EICR Electrical Testing in Nottingham and Derby
Our electrical systems are the unsung hero of the property. They tirelessly perform day after day, year after year and seldom cause any disruption or failures. They are one of the least maintained areas of the home and yet they are absolutely vital for home safety.
We wouldn’t drive around in a car for a decade without servicing the engine, having an MOT check carried out or ignoring routine maintenance and not expect issues, yet with our home electrics, so many of us take the system for granted.
What can we do to maintain home electrics?
There is a simple way to ensure that home electrical systems are correctly maintained. Every fuse box, consumer unit or trip switch panel should have a sticker on the front. This sticker will tell you the date that the electrical system was last tested and inspected.
Check for the “Recommended date of next inspection” on the sticker. Where this has been exceeded, it is strongly advisable to have an electrical inspection carried out without delay as there could be electrical dangers lurking that have not been picked up by the fuse box or consumer unit.
Where there is NO sticker on the consumer unit / fuse box then it is possible that an inspection has not been carried out for a very long time and is long overdue.
What is an Electrical Inspection?
A periodic electrical inspection is a process carried out by a qualified electrician that inspects that wiring, the electrical circuits, visually checks the sockets, switches and other accessories and includes electrical testing to ensure safety measure are met.
Once the inspection is complete, an EICR is produced.
The inspection is known by several names including:
- Electrical Safety Check
- Electrical Homebuyer Survey
- Landlord Safety Check
- Electrical Report
A thorough electrical inspection takes several hours not 40 minutes. Please beware of cheap electrical inspections that are carried out very quickly as they will not include sufficient electrical testing or safety checks. Only a thorough inspection and electrical report will give peace of mind and a worthwhile document to let you know the condition of your wiring.
What is an EICR?
An EICR or Electrical Installation Condition Report, is a document that is produced following a Periodic Electrical Inspection. The document is typically 5-8 pages in length and details any electrical dangers, potential dangers, and non-compliances with the wiring regulations.
The EICR will often contain several CODES. Each of these codes will specify the severity of the situation and the need for remedial works. The EICR is often accompanied by a quotation to carry out remedial works or recommendations for any works necessary in order to improve electrical safety.
The codes and meanings are as follows:
- C1 – Immediate danger, immediate remedial action required.
- C2 – Potential danger, urgent remedial action required.
- C3 – Improvement recommended
- FI – Further Investigation required due to suspected danger
How can we help?
As NICEIC registered electricians we are annually assessed, insured, qualified and able to carry out electrical testing and inspection. When we produce an EICR report we will explain any issues in plain English and what is required in order to fix them.
If you are overdue an electrical inspection then get in touch with us as soon as possible and we will walk you through the process and arrange your inspection with you.
