3.3 The Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) & Schedules

The Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

The Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is the documentation issued following a periodic inspection of an existing electrical installation. Unlike the EIC, which certifies that new work complies with BS 7671 from new, the EICR reports on the condition of an installation at the time of inspection — it is a professional assessment, not a certificate of compliance.

This distinction between an EIC and an EICR is one of the most heavily tested topics in the 2391-52 exam.

When an EICR is Issued

An EICR is issued for:

• Routine periodic inspection of an existing installation at the recommended interval
• Change of occupancy (for example, a new tenant or owner)
• Change of use of a premises
• After damage (such as flood or fire) to assess continued suitability
• Client or insurance request for a condition assessment

The EICR is never issued for new work — new work requires an EIC, or a MEIWC for minor additions.

Extent and Limitations

The EICR must state clearly the extent of the inspection — what was inspected and tested — and any limitations that restricted the inspection. Limitations may be agreed before the inspection (for example, parts of the installation that could not be accessed, or circuits that could not be isolated) or may arise during the inspection (for example, equipment that could not be opened without risk of damage). All limitations must be recorded and justified. Agreed limitations are not an excuse to skip testing — they are a documented constraint on the scope, and the inspector must state how the limitation affects the overall assessment.

The Inspection and Testing Sequence

A periodic inspection follows a defined sequence: visual inspection first, then dead testing (continuity, insulation resistance), then live testing (Zs, RCD operation, polarity). The results are recorded on the schedule of test results, and any defects identified during either the visual inspection or the testing are assigned an observation code on the schedule of inspections. The inspector then forms an overall judgement based on the complete picture.

The Three Required Parts of an EICR

Per BS 7671 and GN3, a valid EICR consists of three inseparable parts, mirroring the EIC structure:

All three parts are required. A condition report without its schedules is incomplete.

Observation Codes

Each identified defect is assigned an observation code. A summary (full detail is in Chapter 10):

Under BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, an installation is judged unsatisfactory if any C1 or C2 code is recorded. C3 and FI codes do not by themselves make the installation unsatisfactory — they are advisory. (Under the previous A2:2022/A3:2024 rule, FI also made the report unsatisfactory; A4:2026 decoupled C3 and FI from the outcome.)

Overall Outcome

The inspector records one of two overall outcomes:

• Satisfactory — no C1 or C2 codes (only C3/FI, or no observations); the installation is safe for continued use
• Unsatisfactory — one or more C1 or C2 codes are present; remedial work is required

The outcome is the inspector's professional judgement, supported by the recorded test results and observation codes.

Who Signs the EICR?

The EICR is signed by the inspector — the competent person who carried out the periodic inspection and testing. Unlike the EIC, there is no designer or installer signature, because the EICR is the inspector's assessment of an existing installation, not a declaration by those who created it.

The inspector must be competent — suitably trained, experienced, and knowledgeable about the type of installation being inspected.

Recommended Inspection Intervals

BS 7671 includes recommended maximum intervals between periodic inspections. These are detailed in Chapter 10, but common examples include:

• Domestic dwellings: 10 years or change of occupancy
• Commercial premises: 5 years
• Industrial premises: 3 years
• Caravans and caravan parks: 1 year (or change of site)

The inspector records the recommended date of the next inspection on the EICR.

EIC vs EICR — Key Contrast

Key Exam Point

The exam regularly contrasts the EIC and EICR. Remember: EIC equals "complies from new" (three signatures, no observation codes); EICR equals "condition at the time of inspection" (inspector only, with observation codes and a satisfactory/unsatisfactory outcome). Mixing these two documents up is a common source of lost marks.