Electrical Inspection Checklist: What to Check

Visual inspection is the foundation of every electrical assessment, whether you are carrying out an EICR on an existing installation or certifying new work with an EIC. It is not a formality or a tick-box exercise -- it is the stage where many of the most significant safety defects are identified.

BS 7671 Section 621 requires that initial verification of every new installation begins with a careful visual inspection. Chapter 65 (Section 651) requires the same for periodic inspection and testing. The visual inspection must be carried out before any instruments are connected, for two critical reasons: first, testing a circuit with a visible defect (damaged insulation, loose connections, exposed conductors) can cause a fault or injury; second, test results from a circuit with a visual defect may be misleading and give false confidence about the safety of the installation.

A thorough visual inspection requires knowledge, experience, and systematic attention to detail. You need to know what to look for, what the current standards require, and how to classify your findings correctly using the observation code system. This guide provides a comprehensive checklist covering every area of a domestic and commercial electrical inspection.

The visual inspection covers every visible part of the fixed electrical installation. Work through the installation systematically, starting at the origin (intake position and main switch) and working outwards to the final circuits and endpoints. Here are the key items to check:

Document every observation as you go. Do not rely on memory -- by the time you have inspected 30 circuits across a large property, you will not remember the details of the first five. Use a structured checklist or digital inspection tool that captures each finding in real time.

The consumer unit (or distribution board) is the single most important item to inspect during any electrical assessment. It houses the protective devices for every circuit, it is the point where earthing and bonding are connected, and its condition directly affects the safety of the entire installation.

When inspecting a consumer unit, also note its age and type. Older rewirable fuse boards, early MCB boards without RCD protection, and plastic consumer units in domestic premises are all common observations that may require recommendations for upgrade.

Two A4:2026 requirements are particularly relevant at the consumer unit. First, Regulation 411.3.4 now mandates 30mA RCD additional protection for AC final circuits supplying luminaires in domestic premises -- check that lighting circuits are RCD-protected, not just socket circuits. Second, Regulation 421.1.7 recommends the installation of arc fault detection devices (AFDDs) on AC final circuits to mitigate the risk of fire from arc fault currents. Absence of AFDDs on a new or recently rewired domestic installation is worth recording as a recommendation, though the regulation uses advisory rather than mandatory language.

Earthing and bonding are the primary means of protection against electric shock from indirect contact (touching a conductive part that has become live due to a fault). Defects in the earthing and bonding system are the most safety-critical findings an inspector can make.

Missing main bonding is one of the most commonly reported C1 (Danger Present) or C2 (Potentially Dangerous) observations. In older properties, it is common to find that bonding was never installed, that bonding conductors have been disconnected during plumbing or gas work, or that plastic replacements to metal pipes have broken the bonding continuity. Always trace the bonding conductors to confirm they are continuous and correctly connected.

BS 7671 requires that every circuit is identified at the distribution board and that appropriate warning and safety notices are displayed. Labelling is a frequent source of C3 (Improvement Recommended) observations on older installations and is often overlooked even on new work.

Missing or incorrect labelling is classified as C3 in most circumstances. However, if the absence of labelling creates a genuine safety risk -- for example, no dual supply warning on an installation with solar PV, or no circuit identification on a large commercial distribution board where incorrect isolation could cause danger -- a higher classification may be appropriate.

Assessing cable condition is a critical part of the visual inspection. Cables are the arteries of the installation, and their condition directly affects safety. Look for the following:

Cable condition assessment requires access to as much of the installation as possible. Loft spaces, underfloor areas, ceiling voids, and risers should all be accessed and inspected where safely achievable. Any areas that cannot be accessed should be recorded as limitations on the inspection report.

Every accessible accessory and item of fixed equipment should be visually inspected. This includes socket outlets, switches, fused connection units, junction boxes, light fittings, extractor fans, water heaters, and any other fixed electrical equipment.

When inspecting accessories, open a sample of socket outlets and switches (where safe to do so with the circuit isolated) to check the internal connections. Loose terminals, insufficient conductor insulation stripped, and excessive bare conductor visible are common internal defects that are not visible from outside.

BS 7671 Part 7 identifies specific locations that require additional protective measures beyond the general requirements. During an inspection, pay particular attention to these areas:

Special locations require knowledge of the specific Part 7 requirements. If you are unsure about the requirements for a particular special location, refer to BS 7671 Part 7 before carrying out the inspection. Recording an incorrect finding (or missing a genuine defect) in a special location can have serious safety consequences.

Every observation must be recorded clearly, with the correct observation code and sufficient detail for the client (and any future electrician) to understand the finding and its significance:

For each observation, record: the location (room or area), the specific item or circuit affected, a clear description of the defect, the applicable regulation from BS 7671 (where relevant), and the classification code. Vague descriptions like "earthing inadequate" are unhelpful -- specify exactly what is inadequate and where. For example: "Main protective bonding conductor to incoming water pipe missing at point of entry (Reg 411.3.1.2) -- C2."

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