10.4 Outcomes, Inspection Intervals & Completing the EICR

The Overall Outcome

The EICR records one overall outcome: SATISFACTORY or UNSATISFACTORY. The rule, recapped from section 10.3: under A4:2026, unsatisfactory if any C1 or C2 is present; satisfactory if only C3 and/or FI or no observations. The inspector signs and takes professional responsibility for the assessment — the outcome is their judgement, backed by the tests and observations recorded on the schedules.

The outcome is not a separate opinion; it follows directly from the codes. An inspector cannot record a C2 and then declare the report satisfactory. Equally, a report with only C3 (or FI) observations cannot be declared unsatisfactory just because the inspector feels the installation is old.

The Three Parts of a Completed EICR

A completed EICR, as introduced in Chapter 3, consists of three required parts:

1. The condition report — the main document recording extent, limitations, supply characteristics, each observation with its code and recommended remedial action, the overall outcome, and the recommended next inspection interval.
2. The schedule(s) of test results — the measured values (Zs, insulation resistance, RCD trip times, polarity, etc.) for each circuit tested.
3. The schedule of inspections — the checklist of inspected items (adequacy of earthing and bonding, presence and condition of RCDs, condition of accessories, adequacy of labelling) marked as inspected, limitation, or not applicable.

All three are required — a condition report without the schedules is incomplete and is not a valid EICR.

What the Completed EICR Contains

The condition report includes the following key sections:

• Extent and limitations — what was inspected and what was not (agreed and operational limitations, as section 10.1).
• Supply characteristics — earthing arrangement (TN-S, TN-C-S, TT), number and type of live conductors, nominal voltage, frequency, prospective fault current at the origin.
• Observations — each defect with its code (C1/C2/C3/FI) and a recommendation for remedial action.
• Overall outcome — satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
• Recommended next inspection interval.
• Inspector's details and signature — the named inspector who carried out and takes responsibility for the assessment.
• Date of inspection.

The schedule of test results and schedule of inspections are attached to the condition report and together form the complete EICR delivered to the client.

Communicating Results — Especially C1

A C1 observation requires immediate notification to the client — orally at the time of the inspection, and in writing on the EICR. The inspector must also take appropriate action to make safe, typically isolating the dangerous part from the supply and warning the user not to use it until remedied. Leaving a C1 unreported, or failing to make safe, is a serious failure of duty.

For C2 and FI observations, the client should be informed promptly and the report delivered without undue delay so remedial work can be arranged. The report must clearly convey the condition — a non-technical client must understand which findings are urgent (C1, C2) and which are advisory (C3). Many EICR forms group observations by code so the reader can see at a glance what needs urgent attention.

Recommended Inspection Intervals

The following intervals are guidance taken from GN3 (BS 7671 itself does not tabulate them) — the inspector applies professional judgement and may recommend a shorter interval if the condition warrants.

A change of tenancy or ownership also triggers an inspection even within the normal interval — a new occupier may load the installation differently. The recommended interval is recorded on the EICR and is the inspector's professional judgement, not a fixed statutory period. Where an installation is in poor condition but not actually unsatisfactory, the inspector may recommend a shorter interval (for example, 3 years for a domestic installation showing early signs of deterioration) so that the condition is rechecked before it becomes dangerous.

After the EICR — Remedial Work and Re-inspection

The EICR is an assessment, not a repair document. Where the report is unsatisfactory, the dutyholder must arrange remedial work by a competent person to address each C1, C2, and FI observation. Once the work is complete, the person carrying out the remedial work should issue a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC) for each altered circuit, or an EIC where new circuits are added. Some clients request a re-inspection of the remedied items to confirm the work — this is good practice where C1 or C2 defects were present, and the inspector may issue an updated EICR or a covering letter confirming the defects have been resolved.

The original EICR remains on record as the condition report for the day of inspection; it is not altered after the event. The remedial certificates and any re-inspection report sit alongside it as evidence that the dutyholder has acted on the findings. This paper trail is what a landlord, insurer, or enforcing authority will ask to see — the EICR alone is not enough if the C1s and C2s were never actually fixed.