What is an EICR?
An electrical inspection condition report (EICR) is an in-depth inspection of your property’s electrical systems and installation. The report assesses the competency of your electrics by three different categories:
C1 – this indicates that danger exists and will need immediate attention.
C2 – this indicates that there is the potential for danger and advises urgent attention.
C3 – this indicates that the electrics pose no danger but still recommends the improvement of the electrical system.
How do you know if you need an EICR?
Over time, electrical installations will deteriorate with wear and age. This can potentially become a risk if they are not regularly checked; improperly insulated wiring can lead to dangerous electrical shorts while faulty wiring and appliances can cause electrical fires.
So, whether you’re a business owner, landlord or homeowner, it’s important you carry out regular checks on the condition of the electrics in your property.
The IET Wiring Regulations BS 7671, which sets the standard for electrical installations in the UK, recommends the following:
Below are the average and are not to be taken as the standard as many other factors come into play with a risk assessment being done.
Business Owners – should have an EICR test once every five years.
Landlords – should also have an EICR test once every 1 to 5 years, or when there is a change of tenancy.
Homeowners – should have an EICR test one every 10 years.
What are the consequences of not having an EICR?
Although it is now a legal requirement to have an up to date EICR, landlords and business owners are legally responsible for the welfare of their tenants and employees and can be prosecuted should they be harmed due to unsafe electrics.
EICRs should also not be overlooked by those looking at buying a house. Not checking whether a property has an up to date EICR before giving a seller money can lead to disastrous outcomes.
Take, for example, a property visited last week. A family had recently bought a house and had just moved in to their new home, trusting that the electrics were just as up to scratch as the seller had promised.
They called skylight Electrical Services Ltd intending to have a new socket installed however, when Skylight Electrical Service Ltd conducted an EICR, they discovered a house of horrors.
They found that old rubber cable had been used for a lot of the circuits and had aged to such a degree that they disintegrated when touched. They also found that there was no earth in the metal light fittings, leaving the family vulnerable to electric shocks.
The property would need a new fuse board and a total rewiring, costing the family a staggering sum of £5k, a cost which could have been avoided had they checked the house had an EICR certificate before they made the purchase.
We see time and again that too many people are happy to spend around £300k on a property with just the seller’s word that the electrics are completely fine, only to realise too late that this is not the case.
“I’d advise anyone looking to purchase a house to always check whether the seller has an up to date EICR before exchanging contracts. This not only avoids a nasty surprise bill once you move in, but will also protect yourself and your family from a dangerous living environment.”
To find out more about a EICR or to book a test, call Skylight Electrical Services Ltd on 07838177171
Comentarii