How to Fill In anEICR Form

The EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) replaced the PIR (Periodic Inspection Report) when BS 7671:2018 was published. The EICR uses the same model forms from Appendix 6 of BS 7671 and serves the same purpose — recording the condition of a fixed electrical installation following periodic inspection and testing. The key differences are in the form layout and the observation coding system. The EICR uses classification codes C1, C2, C3, and FI, whereas the older PIR used a simpler coding system. In practice, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but the correct current terminology is EICR. All reports produced under the 18th Edition must use the EICR format.

The overall condition is determined by the observation codes recorded during the inspection. If any C1 (Danger Present), C2 (Potentially Dangerous), or FI (Further Investigation) observations are recorded, the overall condition must be marked as Unsatisfactory. FI makes the report Unsatisfactory because the inspector could not fully determine the condition of part of the installation — the installation cannot be confirmed as safe until that investigation is completed. If only C3 (Improvement Recommended) observations are present, or no observations are recorded at all, the overall condition is Satisfactory.

The Extent and Limitations section must clearly describe what was inspected, what was tested, and what was not. You should list every distribution board inspected, every circuit tested, and any areas or circuits that were excluded from the inspection. Common limitations include: concealed wiring not inspected (as this is normal for a periodic inspection — you cannot strip back plasterwork), circuits not tested because equipment could not be disconnected, areas not accessed due to furniture or stored goods, and any circuits or boards excluded at the client request. It is essential to be specific — vague statements like "limited inspection" are not acceptable. The extent and limitations must be detailed enough that another competent person could understand exactly what was and was not covered.

To carry out an EICR, you must be a competent person as defined by BS 7671. In practice, this means holding a current edition qualification (the 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations, C&G 2382), plus an inspection and testing qualification such as C&G 2391 (Inspection and Testing) or C&G 2394/2395 (the older equivalents). You should also hold a relevant NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Electrical Installation. Most competent person scheme providers (such as NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA) require these qualifications for their registered members who carry out periodic inspection and testing. Experience is also critical — the regulations state that the inspector must have sufficient knowledge, skill, and experience to avoid danger.

The supply characteristics section of the EICR records the details of the incoming supply. You must record: the earthing arrangement (TN-S, TN-C-S, TT, or IT), the supply type (single-phase or three-phase), the nominal voltage (typically 230V single-phase or 400V three-phase in the UK), the supply conductor type and size, the number and type of live conductors, the origin of the supply (e.g., supplier cutout), the external earth fault loop impedance (Ze) measured at the origin with the main earthing conductor disconnected, and the prospective fault current (Ipf) measured at the origin. These values are critical because they form the basis for verifying that the installation protective devices can operate within the required disconnection times.

Yes. There is no requirement in BS 7671 for EICR certificates to be on paper. Digital certificates are fully accepted by competent person scheme providers (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, and others), local authorities, letting agents, and insurance companies. Elec-Mate provides the complete EICR form structure digitally, including all required sections — supply characteristics, particulars of the installation, schedule of items inspected, schedule of test results, observations and recommendations, and the declaration. Digital signatures can be captured on-screen, and the completed certificate exports as a professional PDF ready to send to clients, upload to scheme provider portals, or store in your records. The advantage of digital is that auto-save prevents data loss, auto-validation catches errors as you enter results, and the PDF is ready to send before you leave site.

Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, landlords must have a valid EICR for all privately rented properties. Failure to comply can result in civil penalties of up to 30,000 pounds per breach, enforced by the local authority. The local authority can also arrange for the inspection and any remedial work to be carried out at the landlord expense. If an EICR returns an unsatisfactory result (any C1, C2, or FI observations), the landlord must complete the remedial work or further investigation within 28 days (or a shorter period if specified by the inspector) and obtain confirmation from a qualified person that the work has been completed satisfactorily. The EICR must be provided to new tenants before they move in and to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection date.