Electrical safety certificates; what’s the difference?
EICRs, PIRs, FWT, PAT testing & landlord electrical certificates explained
If you’re a business owner or a landlord, maintaining electrical safety standards for your office or tenant’s properties is vitally important – but deciphering the jargon surrounding safety testing can be a nightmare.
What exactly is an electrical installation condition report? What makes an EICR different from periodic testing and inspection? What about PAT testing? Which type of electrical testing does your business even need?
Let’s clear up some of the confusion…
The many names of electrical safety certificates…
There’s no shortage of terms for electrical safety testing and certification. You may have heard any number of the following names for them:
- Visual Inspection report (or VIR)
- 5-year fixed wire testing (FWT)
- Electrical safety certificate
- Landlord electrical safety certificate
- Homebuyers electrical test
- Portable appliance testing (or PAT)
Confusing, right?
Well, as you’re about to see, a lot of these terms are really referring to the same thing…
What is an electrical installation condition report (EICR) ?
An electrical installation condition report (or EICR) tests, inspects and reports on your building’s electrical systems – including wiring, outlets, switches, fuses, integrated appliances and other built-in electrical components – to ensure they meet the BS7671 IET standards for electrical wiring.
In other words, it’s a health check for your building’s electrics; ensuring they can be used safely.
EICRs are sometimes known as electrical inspection condition reports, or simply electrical condition reports (ECR). But don’t be fooled; they’re all the same thing.
The term EICR has come to refer to the entire testing, inspection and reporting process; but technically speaking, the EICR is the report document presented to you at the end.
The report highlights any issues which could be improved or which require urgent remedial work, and lists each one under simple codes to indicate the level of danger:
- A C3 (or code 3) is an issue which is not an immediate or potential danger, but could still be improved to increase safety.
- An EICR report with no issues or only C3 issues is considered a ‘satisfactory’ report.
- A C2 is not currently dangerous but could become a danger without remedial work.
- A C1 presents an immediate danger and should be fixed immediately to protect the building users.
- FI issues require further investigation immediately.
- An EICR report with any C2, C1 and/or FI issues is considered ‘unsatisfactory’
An EICR report is not a certificate of your building’s electrical safety, but it can serve as one; depending on whether or not your report has passed with no C1, C2 or FI codes.
If there are dangerous problems which need to be fixed, you’ll also need written confirmation from your electrical contractor on completion of the remedial works.
You’re not legally obliged to follow your report’s recommendations, but if there’s an accident and you’re found to have neglected your health and safety obligations by ignoring reported C1 or C2 issues, you can face hefty fines or even prosecution.
Despite the name, electrical installation condition reports are not just for newly-installed electrical equipment; they need to be regularly renewed throughout the life of the equipment. For brand new electrical installations, you’ll need an EIC; which we’ll briefly cover later.
An EICR can only be carried out by a qualified, competent electrician; such as those accredited by NICEIC or NAPIT. You can search for an electrician using the Registered Competent Person register. (You’ll find JC Electrical UK on there too!)
Who needs an electrical installation condition report (EICR)?
EICRs are essentially mandatory for business owners and landlords; providing the most straightforward means of fulfilling your legal obligations to electrical health and safety.
They also have to be renewed at least once every five years for each property you own (or more often for certain building types, such as petrol stations and swimming pools) and landlords must obtain a new report before each new tenancy begins.
As of 2021, this now includes all private rented properties; not just HMOs, as was previously the case.
What if you’re a homeowner? EICRs aren’t a requirement for domestic properties, but it’s still recommended to arrange a test every ten years to keep your home safe.
It’s also wise to obtain an EICR report before buying or selling a house, since electrical testing is not always included in a property survey. This is sometimes known as a homebuyer’s electrical test; and for some mortgage lenders, it’s a prerequisite.
What is a periodic inspection report (PIR)?
Periodic inspection reports (or PIRs) were the predecessor to EICRs and are now obsolete, but plenty of professionals still use EICR and PIR interchangeably.
In addition, periodic inspection and testing and periodic inspection reporting still widely refer to the process involved in an EICR test.
In any case, just be sure that your electrical contractor is fully accredited and uses the latest EICR format for your report.
What is a landlord electrical safety certificate?
Landlord electrical safety certificates and electrical installation condition reports are essentially the same thing.
The former is a term used in the property investment industry, but it doesn’t really refer to a particular type of electrical test. Most private rented properties will simply require a standard EICR.
What is 5-year fixed wire testing?
Fixed wire testing (or FWT) is yet another name for basic EICR testing. The name simply refers to the electrical wiring and components which are ‘fixed’ inside your building, rather than portable appliances.
Which brings us neatly onto…
What is PAT testing?
This one’s a bit different. Unlike EICRs which examine the wiring within your building, portable appliance testing (or PAT testing) examines the safety of your building’s plug-in appliances.
Once again, the name is more confusing than it needs to be. PAT testing applies to most appliances which have an electrical plug and use wall outlets for power; not just portable, movable and handheld appliances like laptops, kettles and vacuum cleaners, but also stationary and fixed appliances such as dishwashers and heaters.
PAT testing isn’t a legal requirement for business owners and landlords, but provides a means of complying with legal electrical appliance safety regulations.
While EICRs should always be carried out by an approved contractor, PAT testing can be completed by any competent individual with the correct training.
Other electrical safety terms explained
- Electrical installation certificates (EIC): An electrical installation certificate is for newly-installed electrical equipment; confirming that it meets the aforementioned BS7671 wiring standards at the time of installation. If an issue on your EICR report requires particularly extensive works to resolve, you may be issued with an EIC on completion of the new works.
- Domestic electrical installation certificates (DEIC): This is the same as an EIC, but specifically for home/residential electrical installations.
- Visual inspection reports (VIR): As the name suggests, this report only lists issues or defects which are clearly visible, and doesn’t involve any testing. A VIR is not a replacement for an EICR; the latter always includes visual inspection as well as electrical testing.
The bottom line
So by now, you’ll know that electrical installation condition reports go by several different names; but the results are the same.
Truth be told, it doesn’t matter too much what your electrical safety check is called. When it’s time to renew your EICR, here’s what really matters:
- Always choose a competent, qualified and accredited electrical contractor; such as a NICEIC ‘approved contractor’
- The report should always use the latest EICR format
- Always obtain a new report at least every five years (or more often depending on your business type) and whenever the building’s occupancy changes
Need to renew your electrical safety certificate?
JC Electrical UK’s NICEIC-approved contractors can provide regular testing, inspection and electrical installation condition reports to keep your staff or tenants safe.
Call 0208 839 9561 or email info@jcelectric.co.uk for a quote
NICEIC Approved Electricians + Registered Competent Person
