14/08/2019
An Electrical Inspection Condition Report (EICR) or periodic electrical testing is a full-scale inspection of your electrical systems and installations. While there isn’t legislation that specifically says business owners should have an EICR certificate, laws such as the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and the Electricity at Work Regulations (1989) outline the responsibilities that employers have with regards to the safety of their employees.
Why Is an EICR Important?
Electrical installations are prone to wear and tear and an EICR can check if there are any faults that can’t be seen by a visual inspection. This is vital for businesses in ensuring that they are providing a safe working environment and to decrease the risk of downtime which could be costly and expensive to repair. These electrical reports will identify any areas of concern, looking at earthing, bonding, circuit boards, light switches, sockets, damaged cabling and power outlets to ensure that they are installed correctly and operating safely.
After the Test
Once the EICR test has been completed the engineer will supply a certificate that details any damages, deterioration, defects or dangerous conditions as well as highlighting anything that isn’t up to present-day safety standards. If the EICR comes back as negative, work will need to be carried out by an approved contractor without delay to remove the risk to those working within the building. Work required is classified in codes with C1 meaning ‘danger is present’, risk of injury is likely and immediate action is required. C2 details potentially dangerous and remedial action is required urgently and C3 requires improvement t0 your electrical system, this classification can appear on the report and still pass the EICR test.
When?
Businesses are recommended to carry out an Electrical Inspection Conditioning Report every five years unless you run an industrial premise in which case every 3 years is the recommended frequency.