EICR Schedule of Inspections: What to Check

Items to Check

• Condition of enclosure: Is the consumer unit or distribution board in good physical condition? No cracks, burn marks, missing covers, or damage. For domestic premises, is it a non-combustible (metal) enclosure as required by Regulation 421.1.201?
• Security of fixing: Is the board securely fixed to the wall? Are all fixings present and tight?
• Circuit identification: Are all circuits clearly identified with a circuit chart or schedule? Does the chart correspond to the actual circuit arrangement? (Regulation 514.9.1 — note the exception: the requirement need not be applied for domestic (household) premises or similar installations where an initial verification certificate or an EICR, complete with the guidance for recipients, has been issued to the person ordering the work. Check applicability before coding absent charts in domestic installations.)
• Adequacy of access: Can the consumer unit or distribution board be accessed safely? Is there adequate working space in front of the board?
• Presence of SPDs: For installations where SPDs are required (Section 443), are they present and in good condition? Check the status indicator on the SPD if fitted.
• AFDDs (arc fault detection devices): Regulation 421.1.7 requires AFDDs to BS EN 62606 on single-phase AC final circuits supplying socket-outlets rated not exceeding 32 A in high rise residential buildings, houses in multiple occupation, purpose-built student accommodation and care homes. For all other premises the same regulation only recommends them, so absence in an ordinary dwelling is typically coded C3 at most. On the Appendix 6 form the item is “Confirmation of indication that AFDD(s) are operational” (421.1.7; 532.6; 651.2(e)).
• RCD six-monthly test notice: Is the notice advising the user to test the RCD six-monthly by pressing the test button present? The Appendix 6 form item reads “Presence of RCD six-monthly test notice, where required” (Regulation 514.12.2). Note the exception: the requirement need not be applied for domestic (household) premises or similar installations where an initial verification certificate or an EICR, complete with the guidance for recipients, has been issued to the person ordering the work — verify whether it applies before coding absence in a domestic installation.

Items to Check

• Cable condition: Is the cable sheath intact and undamaged? Any signs of overheating, discolouration, or deterioration? Cable types such as older rubber-insulated or lead-sheathed cable require particular attention.
• Cable supports and fixings: Are cables adequately supported at appropriate intervals? Are clips, cleats, and fixings secure? Are cables protected from mechanical damage where they run across surfaces?
• Cable routing: Are cables routed in safe zones where concealed in walls? Any evidence of cables being routed through thermal insulation without derating?
• Containment condition: Is trunking, conduit, and cable tray in good condition? Lids in place? No damage or corrosion? Adequate capacity (not overfilled)?
• Fire barriers and seals: Are fire barriers present where cables pass through fire-rated walls, floors, or ceilings? (Regulation 527.2) This is a commonly missed item.
• Cable identification: Are cables identified with appropriate markings? For pre-harmonised wiring colours (red/black), have they been re-identified where they terminate alongside harmonised colours (brown/blue)?

Items to Check

• Condition of accessories: Are socket outlets, light switches, ceiling roses, and other accessories in good physical condition? No cracks, damage, discolouration, or burn marks.
• Security of mounting: Are all accessories securely mounted to the wall or surface? No loose fixings or accessories pulling away from the mounting surface.
• Suitability for environment: Are accessories appropriate for the environment? For example, IP-rated accessories in bathrooms (BS 7671 Section 701), weatherproof accessories for outdoor use.
• Correct connection: Where accessible without removing accessories from the wall, check for signs of incorrect connection — scorch marks indicating loose connections, signs of arcing, or overheating.
• Enclosure integrity: Are all covers, lids, and bezels in place? No exposed live parts accessible to the user.

Items to Check

• Main protective bonding: Are main protective bonding conductors connected to incoming water, gas, oil, and other metallic services? Regulation 411.3.1.2 requires extraneous-conductive-parts liable to introduce a dangerous potential difference to be connected to the main earthing terminal (411.3.1.1 is protective earthing — the CPC requirement — not bonding); Regulation 544.1.1 governs bonding conductor sizing — under PME (TN-C-S), Table 54.8 sets the minimum at 10 mm² copper where the PEN conductor is 35 mm² or less. Check at the point of entry of each service.
• Supplementary bonding: Where required (such as bathrooms under certain conditions), are supplementary bonding conductors present and correctly connected?
• RCD protection — socket outlets and special locations: Are 30 mA RCDs fitted to circuits that require additional protection? This includes socket outlet circuits, bathroom circuits (Section 701), outdoor circuits, and circuits supplying mobile equipment used outdoors.
• RCD protection — domestic lighting circuits: Regulation 411.3.4 requires that, within domestic (household) premises, additional protection by an RCD with a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30 mA shall be provided for AC final circuits supplying luminaires. This has been in BS 7671 since the 2018 edition, so a large number of older installations will not comply and it is a routinely codeable observation on a domestic EICR.
• Earthing arrangement: Is the earthing arrangement correct and appropriate? Verify the type (TN-S, TN-C-S, TT). For TT systems, is the earth electrode present and in good condition?
• Earthing conductor: Is the main earthing conductor present, of adequate size, correctly connected, and in good condition?
• SELV/PELV systems: Where separated extra-low voltage or protective extra-low voltage systems are present, is the separation maintained?

Items to Check

• Main switch: Is there a readily accessible means of isolation for the entire installation? Is the main switch clearly identified? Can it be operated easily?
• Circuit isolation: Can each circuit be individually isolated at the distribution board? Are the isolating devices (MCBs, RCBOs) clearly labelled to identify the circuit they protect?
• Emergency switching: Where required (for example, immersion heaters, fixed space heaters, and some commercial equipment), are emergency switching devices present, accessible, and clearly identified?
• Functional switching: Do local switches (light switches, cooker switches, fused connection units) operate correctly and provide the switching function intended?
• Firefighter’s switch: Regulation 537.4.2 requires one in the low-voltage circuit supplying outdoor lighting installations operating at a voltage exceeding low voltage, indoor discharge lighting installations operating at a voltage exceeding low voltage, and specific equipment in certain premises subject to the fire and rescue authority’s requirements or to licensing conditions. It does not apply to a portable discharge lighting luminaire or a sign rated not more than 100 W supplied from an accessible socket-outlet. Where one is fitted, check it is easily visible and accessible (537.4.3) and marked with its ON and OFF positions and the words “FIREFIGHTER’S SWITCH” or “FIRE SWITCH” in letters not less than 10 mm high (537.4.4).

Items to Check

• Warning and caution labels: Are all required warning labels present? This includes the RCD six-monthly test notice (Regulation 514.12.2, subject to the domestic exception), the next-inspection recommendation notice (514.12.1, same exception), the alternative or additional supplies warning notice where applicable (514.15.1), voltage warning notices where a voltage exceeding 230 V to earth would not normally be expected (514.10.1), and the “Safety Electrical Connection – Do Not Remove” earthing and bonding labels (514.13.1).
• Diagrams and documentation: Are circuit diagrams, schedules, and as-installed drawings available and up to date? (Regulation 514.9.1 requires a durable copy of the schedule relating to a distribution board to be provided within or adjacent to each distribution board, and any symbol used to comply with IEC 60617 — subject to the same domestic exception as the notices above.)
• Presence of non-standard colours: If the installation contains pre-harmonised wiring colours (red and black), are they re-identified where they terminate alongside harmonised colours (brown and blue) at the distribution board?
• Previous alterations: Is there evidence of previous alterations or additions? Are they of an acceptable standard? Have they been certificated?
• Additional protection requirements: Where the current edition of BS 7671 requires protection that was not required when the installation was originally installed (30 mA RCD protection for socket-outlets rated not exceeding 32 A per Reg 411.3.3, 30 mA RCD protection for AC final circuits supplying luminaires in domestic premises per Reg 411.3.4, or AFDDs per Reg 421.1.7), has it been assessed and recorded? In an ordinary dwelling Reg 421.1.7 only recommends AFDDs, so absence is typically coded C3 at most; in a high rise residential building, HMO, purpose-built student accommodation or care home it is a requirement for socket-outlet circuits rated not exceeding 32 A.

• Start at the origin: Begin at the supply intake and consumer unit, then work outwards through the installation room by room. This systematic approach ensures nothing is missed.
• Use a torch: Many consumer units and ceiling voids are poorly lit. A good torch reveals damage, discolouration, and defects that are invisible in ambient lighting.
• Check every room: Do not skip rooms. Check every socket outlet, switch, light fitting, and visible cable in every room. If you cannot access a room, record the limitation.
• Look at the loft and under-stairs cupboard: These are common locations for junction boxes, cable runs, and bonding connections. They are also areas where DIY work is frequently found.
• Check the meter cupboard: Verify the supply type, check the earthing arrangement at the cutout, and look at the condition of the meter tails.
• Record findings in real time: Do not rely on memory. Record observations as you find them using the Elec-Mate app or a notepad. Details that seem obvious on site become impossible to recall accurately after you have left.