Everything about an EICR Certificate Tips, Online property electrics advice

Everything about an EICR Certificate

4 March 2022

What is an EICR Certificate?

An EICR Certificate, also known as an Electrical Installation Condition Report is a formal document that illustrates the safety, quality and overall condition of the electrical installations and fittings in a property. The document has to be produced by a qualified electrical engineer or electrician after thorough assessment of the property and its electrical installations.

EICR Certificate Electrical Installation Condition Report

The EICR Certificate can be obtained for domestic, commercial as well as industrial properties.

It is important that electrical fittings and installations meet regulated standards as these ensure safety of occupants. Faults in electrical installations, for example, exposed or damaged wires, sockets or fuse boards can all pose a threat to your health and safety, increasing the risk of fires and electric shocks. As a result, it is essential to obtain an EICR Certificate by booking an inspection.

The risks of not having an EICR Certificate

The Electric Safety First report states that every year, around 20,000 homes, in the UK, are affected by fires, caused by faulty electrics. Furthermore, 89% of these fires are caused by electrical products and 11% are caused by faulty wiring. These are staggering percentages, reaffirming the importance of EICR inspections as most of these incidents could have been avoided if regular maintenance was enforced. Visual inspections are an important way to detect potential electrical faults.

It is important that a qualified professional carries out your EICR inspection as quite often wires and electrical fittings are not in plain sight or they may be difficult to access, as a result, it is essential that they are not missed or overlooked. At MyConstructor we are able to connect you with qualified professionals in your area; simply visit our site and get your free quote today!

Are Landlords responsible for obtaining an EICR Certificate?

In short, yes. Landlords are responsible for providing and ensuring a safe living environment for their tenants, throughout the length of their stay. Based on the latest regulations, all rental properties require an EICR Certificate, according to The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector. This ensures that all electrical installations in the rented property are installed correctly and are in a good and safe condition.

What is the purpose of an EICR Certificate?

The EICR Certificate will identify worn out or damaged installations/wiring which may affect the safety of the property and its occupants. The benefit and purpose of an EICR Certificate is not only to identify faults but also providing recommendations and ways to solve the issue or potential issue. The suggested corrective measures will enable you to both prevent or resolve problems.
The EICR Certificate will ensure that the electrical fittings and installations in the property are safe. The qualified professional (electrician/electrical engineer) will inspect the property thoroughly, ensuring that it is damaged and wear free. Furthermore, the inspector will also ensure that electrical equipment has been installed correctly.

The qualified professional would also determine which appliances pose the most risk, when considering the likelihood of shocks and fires. This assessment would be followed by recommendations and preventative measures which could be used to ensure utmost safety.
The EICR Certificate would also cover components which do not align with the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s Wiring Regulations. This is made up of a specific criteria which covers the bonding and earthing of wires and cables, the control gear and switchgear and also the condition of sockets.
Finally, the qualified professional will record the results of the inspection for future use. In the case of an accident, the EICR Certificate becomes a point of reference and evidence that the necessary measures were taken to prevent any accident from occurring.

Why should you obtain an EICR Certificate?

There are numerous important benefits that come along with an EICR Certificate:

Health and Safety: regular EICR inspections are essential for maintaining a safe environment for the occupants of a property. It reduces the risks of accidents and damage caused by faulty electrics

Compliance: having an EICR Certificate, especially if you are a landlord or a building owner, shows that you are aware of your responsibilities. Below are the laws in which these responsibilities are stated:
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
- The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

As of April 2021, an EICR certificate is mandatory for all tenancies, new and existing.

Insurance: quite often instance companies will require you to have an up to date EICR Certificate. Should an accident occur and you needed to claim for damages, from an electrical fault, you might need to prove that you took the necessary, preventative measures to avoid such an accident in the first place. In order to find out more, check in with you insurance provider and find out wether an EICR Certificate is one of your insurer’s requirements.

Legal protection: an EICR provides you with reassurance that if an accident relating to electricity did occur on your property, there is proof that you followed regulations and did not neglect your duty as a property owner/landlord or business owner. This may save you from damage and legal fees.
Energy efficiency: another important benefit of an EICR Certificate is that its evaluation will also point you towards ways of improving your electrical installations, reducing your energy consumption and carbon footprint. This ties into another benefit as reducing energy consumption will also reduce costs. Preventative repairs and upgrades can also enable you to save money, as in the case of an electrical accident the cost of reparations will be greater.

How long will the EICR be valid for?

Commercial and privately rented properties are usually covered for 5 years, after the inspection. Domestic properties are covered for 10 years. In the case of restaurants and hotels, EICR inspections should be carried out annually.

How do I book an EICR inspection?

The process of booking and EICR inspection is simple.

Book your EICR Certificate through MyConstructor we can connect you with the right qualified professional at the click of a button. Simply visit our site for further instructions and get your free quote today!

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