What Is an EICR and How Often Do Commercial Buildings Need One?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report, usually shortened to EICR, is the recognised way of showing that the fixed wiring in a building is safe and fit to stay in use. For facilities managers and property owners across London, from office floors in the City of London and Canary Wharf to industrial units in Park Royal and Brimsdown, it sits among the core compliance documents next to fire alarm and emergency lighting records. This guide covers what an EICR is, what the inspection involves, how to read the results and how often commercial premises typically need one.
What is an EICR?
An EICR reports on the condition of an existing electrical installation. It deals with the fixed wiring and associated equipment, including distribution boards, circuits, sockets, lighting circuits, isolators and earthing and bonding. Portable appliances fall outside its scope and are handled separately.
The inspection is made against BS 7671, the IET Wiring Regulations. The current version is BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. Amendment 4 was published in April 2026 and became the only current version on 15 October 2026, so EICRs carried out from that date should use the updated model forms.
Is an EICR a legal requirement?
No single law states that a commercial building must have an EICR every set number of years. That said, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical systems to be maintained so as to prevent danger, so far as is reasonably practicable. Regular inspection and testing, recorded in an EICR, is the accepted way to demonstrate that this duty is being met. Insurers, landlords and fire risk assessors will also generally expect to see a current, satisfactory report.
What does the inspection involve?
A periodic inspection is undertaken by a skilled and competent electrician and would normally include:
- agreeing the extent and any limitations of the inspection with you before work begins, for example areas that cannot be reached or circuits that cannot be switched off
- a visual inspection of distribution boards, cables, accessories and enclosures for damage, wear, overheating or unsuitable alterations
- checking earthing and protective bonding
- testing a representative sample of circuits, including continuity, insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance and RCD operation
- checking that the installation suits the way the building is now used
- producing a written report with observations, classification codes and an overall assessment
Some of the testing requires circuits to be isolated, so in occupied buildings the work is often phased or carried out out of hours to keep disruption to a minimum.
Understanding the classification codes
Every issue identified is given a code showing how serious it is:
- C1: Danger present. There is a risk of injury and immediate action is needed. The item should be made safe on discovery.
- C2: Potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial action is needed.
- C3: Improvement recommended. Not dangerous, but improvement would enhance safety.
- FI: Further investigation. Something has been found that could not be fully assessed during the inspection and should be looked into.
A single C1 or C2 observation makes the overall assessment unsatisfactory. On the Amendment 4 model forms, C1 and C2 observations are listed separately from C3 and FI observations, and C3 and FI items do not by themselves make the report unsatisfactory. FI items should still be followed up without delay, because the investigation may uncover a more serious fault.
How often does a commercial building need an EICR?
The interval should be set by whoever carries out the inspection, taking account of the type of installation, how it is used, the environment and the standard of maintenance. IET Guidance Note 3 sets out recommended maximum periods between inspections for different kinds of premises. Some of the most relevant are listed below.
| Type of premises | Recommended maximum period between inspections |
|---|---|
| Commercial premises, offices and shops | 5 years, or on change of occupancy |
| Industrial premises | 3 years |
| Educational establishments | 5 years |
| Hospitals and clinics (general areas) | 5 years |
| Medical locations | 1 year |
| Restaurants, hotels and public houses | 5 years |
| Leisure complexes, theatres and places of public entertainment | 3 years |
| Agricultural and horticultural premises | 3 years |
| Swimming pools | 1 year |
| Construction site installations | 3 months |
These figures are recommended maximums rather than fixed legal deadlines. Your insurer, your lease, a fire or health and safety risk assessment, or the inspector’s own recommendation on the last report may call for a shorter interval. Work to the next inspection date given on your most recent EICR. Guidance Note 3 also recommends routine checks between formal inspections, which in most commercial buildings means keeping an eye out for damaged accessories, signs of overheating and unauthorised alterations.
It is also worth booking a fresh inspection when a building changes hands or use, after significant alterations, or following damage such as a flood or fire.
What happens after the report?
Where the report is unsatisfactory, the C1 and C2 items must be put right and the remedial work recorded, normally on an Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Works Certificate as appropriate. Keep the EICR, any remedial certificates and current circuit charts together, because insurers, auditors and anyone working on the system later will ask for them.
How JE Group Services can help
Our commercial electrical team carries out EICRs, remedial works and new installations across London, from Westminster and Stratford to Croydon, Wembley and the industrial areas along the North Circular, and we are registered with NICEIC and NAPIT. We plan testing around how your building operates and explain the findings clearly, with a priced list of any remedial work. EICRs can also be booked as part of a planned and reactive maintenance contract so no inspection date slips. To arrange an inspection, contact us.
Call JE Group Services on 03330 916 221 to book your commercial EICR.