Electrical Safety Certificate: Commercial Property Legal Requirements

Business owners and managers are responsible for the well-being of everyone on their premises. It’s not acceptable (or even possible) to get away with not having the required documentation to keep your business compliant.

Health and Safety Legislation expects you to provide safe electrics and proof of inspections and repairs. And that’s where Electrical Safety Certificates come in. Let’s have a closer look at why they are an essential requirement.

What is an Electrical Safety Certificate?

An Electrical Safety Certificate is a legal requirement for your commercial property. Also known as a Fixed Wiring Certificate or an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), it pretty much does what it says on the tin.

You will receive an Electrical Safety Certificate from the electrician who inspects your premises. It will detail what’s been checked, the condition of your systems and equipment or any future work that needs to be carried out to keep you compliant.

Any issues will be recorded as either:

• C1- Immediate action is needed. Danger is present.
• C2- Action is needed. Potential for danger.
• C3- Improvements recommended but not required. C3 is the only classification that gives a pass with an inspection.
• FI – Further investigation required.

Electrical safety certificate legal requirements for commercial properties

It goes without saying that no business wants to get into bother for non-compliance. If you are the person in charge of making sure you don’t get hit with a heavy fine, it is essential for you to know what laws your business should be following.

Although EICR isn’t actually a law itself, it does relate to two very important ones – The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and Electricity at Work Regulations (1989). Both pieces of legislation are the cornerstone of health and safety in commercial properties. So, it’s a good idea for employers and employees alike to make themselves familiar with the legal requirements they set out.

Requirements expected from employers include:

• Having a duty of care to their employees and other individuals who are affected by work carried out on their property.
• Ensuring that all work carried out is done safely with minimal hazards by competent and suitably qualified people.
• Providing safe electrical systems and equipment for the well-being of employees through regular inspections.

How do I get one and how long does it last?

Getting an Electrical Safety Certificate is a straightforward process. A registered electrician needs to carry out a property inspection and assess the conditions of electrical installations.

Areas to be inspected include:

• Fuse box
• Earthing and bonding
• Electrical sockets
• Wiring
• General safety of the entire installation

If everything is safe and compliant, an Electrical Safety Certificate is issued. The date of the next inspection will be recommended as part of the certificate, so you’ll need to schedule another inspection within that timeframe to keep your company compliant.

Stay EICR compliant with Volta’s expert electricians

It is a legal requirement for your electrical installations to have periodic inspections. If your business is based in Leeds or the surrounding areas, Volta Compliance can help ensure you stay compliant.

Our expert electricians will carry out a full inspection of your systems and equipment, discover any issues and provide the repairs needed. So if you need an Electrical Safety Certificate that covers legal requirements for your commercial property – call Volta Compliance on 0113 397 1361 or email [email protected].