EICR Unsatisfactory – What to Do Next

An Electrician Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a routine inspection to make sure every component of your electrical installation is safe, compliant and fully functional. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. If problems are identified with your installation, your EICR could come back as unsatisfactory.

In this post, we’ll discuss the best course of action following an unsatisfactory EICR.

What does unsatisfactory mean for EICR?

First and foremost, it’s recommended that you don’t use your electrical system until an unsatisfactory EICR has been resolved.

EICRs should only be carried out by professionals who are qualified and competent. If such a person deems your installation to be unsatisfactory, it means that they’re not satisfied that it’s safe enough to use.

One of the big benefits of regular EICR inspections is that they ensure compliance with BS 7671 standards and, in turn, provide peace of mind that everything is working safely. If you continue to use your electrical installation after an unsatisfactory EICR, you’ll be going in the opposite direction to both – deliberate non-compliance and no peace of mind whatsoever.

Why is my EICR unsatisfactory?

The next step after an unsatisfactory EICR is to find out why. The reasons are split down into four coded categories, which are listed on your EICR certificate or report:

• C1 – This means that danger is present, posing a risk to anyone using the installation, with immediate action required.
• C2 – Your installation is potentially dangerous and could lead to a shock risk, meaning that urgent action is needed.
• C3 – Improvements are recommended to remedy issues which could develop over time.
• FI – Further investigation is required.

C1 and C2 faults, along with FI codes, will always make an EICR unsatisfactory, while C3 issues alone will not.

Arranging remedial work

Unless it’s down to FI codes, you’ll need to arrange remedial work to turn your EICR from unsatisfactory to satisfactory. C1 codes should be fixed immediately before the installation is used at all, while C2 codes should at least have remedial work arranged as soon as possible.

If you also have C3 codes on your EICR, it’s up to you whether you have them fixed. They won’t affect the satisfactory/unsatisfactory verdict for now, but they could develop into a C2 or C1 problem by the time your next EICR comes around. Remember, prevention is better than cure, and small issues are always easier, quicker and cheaper to repair than big ones.

EICR services you can trust

An unsatisfactory EICR can come as a shock. But it’s still a far better alternative compared to the physical shock that can come from a faulty electrical installation. At Volta Compliance, we provide EICR inspections and reports for businesses across Yorkshire.

With our comprehensive service, you’ll have a team on hand to make quick repairs, if necessary, or schedule in bigger jobs as soon as possible. We’ll also provide automatic reminders when your next EICR is due, so there’s one less thing on your list.

Contact us today on 0113 436 0402 or email [email protected] to find out more.