Whether a new business owner or a landlord, you need an EICR certificate. But you may need to learn what it means. A10 Electrical Solutions can advise you on what to know about the EICR certificate.
What Is An EICR Certificate?
The EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) certificate is provided after all the electrical installations on your property have been tested to ensure they fit for purpose.
Although businesses or property owners are not legally required to obtain this certificate, they are bound by legal obligations to their tenants, staff, and customers that can only be met through an EICR inspection.
Specific laws that landlords and business owners must follow outline their responsibilities regarding the safety of their employees, customers, and tenants. Here at A10 Electrical Solutions, we can provide more details if required.
Purpose Of The Electrical Installation Condition Report Certificate
Electrical wiring and installation can deteriorate over time. Because they are often hidden from view, you are likely to notice any problems once it is too late.
As a Landlord or business property owner, arranging to have an EICR carried out provides you with a comprehensive check of all electrical installations within your property.
Why Is Electrical Safety Important?
Electrical safety is crucial. As you know, electricity is powerful and can prove harmful if not appropriately maintained. Electrical safety can provide your employees or tenants with a safe working/living environment and reduce the potential risk of electrical fires.
What Is Involved?
The electrical safety certificate (EICR) is a formal document produced following a structured and comprehensive assessment of all electrical installations and wiring aspects in commercial, industrial, or domestic properties. Generally, a qualified electrician will perform the EICR assessment against a detailed checklist.
Checks Performed
An experienced electrician will conduct various electrical tests t to check the validity of the electrical installations on the property.
Visual Assessment: A qualified electrician will examine all electrical installations to determine whether any need repair or replacement.
Dead Testing: This testing will disconnect Specific electrical installations from the main power supply. The aim is to identify any wiring that needs to be connected correctly.
Live Electrical Testing: The primary purpose of this test is to look for any possible issues that may arise when using any electrical item regularly.
Check Earthing And Bonding: Through this type of electricity test, an electrician will check if the quality of earthing protection and bonding is acceptable. It is there to help ensure a good connection between the earth point and the mains plug of the devices connected to the electrical system.
Who Can Carry Out An EICR Certificate Examination?
A registered electrician can conduct the tests on your premises to obtain an electrical safety test certificate. These people have undergone the necessary training and received the relevant qualifications to inspect and test electrical installations.
Why Do You Need An EICR?
As a commercial property owner or a private landlord, you are legally responsible for ensuring the safety of your tenants, customers, and employees. You are also legally obligated to ensure the safe working order of your property’s equipment.
Benefits for Homeowners Getting an EICR
While it is not essential or a legal requirement, having an EICR completed on your home is a sensible measure to confirm the working order of your electrical systems and give you and your family peace of mind.
Improved Safety
It can detect potential faults or hazards in your home’s electrical systems and recommend fixing any issues to maintain good working order and safety.
Cost Savings
Arranging to have such testing carried out on your home could save you a great deal of money in the future. Ensuring that all wiring in your home is compliant and works properly is the best way to save money. It will help to identify any problems early on so that you can avoid any further damage to your property that you will need to fund to get repaired.
Increased Efficiency
It helps to ensure that all electrical systems are running efficiently, which will lower your energy bills. It also helps to identify any electrical components that may need replacing because they are outdated and can now be replaced with more modern, efficient ones.
Risks Of Neglecting Electrical Safety
Do not ensure that your electrical circuits are in good condition, as this can lead to unforeseen or severe issues. Any sudden or urgent electrical issues could damage your property or harm people within it.
Breakdown of the EICR Report Sections
Following the inspection, you will then be provided with the EICR report, which contains the following:
Location Of Inspection And Test
This certificate contains information relating to the premises tested and the person who carried out the inspection and tests. It will detail the kind of premises where the tests were carried out, whether commercial or residential. Plus, as with all certificates issued by A10 Electrical Solutions, it will show the name of the employee tasked with carrying it out.
Limitations
The limitations of an EICR are in place for both practical and safety purposes. For example, a physical obstruction could prevent the person carrying out the inspection from accessing a particular area of a property or damage the fabric of the building.
Breakdown Of Any Issues Identified
It details any issues found and shows their classification about them. You will also be provided with recommendations for remedial actions to bring your electrical systems back in line with safety standards.
Inspection Schedule
This is where you will find details of the areas inspected. A total of seven areas are looked at in residential and commercial properties. After each area has been inspected, it will be given a particular code. These codes help to determine what rating you receive on your Electrical Installation Certificate Report, which we look at below.
Explanation Of The Different Ratings
Upon completion of such electrical tests, two ratings will appear on an EICR certificate as follows:
Satisfactory
If your EICR reports are satisfactory, it means that the electrical installations in your property meet current safety standards. This confirms that you don´t need to carry out any work, as it shows that your property is electrically safe.
Unsatisfactory
If you receive an unsatisfactory rating on your EiCR report, it shows that the electrical installation in your premises has failed the inspection. This means that one or more problems may pose a risk to the safety of those in the building and will require action.
The report provided to you by one of our electricians here at A10 Electrical Solutions will detail the particular problem and also recommend the repairs needed to rectify it.
What To Do If You Receive A Poor Rating
If your EICR business or landlord certificate shows a poor rating, the work to rectify this must be done within 28 days. However, sometimes, they may stipulate that it must be carried out immediately or within 10 to 14 days. Here at A10 Electrical Solutions, we can provide the necessary advice and assistance to rectify issues discovered during the inspection.
How Often Is An EICR Needed?
Although there are no specific rules, it is best practice to have regular electrical checks on your property every 1-2 years. There are several factors to consider:
General Guidelines For EICR Frequency
The overall condition and environment of the electrical installation will determine the frequency of such tests. The size of the property and whether it is commercial or residential will also be taken into account.
Factors Affecting EICR Frequency
How frequently such electrical testing is carried out depends on certain factors, which we discuss in more detail below.
Type Of Property
Such testing must be performed every five years on offices and flats. However, when it comes to houses, such tests can generally be carried out every ten years. However, landlords who own multi-occupancy properties should arrange to have such inspections carried out every five years.
Age of Property
Newer properties will have been constructed to current safety standards, so older properties’ electrical systems will likely need to be tested more often.
Usage
Properties involving chemicals or flammable gases will need to be checked more frequently. The same goes for densely populated commercial such as cinemas, shops, warehouses, and factories.
Choosing The Right Electrician
Importance Of Hiring A Qualified Electrician
A professional electrician will bring the relevant knowledge and expertise required to carry out such work. As with all our employees, they keep up to date with all the latest industry regulations and standards, thus ensuring that all electrical systems in your property meet relevant safety codes.
With their years of experience, they can accurately diagnose any issues, provide practical solutions, and carry out the work to a high standard.
Tips For Finding A Reputable Electrician
Below are a few tips for helping you find a suitable electrician to provide you with the assistance you need.
Correct Licence And Certification
When looking for an electrician, it is crucial to choose one who is registered and licenced to carry out such work. This will ensure that they carry out the work safely and to the correct standards.
One particular qualification to look for when choosing an electrician is the NICEIC. Opting for such a person ensures that they have been professionally assessed and that any work they carry out meets all relevant industry standards.
Experience
When choosing an electrician, take some time to learn more about their background. Feel free to ask them to provide you with evidence of work they have carried out previously. This will help to assure you that they have the necessary experience to carry out the work you require.
Reputation
Check their reputation by looking for online reviews or asking people you know for recommendations. Also, don´t be afraid to ask them to provide you details of previous customers who would be willing to give a reference for the work they have carried out for them.
Call us today to book your EICR assessment and learn more about our electrical safety standards and services.
Warranty
Find out if they provide you with a warranty for any work carried out. This will help assure you that should any problems arise after the work has been carried out, they are willing to come back and rectify them at no extra cost.
A10 Electrical Solutions – EICR Experts
An electrical installation condition report is crucial as it ensures that all electrical equipment is in good working condition and safe to use.
If you are looking for a qualified electrical engineer to conduct an electrical installation condition report (EICR) on your property, look no further than A10 Electrical Solutions Ltd.