An electrical installation condition report (EICR) is a visual inspection of an installation and checks if it is in a safe condition for the operation and maintenance personnel. The name comes from the fact that this type of inspection can be carried out either before or after “conditions” have been altered to the installation, such as:
• Replacing distribution boards.
• Installing sockets.
• Putting up extra lighting points where required.
It’s usually done when there’s been some work on an existing system, such as removing an old board (fuse box), replacing consumer units (fuses or circuit breakers), adding additional lighting points, or putting in new sockets, etc.
The EICR is a visual inspection, and it’s really important to stress the fact that checking cables and circuit protection isn’t part of this type of inspection.
The reason for the EICR is to make sure that electrical equipment like insulation, switches, and control gear (like circuit breakers) are still safe for people working on them, as well as making sure that all the circuits are actually there. The last thing you want at a busy junction box is to discover that one of the consumer units has been removed!
Making any defects good before anyone gets injured or damages property.
The best way to do this sort of work is under supervision by an experienced person who knows what they’re looking for. If you ignore obvious indications that things are wrong, it could be very expensive for you if something is wrong and the inspection shows up with a few problems.
It’s also important to realize that even though someone is experienced in one trade, they need to know what they’re looking at when carrying out an EICR — we all hear about people running around with their toolboxes without any knowledge of what they’re doing. Running into serious trouble because you’ve installed something wrong or not done up a joint properly can destroy your business just as effectively as losing money through bad debts.
Do I Need An EICR?
There are hundreds of different types of electrical installation condition report these days, and it would be impossible to list them all (if anyone wants to tell us, that would be great!), but in general, an EICR is necessary if you are doing anything to the installation other than routine maintenance.
Not all situations require an EICR; your electrician will let you know whether one is required for your specific situation.
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