What You Need Before You Start: Qualifications and Scheme Membership
Before you book the job, you need to be honest with yourself about whether you are actually qualified to carry out a periodic inspection and test. An EICR is not a visual check. It involves dead testing, live testing, and a formal assessment of whether the installation satisfies the requirements of BS 7671:2018 Amendment 4:2026 (the 'Orange Book', published 15 April 2026). Until 15 October 2026 the previous amendment (A2:2022 plus A3:2024) remains valid alongside Amendment 4, but from that date only Amendment 4 is in force. If you qualified a few years ago and have not updated your knowledge, check whether your understanding of the new chapters on stationary battery energy storage systems (Section 826) and the revised Section 710 medical locations applies to the installation you are inspecting.
The minimum qualification for conducting EICRs is typically a Level 3 Award in the Initial Verification and Periodic Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical Installations (City and Guilds 2391 or equivalent), alongside your core electrical qualification. From 1 October 2026, the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) 2026 requires that every person carrying out periodic inspection and testing holds the relevant Level 3 award. There are no grandfather rights for anyone who cannot demonstrate current competence under the EAS 2026 framework, so if your certification is out of date, you cannot legally sign off an EICR.
Scheme membership matters too. Most clients, and certainly most letting agents, will only accept an EICR from a member of a recognised competent person scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, or SELECT (Scotland). Your scheme membership number should appear on the certificate. If you are not registered with a scheme, you can still carry out an EICR, but the certificate will carry less weight, and some local authorities will push back on it under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
- •Minimum qualification: C&G 2391 or equivalent Level 3 periodic inspection award
- •Amendment 4:2026 is the reference standard from 15 October 2026 onwards
- •EAS 2026 removes grandfather rights for periodic inspection from 1 October 2026
- •Scheme membership: NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, or SELECT (Scotland)
- •Public liability insurance covering electrical inspection work is essential
- •Check your PI insurance policy wording covers certification as well as installation
Step 1: Agree the Scope of Work in Writing Before You Attend
Every EICR job should begin with a clear written scope of work. This does not need to be a lengthy contract, but it does need to confirm the address, the installation type (single-phase domestic, three-phase commercial, etc.), the agreed number of circuits to be inspected, the fee, and what will happen if remedial work is identified. For domestic rental properties, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require the responsible person (the landlord) to commission a full periodic inspection of the whole installation, so the scope must cover every circuit, not a sample.
If the installation is unusually large or you cannot gain access to all distribution boards at the time of booking, note that in writing. Agreeing a scope protects you if the landlord later challenges the certificate on the grounds that a wing of the building was not tested. It also protects the client by making expectations clear before any money changes hands.
For commercial or industrial premises, confirm with the client which circuits fall under your inspection and which, if any, are being handled by another contractor. Overlapping or incomplete inspections on larger sites are a common source of disputes and, more importantly, a safety risk.
- •Confirm the full address, installation type, and number of circuits in writing
- •Note any access restrictions before attending
- •For rental properties, scope must cover the whole installation under the 2020 Regulations
- •Agree the remedial work process in advance: quote first, or carry out urgent C1 remedials on the day?
Step 2: Prepare Your Test Equipment and Documentation
Arrive on site with calibrated, in-date test equipment. Your multifunction installation tester must be calibrated to a recognised standard, and you should carry the calibration certificate. Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Regulation 4(2), electrical equipment must be maintained in a safe condition so far as is reasonably practicable. A multifunction tester that is out of calibration does not meet that standard, and if your readings are later challenged, you have no defence.
You will need a schedule of circuit details, which you either obtain from an existing distribution board schedule or build from scratch during the inspection. If the installation has no existing records, note that clearly on the EICR. An absence of previous test results does not prevent you from issuing a certificate, but it does mean you are working from a baseline of zero, and you should factor that into your risk assessment for the inspection.
Bring blank EICR forms or have your software loaded and ready. The model forms in Appendix 6 of BS 7671:2018 Amendment 4:2026 are the industry standard. You can use a digital version, but the final certificate must be legible, complete, and signed. Make sure you have the client details, the address, your own details including your competent person scheme number, and your insurance details ready to populate.
- •Calibrated multifunction tester with in-date calibration certificate
- •Voltage indicator and proving unit
- •Insulation resistance test leads, continuity leads, loop impedance leads
- •Schedule of circuits (obtain from client or create on the day)
- •EICR model forms aligned with BS 7671:2018 A4:2026 Appendix 6
- •PPE appropriate to the installation (LV rated gloves, arc flash assessment for HV adjacent work)
Step 3: Carry Out the Visual Inspection
Begin with a thorough visual inspection before any live or dead testing. The visual inspection covers the condition of consumer units, distribution boards, switchgear, wiring systems, accessories, and earthing and bonding arrangements. Check for any obvious damage, signs of overheating, incorrect fuse ratings, missing knockouts in enclosures, and inadequate protection against mechanical damage. Record every observation, whether it results in a code or not.
Pay particular attention to earthing and bonding, because this is one of the most frequently missed items on domestic EICRs. Check that main protective bonding conductors are correctly sized and properly connected to gas and water service entry points. If the property has had recent work done (a new bathroom, an extension, or a consumer unit replacement), check that the work was notified under Part P of the Building Regulations 2010 if it was notifiable. Uninspected notifiable work is a red flag that should be noted on the EICR.
During the visual inspection, identify any circuits that cannot be safely inspected or tested, for example because sections are buried, concealed, or inaccessible. Limitations must be recorded on the EICR. Be honest about what you could and could not inspect. A certificate that claims a full inspection when parts of the installation were inaccessible is misleading and could expose you to professional liability if an incident occurs in an area you claimed to have inspected.
- •Consumer unit condition, integrity, and correct labelling
- •Earthing conductor size and connection
- •Main and supplementary bonding presence and sizing
- •Evidence of previous notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations 2010
- •Condition of wiring systems, accessories, and containment
- •Record all limitations to inspection on the form before proceeding to testing
Step 4: Carry Out the Dead Tests
Dead testing must be carried out with the installation safely isolated. Use your approved voltage indicator and proving unit to confirm dead before commencing any testing, and follow lockout/tagout procedures where the premises are occupied or partially energised. Do not rely on switching off at the consumer unit alone if there are multiple sources of supply or back-fed circuits from solar PV or battery storage systems. From 15 October 2026, BS 7671:2018 Amendment 4:2026 includes new guidance in Section 826 on battery energy storage systems, and you must check for any BESS installation that could re-energise circuits after isolation.
Continuity testing covers protective conductors (ring final circuit continuity, R1+R2 values per circuit), and the results must be recorded against each circuit on your schedule. Insulation resistance testing is carried out at 500V DC for circuits up to 500V, with a minimum acceptable reading of 1 MOhm per circuit in normal conditions. Record every reading. If a reading is below the minimum, investigate before proceeding and note the reason on the form.
Ring final circuit continuity testing involves the standard r1, rn, and r2 method. If you are not confident in the three methods for proving ring continuity, revisit your training before issuing a certificate. An incorrectly tested ring circuit is one of the most common errors found on EICRs reviewed by competent person schemes during audit.
- •Confirm dead with a GS38-compliant voltage indicator and proving unit before every test
- •Check for back-fed supplies from solar PV, BESS, or generator before isolation
- •Continuity: R1+R2 per circuit, recorded on the schedule
- •IR testing: 500V DC, minimum 1 MOhm per circuit
- •Ring final circuit continuity: all three legs proven separately
- •Record all readings, not just pass or fail
Step 5: Carry Out the Live Tests
With the installation re-energised (and all circuit covers back in place), carry out your live tests. These cover earth fault loop impedance (Zs per circuit), prospective fault current (PFC at the origin), polarity, and RCD operation. Zs values must be checked against the maximum permitted values in BS 7671:2018 Amendment 4:2026 for the relevant overcurrent protective device type and rating. Use the correct column from the tables in Appendix 3.
RCD testing must include both the half-rated trip time test and the rated trip time test. For 30mA RCDs protecting socket outlets, the maximum permissible trip time at rated current (30mA) is 300ms. Use your tester's 0-degree and 180-degree phase angle tests to cover both half-wave conditions. Record the actual measured trip times, not just a pass or fail. If an RCD fails to trip within the required time, that is a C1 or C2 code depending on the circuit it protects.
Prospective fault current at the origin must be measured and recorded. If the PFC exceeds the rated breaking capacity of the main switch or consumer unit, that is a C1 defect. This is more common than most people think, particularly in older properties close to a substation or with recently upgraded network infrastructure. Do not skip this test on the grounds that it is unlikely to be an issue.
- •Zs per circuit checked against Amendment 4:2026 Appendix 3 maximum values
- •RCD tests: half-rated (15mA for 30mA RCD) and rated current, both phase angles
- •30mA RCD: maximum trip time 300ms at rated current
- •PFC measured at the origin and compared to the rated breaking capacity of the protective device
- •Polarity confirmed on all socket outlets, lighting points, and switchgear
- •Record actual measured values, not just pass/fail indications
Step 6: Assign Observation Codes and Determine the Overall Condition
Every observation that falls outside the requirements of the current edition of BS 7671 (Amendment 4:2026 from 15 October 2026) must be assigned one of the four observation codes: C1 (danger present, immediate remedial action required), C2 (potentially dangerous, urgent remedial action required), C3 (improvement recommended), or FI (further investigation required without delay). The overall condition of the installation is either 'satisfactory' or 'unsatisfactory'. The installation is unsatisfactory if there is any C1 or C2 observation, or any unresolved FI item.
Be precise when writing observation descriptions. 'Consumer unit requires attention' is not a valid observation. 'Consumer unit is a combustible plastic enclosure with no RCD protection to socket outlet circuits, does not meet the requirements of BS 7671 Regulation 411.3.3 and 531.3.3' is a valid observation, assigned C2. Vague observations make it harder for the client to understand what remedial work is needed and harder for a remedial contractor to quote accurately.
C1 observations mean danger is present. If you identify a C1, you must advise the client to switch off and isolate the affected circuit or the whole installation immediately if necessary, and you should not leave the premises with a dangerous live circuit still in place without making reasonable efforts to make it safe or ensuring the client understands the risk in writing. This is both a professional and legal obligation under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
- •C1: Danger present, immediate action required, installation is unsatisfactory
- •C2: Potentially dangerous, urgent action required, installation is unsatisfactory
- •C3: Improvement recommended, installation may still be satisfactory
- •FI: Further investigation required, outcome depends on investigation findings
- •Write observation descriptions with the specific regulation reference from BS 7671
- •Do not leave a live C1 hazard without making the client aware in writing
Step 7: Complete and Issue the EICR Certificate
The EICR must be completed in full. Every section of the model form must be populated or marked 'N/A' with a reason. Blank sections are not acceptable. The certificate must include your full name, your qualifications, your competent person scheme number, your signature, and the date. It must state the scope of the inspection, the limitations encountered, the next recommended inspection date, and the overall condition. For domestic rental properties, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require the responsible person to supply a copy of the EICR to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection and to any prospective tenant before they occupy the property.
The recommended interval for the next inspection is your professional judgement call, guided by the guidance in IET Guidance Note 3 and the nature of the installation. For a domestic rented property, the maximum interval under the 2020 Regulations is five years, regardless of what you might otherwise recommend. For a HMO or a commercial premises with heavier use, a shorter interval is appropriate. State your reasoning briefly in the notes section if you are recommending an interval shorter than five years.
Issue the certificate to the client on the day, or as soon as practicable after the inspection. Do not sit on certificates for weeks. The landlord has legal obligations under the 2020 Regulations that depend on receiving the certificate promptly. If you are using paper forms, keep a signed copy for yourself. If you are using digital software, ensure the completed form is stored securely and is retrievable if you are ever asked to produce it.
- •Every section of the model form must be completed or marked N/A with a reason
- •Include your name, qualifications, scheme number, signature, and date
- •State the scope and all limitations clearly on the form
- •For rental properties: landlord must issue the EICR to tenants within 28 days under the 2020 Regulations
- •Maximum five-year inspection interval for domestic rented properties
- •Retain a copy for your own records, accessible for at least six years
Step 8: Handle Remedial Work and Re-Inspection
If the EICR is unsatisfactory, the landlord has 28 days to have all C1 and C2 observations remediated (or sooner if the EICR itself specifies a shorter timeframe for urgent C1 items). This is a hard deadline under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Failure to comply can result in the local authority issuing a remedial notice, and ultimately a financial penalty of up to £30,000 per breach.
When you carry out the remedial work, you must issue an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) or a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC) for the work, depending on its scope. You then re-inspect the specific circuits affected, confirm the observations have been resolved, and issue a completion notice or a new EICR covering those circuits. Some scheme providers have a specific 'remedial works completion certificate' within their documentation suite. Check what your scheme requires.
If another electrician carries out the remedial work, you are not responsible for signing off their work. The electrician who does the remedial work issues their own EIC or MEIWC. The landlord then has documentation from two electricians: your EICR identifying the defects, and the remedial contractor's certificate confirming the work was done. It is worth explaining this to landlords clearly, because many assume the original EICR inspector must re-inspect after all remedials.
- •28-day deadline for remedial work following an unsatisfactory EICR under the 2020 Regulations
- •Local authority can impose fines up to £30,000 per breach for non-compliance
- •Remedial electrician must issue an EIC or MEIWC for the work carried out
- •Re-inspection of remediated circuits is required to confirm resolution
- •The original EICR inspector does not have to be the remedial contractor
Worked Example: Domestic Rental Property EICR from Start to Certificate
To make the process concrete, here is a worked example. Landlord Sarah contacts you on 3 March 2025. She owns a two-bedroom mid-terrace house in Birmingham, let to a single tenant. The installation is a 1990s split-load consumer unit with one 30mA RCD protecting half the circuits. She has not had an EICR since she bought the property in 2019. You agree a fee of £180 for the full periodic inspection and test, covering 10 circuits. You confirm the scope by email the same day.
You attend on 10 March 2025. During the visual inspection you find: the consumer unit is a combustible plastic enclosure (C2, no RCD protection on the lighting circuits, C2), the main bonding conductor to the gas service is undersized at 6mm2 where 10mm2 is required for the incoming supply size (C2), and there is an unfused spur feeding a freezer in the garage with no mechanical protection on the cable run (C2). During dead testing, insulation resistance on the kitchen ring reads 0.45 MOhm (below 1 MOhm, C2). During live testing, the non-RCD protected lighting circuit Zs values are within limits, PFC at the origin is 1.2 kA, well within the consumer unit's 6 kA breaking capacity. All RCDs trip within 300ms at rated current.
You assign four C2 observations and zero C1 observations. The installation is unsatisfactory. You complete the EICR on site using your digital software, populate all 10 circuit results, note the four observations with specific BS 7671:2018 Amendment 4:2026 regulation references, state the next recommended inspection date as five years (or upon change of tenancy, whichever is sooner), sign the form, and issue it to Sarah by email at 4:30pm on 10 March 2025. Sarah has until 7 April 2025 to have the remedial work completed. A local NICEIC-registered contractor carries out the remedials on 25 March 2025 and issues a Minor Works Certificate. Sarah sends a copy to her tenant on 28 March 2025, within the 28-day window. Your fee of £180 is paid by bank transfer on 12 March 2025. You retain a copy of the signed EICR in your document vault.
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