New circuit? EIC. Alteration to an existing circuit? Minor Works. Consumer unit replacement? Always EIC — the regulation is unambiguous. This guide covers the straightforward cases, the genuine grey areas (circuit splitting, bathroom work), and the practical examples that help you get it right every time.
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Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.
Use an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) for any new circuit, a consumer unit replacement, or a new installation. Use a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate only for an addition or alteration to an existing circuit that does not include a new circuit — for example adding a socket or a fused spur to an existing ring. If the work includes a new circuit, or you are in doubt, issue an EIC.
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Choosing between a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate and a full Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) is one of the most common questions UK electricians face on site. The answer is always determined by one question: have you installed a new circuit?
If the work involves running a new cable from the distribution board with a new protective device (MCB, RCBO, or fuse), you are installing a new circuit and a full EIC is required. If the work is an addition or alteration to an existing circuit — without creating a new one — a Minor Works certificate is the correct document.
This distinction is set out in BS 7671 Part 6. Part 6 requires an EIC for new installations and additions or alterations that include new circuits, and a Minor Works certificate for additions or alterations to existing circuits that do not extend to the installation of a new circuit.
Reg 120.3 also provides a practical option for jobs involving multiple circuit alterations: a single EIC may be used as an alternative to issuing multiple Minor Works certificates, where the work does not extend to new circuits.
Getting this right matters. Issuing the wrong certificate can result in scheme provider disciplinary action, building control complications, and potential liability issues. This guide covers the clear-cut cases, the grey areas, and practical examples from real site work.
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A Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate is used for additions or alterations to an existing circuit that do not involve the installation of a new circuit. The work must still comply fully with BS 7671, and proper inspection and testing must be carried out — the term "minor" refers to the scope of the electrical work, not its importance.
Common examples of work requiring a Minor Works certificate:
It is important to note that a like-for-like replacement of accessories (swapping a socket for an identical one in the same position) does not require any certificate, provided you verify CPC continuity and polarity.
EIC form confusion costs time on site. Compare minor works certificates against full EICs under BS 7671:2018+A4:2026.
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An Electrical Installation Certificate is required whenever a new circuit is installed. The defining characteristic is that a new protective device has been added to the distribution board to protect a new cable run. This applies whether the property is new-build, existing domestic, commercial, or industrial.
Common examples of work requiring an EIC:
The EIC has three signature blocks — designer, constructor, and inspector — reflecting the greater scope and complexity of new circuit work. On domestic jobs, one person typically fulfils all three roles. The EIC also includes a full schedule of inspections and schedule of test results for every new circuit.
Elec-Mate includes the complete EIC form with all three signature blocks, schedule of inspections, and schedule of test results.
Try it free for 7 daysTheory is straightforward, but real site work throws up scenarios that are not always clear-cut. Here are practical examples based on common jobs.
If wired from existing lighting circuit via FCU: Minor Works certificate. You are connecting into an existing circuit, not creating a new one.
If wired on a new dedicated circuit from the consumer unit: EIC. A new protective device at the board means a new circuit. Note: work in a bathroom is notifiable under Part P regardless of which certificate type.
If extending an existing interior lighting circuit to the garden: Minor Works certificate. The existing circuit is being extended.
If installing a new circuit from the consumer unit for garden lighting: EIC. New protective device at the board = new circuit.
If adding spurs from the existing ring final circuit into the extension: Minor Works certificate. You are extending an existing circuit.
If installing a new ring final circuit for the extension: EIC. A brand new circuit with its own MCB at the board.
Like-for-like swap in the same back box: No certificate required (verify CPC and polarity). If the back box position changes or the circuit is extended: Minor Works certificate.
If adding sockets from an existing ring in the room: Minor Works.
If running a new dedicated circuit for the office (perhaps with a separate RCBO for sensitive equipment): EIC.
The choice between Minor Works and EIC also intersects with Part P of the Building Regulations (Approved Document P), which governs electrical safety in dwellings in England and Wales. Understanding which work is notifiable helps you comply with building regulations as well as BS 7671.
Requires either self-certification via a competent person scheme or notification to building control before starting work.
Still requires a Minor Works certificate under BS 7671, but does not need to be notified to building control.
If you are registered with a competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, STROMA, or BRE), you can self-certify notifiable work by submitting the relevant BS 7671 certificate to your scheme provider. They issue a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate on your behalf. If you are not registered with a scheme, you must notify building control before starting any notifiable work, and they will inspect and approve the completed work.
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Start free trialScheme inspectors consistently flag the same certification errors. Avoiding these mistakes saves time, protects your scheme membership, and demonstrates professionalism.
The most common error. If a new MCB or RCBO has been installed at the distribution board to protect a new cable run, a full EIC is required. A Minor Works certificate is not sufficient for new circuit installation — regardless of how "minor" the circuit might seem. A new radial for a single outdoor socket is still a new circuit.
The opposite error. If you are adding a spur from an existing ring final circuit, this is an alteration to an existing circuit and a Minor Works certificate is the correct document. An EIC is overkill and technically incorrect, as the three-signature structure (designer, constructor, inspector) is not designed for minor alterations.
Some electricians skip the certificate entirely, especially on small jobs. This is never acceptable. BS 7671 requires certification for all installation work (except like-for-like replacements). The certificate is the client's proof that the work has been carried out safely. Without it, the client has no documentation — which causes problems when selling the property, renewing insurance, or dealing with scheme inspections.
An EICR is for periodic inspection of existing installations — it reports on condition, not compliance of new work. If you have carried out installation work, you need an EIC or Minor Works certificate to certify that work. The EICR is a separate document used for a different purpose.
While the "new circuit = EIC, existing circuit alteration = Minor Works" rule covers most situations, several edge cases create genuine ambiguity.
This is not a grey area — BS 7671 is unambiguous. Reg 644.4.201 explicitly requires an EIC for replacement of a distribution board or consumer unit, and Reg 644.4 removes Minor Works eligibility for this work type entirely. Regardless of the number of circuits involved, a full EIC is the correct certificate. The work is also always notifiable under Part P in dwellings.
If you are retrofitting an RCBO to replace an MCB on an existing circuit (to add RCD protection), this is an alteration to an existing circuit — Minor Works certificate. You are not adding a new circuit; you are changing the protective device on an existing one.
If you split an existing circuit into two circuits (for example, splitting a combined upstairs/downstairs lighting circuit into two separate circuits), the result is a new circuit. An EIC is required for the new circuit, and a Minor Works certificate for the alteration to the existing circuit.
If you convert an existing ring final circuit into two separate radial circuits, you are creating a new circuit (the second radial). An EIC covers the new circuit. A Minor Works certificate covers the alteration of the original ring into a radial. If in doubt, issue an EIC for the entire scope of work — it is always acceptable to "over-certify" with the more comprehensive document.
Elec-Mate includes both the Minor Works and EIC forms — along with 6 other certificate types — in one app. All forms follow the BS 7671 Appendix 6 model form structure and include auto-fill, digital signatures, test result validation, and professional PDF export.
When you start a new certificate in Elec-Mate, the app asks about the scope of work. Based on your answers — are you installing new circuits, altering existing circuits, or inspecting an existing installation — it guides you to the right certificate type. This helps avoid the most common mistake of issuing the wrong form.
For the Minor Works certificate, Elec-Mate auto-fills your company details and scheme registration number, provides description templates for common types of minor work, and validates all test results against BS 7671 limits. The certificate is complete in under 3 minutes for a routine job.
For the EIC, the app supports all three signature blocks, the full schedule of inspections, and the complete schedule of test results. Values are validated as you enter them, and the app flags incomplete fields before you sign off.
All 16 certificate types in Elec-Mate: EIC, Minor Works, EICR, Emergency Lighting, Fire Alarm, PAT Testing, EV Charger, and Solar PV. One subscription covers every certificate an electrician needs.
Elec-Mate's digital certificates comply with BS 7671 Reg 644.4.202, which explicitly permits certificates to be produced in any written or electronic form, provided their authenticity and integrity are verified by a reliable process or method. Every certificate generated in Elec-Mate meets this requirement — giving you fully regulation-compliant digital documentation, not just a PDF copy.
Stop guessing which certificate to use. Elec-Mate guides you to the right form based on the scope of work.
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