Initial Verification: The Complete Guide to BS 7671 Chapter 61

Initial verification is the process of inspecting and testing a new or altered electrical installation before it is put into service. It is required by BS 7671 Chapter 61 and covers the complete installation from the origin (usually the consumer unit) to every final circuit, socket outlet, light fitting, and fixed appliance.

The purpose of initial verification is to confirm that the installation has been designed, erected, and completed in accordance with BS 7671 and is safe for use. It is the final check before the installation is energised and handed over to the client.

Initial verification consists of three stages: visual inspection (Chapter 611), dead testing (Section 643), and live testing (Section 644). The inspection and all tests must be completed satisfactorily before the installation can be certified. The certificate issued for initial verification is the Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC).

Unlike periodic inspection, initial verification requires 100% testing of every circuit. There is no sampling — every circuit must be fully tested for continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance, RCD operation, and prospective fault current.

Initial verification is required in the following situations:

In all cases, the initial verification must be completed before the installation is energised and put into service. The installer should not hand the installation over to the client until the EIC has been issued.

Before testing begins, a thorough visual inspection must be carried out. BS 7671 Section 641 provides a detailed list of items to inspect. The inspection schedule (sometimes called the inspection checklist) is a systematic record of every item checked.

The inspection schedule is completed as part of the EIC. Every item is marked as checked and satisfactory, or noted as non-compliant with a reference to the relevant regulation. Defects found during inspection must be corrected before testing proceeds.

The test sequence for initial verification follows BS 7671 Chapter 61 strictly. Dead tests are performed first (with the supply isolated), followed by live tests (with the supply energised).

All test results are recorded on the schedule of test results that accompanies the EIC. Every circuit has a row on the schedule with a column for each test value. No fields should be left blank — every test must be performed and recorded.

Follow the test sequence automatically

Elec-Mate guides you through dead tests then live tests in the correct BS 7671 order. Voice-enter your readings, and the schedule populates automatically.

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The outcome of successful initial verification is an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC). This is the formal document that confirms the installation has been designed, constructed, inspected, and tested in accordance with BS 7671. The EIC model form is specified in Appendix 6 of BS 7671.

The EIC has three signature sections, representing three distinct responsibilities:

In domestic work, all three roles are often filled by the same person — the sole trader electrician who designs, installs, and tests the work. In larger commercial and industrial projects, these may be three different people or even three different companies. Regardless, the EIC must carry a signature for each role.

The EIC is accompanied by the schedule of inspections (the visual inspection checklist) and the schedule of test results (all measured values for every circuit). Together, these three documents form the complete certification package.

For notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations, the EIC must be registered with the local authority building control (or automatically notified through a competent person scheme). The client should receive the original EIC, and a copy should be retained by the installer.

Not every job requires a full EIC. The Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC) is a simplified certificate for small additions and alterations to an existing circuit that do not involve new circuits.

The key distinction is whether new circuits are created. If yes, use an EIC. If no, a Minor Works Certificate may be sufficient. See the Minor Works vs EIC comparison for more detailed guidance on which certificate to use.

These are the faults most commonly found during initial verification of new installations:

All faults must be rectified and retested before the EIC can be issued. The inspector should not sign off the certificate until every test passes.

Elec-Mate streamlines the entire initial verification workflow — from scanning the board to issuing the EIC. Here is how:

The finished EIC exports as a professional PDF — ready to email or WhatsApp to the client, upload to your scheme provider, and file with building control. All before you leave site.

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Complete initial verification on your phone. AI board scanner, voice test entry, automatic pass/fail checking, and instant PDF export.

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