directly on 01925 222197