Fixed Wire Testing London NICEIC-Approved Inspections for Commercial and Residential Properties
At Liviosiv, our NICEIC-approved electricians carry out professional Fixed Wire Testing and Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) for offices, retail premises, warehouses, schools, healthcare facilities, industrial units, HMOs, and residential properties throughout London. Every inspection is completed in accordance with BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) and includes a comprehensive digital report with clear observations, fault classifications, and practical recommendations to help you maintain a safe, compliant, and fully operational property.
What Is Fixed Wire Testing?
Fixed wire testing is the formal inspection and testing of all permanently installed electrical wiring, circuits, distribution boards, and associated equipment within a building, carried out by a qualified electrician to confirm that the installation is safe and legally compliant.
That definition satisfies the search query but it does not tell you what fixed wire testing actually involves in practice, why it matters for your specific property, or what you are obligated to do as a result of the findings. Those are the questions this page answers in full. Fixed wire testing is not a single test. It is a structured programme of visual inspection and electrical measurement, applied to every fixed circuit in a building, and documented in a formal report. The report it produces the Electrical Installation Condition Report, universally abbreviated to EICR is the legal and insurance document that demonstrates your building’s electrical installation has been assessed to the standard required by BS 7671:2018 (the IET Wiring Regulations, 18th Edition, as amended).
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The Other Names Fixed Wire Testing Goes By
If you have encountered any of the following terms, they all refer to the same service:
- EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) the formal document produced as the outcome of a fixed wire test
- Periodic inspection and testing: refers to the fact that the test must be repeated at regular intervals
- Hardwire testing: an informal term widely used in the commercial sector
- Periodic electrical inspection: used interchangeably with periodic inspection and testing
- Electrical installation testing: a broader term sometimes used in commercial procurement documents
The terminology causes genuine confusion for property owners, and the confusion is compounded by the fact that different contractors, insurers, and local authorities use different terms for the same legal obligation. For the purposes of this page: fixed wire testing, fixed wiring testing, and EICR all refer to the same inspection. What matters is whether the certificate you hold is compliant with BS 7671 and not what name is printed at the top of it.
Geographical Breakdown of London’s Districts
What Fixed Wire Testing Covers and What It Does Not
Fixed wire testing covers every part of your electrical system that is permanently installed. This includes:
- The incoming mains supply and main switch
- Consumer units and distribution boards
- All wiring within walls, floors, and ceilings between the distribution board and the final circuit
- Ring final circuits and radial power circuits
- Lighting circuits
- Socket outlets and fixed connection units
- Earthing and bonding conductors
- Residual current devices (RCDs) and circuit breakers
- Fixed electrical equipment (permanently wired appliances, heating units, air conditioning systems)
Fixed wire testing does not cover portable or plug-in electrical equipment kettles, computers, desk lamps, power tools, and similar items fall under Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), which is a separate inspection regime. To find out more about our PAT testing service, visit our PAT testing page. It also does not cover cables and conduits that are fully concealed within building fabric and cannot be accessed without structural works; these are recorded as limitations in the EICR.
Why Is Fixed Wire Testing Important?
Electrical installations do not remain in the condition they were in when first installed. Over time, insulation degrades, connections loosen, protective devices deteriorate, and wiring that was installed to an older standard may no longer meet current safety requirements. These changes are largely invisible a building’s electrical system can be deteriorating significantly without any outward sign of a problem until a fault occurs.
Faulty electrical wiring and installations are one of the leading causes of fire in UK buildings. According to Electrical Safety First, electrical faults cause approximately 20,000 fires in UK homes and businesses each year, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries and billions of pounds in property damage. The majority of these fires occur in installations that have never been formally inspected or that have not been inspected within the recommended interval.
Fixed wire testing identifies deterioration, defects, and departures from current safety standards before they become dangerous. It is not a bureaucratic compliance exercise it is the mechanism by which the condition of an invisible safety-critical system is assessed by someone qualified to assess it.
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The Risk of an Uninspected Electrical Installation
An electrical installation that has never been tested, or that has not been tested within the appropriate interval, carries a specific and quantifiable set of risks:
Fire risk deteriorated cable insulation, loose connections at distribution boards and accessories, and overloaded circuits all generate heat. Heat that is not dissipated safely causes ignition of surrounding materials, often within concealed voids where it is not detected until the fire has spread significantly.
Electric shock risk, inadequate earthing and bonding, damaged insulation, and non-functioning residual current devices all increase the risk of electric shock to occupants of the building. Unlike fire, electric shock can occur from an installation that shows no visible signs of defect.
Insurance risk commercial property insurers and landlord insurers increasingly require evidence of a current fixed wire test as a condition of cover. An insurance claim arising from an electrical incident where a current test certificate does not exist may be refused on the grounds that the installation was not adequately maintained.
Legal risk the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 impose a duty on employers and duty holders to maintain electrical installations in a safe condition. The absence of a current fixed wire test certificate is not, in itself, a criminal offence but it removes the primary evidence of due diligence in any subsequent investigation or prosecution.
Is Fixed Wire Testing a Legal Requirement?
This is the question most frequently asked by property owners who have received a reminder from an insurer, a letting agent, or a facilities manager and the answer depends on the type of property and its use.
For Residential Landlords in England
Yes fixed wire testing is a legal requirement for all private residential landlords in England.
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/312) require landlords to have all fixed electrical installations inspected and tested by a qualified person at intervals not exceeding five years, or before a new tenancy commences if the existing certificate is more than five years old. The law has been in force since 1 June 2020 for new tenancies, and since 1 April 2021 for all existing tenancies.
The financial penalty for non-compliance is up to £30,000 per breach (as at 2025), imposed by the local housing authority. Authorities can also arrange for remedial works to be carried out at the landlord’s expense and can serve prohibition notices preventing the property from being occupied until the installation is brought into compliance.
Our landlord electrical safety certificate service covers the full scope of landlord obligations in London, including EICR, gas safety, and PAT requirements.
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland operate under separate but broadly equivalent legislation. If your property is outside England, verify the applicable regulations with a qualified electrician or legal adviser.
For HMO Landlords in London
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) that require a mandatory licence under the Housing Act 2004 broadly, properties occupied by five or more persons forming two or more households carry electrical safety requirements as conditions of the licence itself, in addition to the requirements of the 2020 Regulations. Most London borough HMO licences require a fixed wire test at five-yearly intervals, and some boroughs specify additional conditions. HMO landlords must read their specific licence conditions, not assume the five-year standard is sufficient.
For Commercial Property Owners and Business Occupiers
Fixed wire testing is not a direct statutory requirement for commercial properties under a single named piece of legislation but the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 together create a clear legal duty to maintain electrical installations in a safe condition, and the HSE’s own guidance identifies a current EICR as the accepted means of demonstrating compliance with that duty. The practical reality for commercial property owners is this: without a current fixed wire test certificate, you cannot demonstrate that your electrical installation is maintained to the standard the law requires, and in the event of any electrical incident, that absence will be treated as evidence of inadequate maintenance.
Commercial property insurers are making this distinction increasingly academic the majority of commercial property and liability policies now specify an EICR or equivalent electrical safety certificate as a condition of cover, making fixed wire testing functionally mandatory for insured properties. See our commercial EICR service for full details of how we serve commercial clients across London.
The Recommended Testing Intervals
Premises Type | Maximum Interval |
Private rented residential (England) | 5 years, or on change of tenancy |
HMO (licensed) | 5 years, or as specified in licence conditions |
Owner-occupied domestic | 10 years, or on sale |
Offices, retail, hotels, schools, restaurants | 5 years |
Industrial premises, manufacturing | 3 years |
Cinemas, theatres, places of entertainment | 3 years |
Caravan parks, marinas | 1 year |
Swimming pools | 1 year |
Source: IET Guidance Note 3: Inspection and Testing (7th Edition, 2022), Table A1.
These intervals represent the maximum period between inspections. An installation that has been damaged by flooding or fire, or that received an unsatisfactory result at its previous inspection, should be re-tested sooner regardless of when the interval would otherwise expire.
What Does Fixed Wire Testing Involve? The Process Explained
A fixed wire test follows a defined methodology set out in BS 7671:2018 Part 6 and the IET’s Guidance Note 3. Every qualified electrician conducting a fixed wire test must follow this methodology. What varies between contractors is how thoroughly they apply it and how accurately they document the results.
Stage 1: Pre-Test Assessment: Before any testing begins, the engineer reviews any previous fixed wire test documentation (where available) and conducts a preliminary assessment of the installation. This establishes the scope of the inspection — the number and type of circuits to be tested — and identifies any operational constraints that need to be managed before circuits are isolated. For commercial properties, this stage includes identifying circuits serving critical systems (fire alarms, data communications, refrigeration, medical equipment) that require advance notice and coordination before they can be taken offline.
Stage 2: Visual Inspection: The visual inspection is conducted in accordance with BS 7671 Chapter 62. It covers the full installation from the origin of supply to the incoming mains and main switch through all distribution boards and consumer units, and out to every final circuit. The engineer inspects for:
- Physical deterioration of cables, accessories, and enclosures
- Evidence of overheating or arcing at connection points
- Correct labelling and identification of all circuits and distribution boards
- Adequacy of protection against mechanical damage
- Correct type and rating of protective devices for the circuits served
- Adequate earthing and bonding arrangements
- Any visible departures from the current edition of BS 7671
A thorough visual inspection by an experienced engineer identifies the majority of C1 and C2 conditions before a single electrical measurement is taken. The quality of the visual inspection is entirely dependent on the knowledge and experience of the engineer — this is why the qualifications of the person conducting the test matter far more than the brand of test equipment they carry.
Stage 3: Electrical Testing: Following the visual inspection, each circuit is isolated in turn and subjected to a programme of electrical tests. Each circuit is isolated only for the duration of its own tests typically five to fifteen minutes and is restored immediately afterwards. Only one circuit is offline at any one time.
The tests conducted on each circuit are:
Continuity of protective conductors verifies that the circuit protective conductor (earth wire) provides a continuous path back to the main earth terminal. A broken or missing protective conductor removes the primary protection against electric shock from a fault condition.
Insulation resistance measures the resistance of the insulation surrounding all live conductors. Deteriorated insulation is a direct fire and electric shock hazard, and is particularly prevalent in older buildings where original wiring from before the 1970s remains in situ.
Polarity confirms that all switches and protective devices are connected in the line conductor only, and that socket outlets are correctly wired. Reversed polarity live and neutral connected the wrong way around is a shock hazard that is invisible without testing.
Earth fault loop impedance measures the total impedance of the fault current path from the point of supply back to the origin. This confirms that in the event of a line-to-earth fault, the protective device will operate and disconnect the supply within the maximum disconnection time specified by BS 7671.
RCD operation every residual current device (RCD) is tested at half rated, full rated, and five times rated tripping current, and the actual tripping time is recorded. An RCD that does not trip within the specified time or does not trip at all provides no meaningful protection against electric shock and is recorded as a C1 observation requiring immediate rectification.
Stage 4: Report Generation and Observation Coding: All test results are recorded in real time and compiled into the formal EICR. Any condition that represents a departure from BS 7671 or a safety risk is recorded as an observation and graded using the standard coding system. The engineer explains all observations to the client at the time of inspection the EICR certificate is not issued as a surprise. If your inspection produces an unsatisfactory result and remedial works are required, our EICR remedial works service handles all follow-on electrical work.
Understanding Fixed Wire Test Results. The Observation Codes
The observation coding system used in every UK fixed wire test is defined by BS 7671 and is consistent across all contractors. Understanding what each code means is essential for any property owner or manager receiving a test result.
C1: Danger Present: A C1 code means that the engineer has identified a condition that poses an immediate risk of injury from electric shock, fire, or both. A C1 observation results in an unsatisfactory EICR. The installation, or the affected part of it, should not continue to be used until the C1 condition has been rectified.
For residential landlords in England, the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020 require all C1 observations to be remedied within 28 days of the date the unsatisfactory EICR is issued though the nature of a C1 means that waiting 28 days is rarely appropriate. In practice, our engineers will advise at the time of inspection whether the affected circuit or equipment can safely remain in service pending remedial works, or whether it should be isolated immediately.
Common C1 findings in London properties include: non-functional RCDs, inadequate main earthing, exposed live conductors at distribution boards or accessories, and severely deteriorated rubber-insulated wiring in pre-1960s properties.
C2: Potentially Dangerous: A C2 code means the engineer has identified a condition that is not causing immediate danger in its present state but presents a significant risk and requires urgent remedial action. A C2 observation also results in an unsatisfactory EICR, and carries the same 28-day remediation obligation for residential landlords as a C1.
A common and dangerous misconception is that C2 findings are less serious and can be scheduled for attention at some future point. They cannot. A C2 condition that is left unaddressed will typically deteriorate further and the fault that is C2 today may be C1 within months. In the meantime, an insurance claim arising from an incident involving a known C2 condition is extremely difficult to defend.
C3: Improvement Recommended: A C3 code means the engineer has identified a condition that does not comply with the current edition of BS 7671 but does not present an immediate or significant safety risk. A certificate containing only C3 observations is a satisfactory EICR C3 findings do not, by themselves, result in an unsatisfactory outcome.
Typical C3 observations include the absence of surge protective devices (SPDs) in installations that pre-date the 2022 Amendment 2 requirements, wiring methods that complied with an earlier edition of the regulations but not the current edition, and the absence of arc fault detection devices (AFDDs) in certain high-risk locations. If C3 observations require electrical remedial or upgrade work, our electricians in London can advise and quote accordingly.
FI: Further Investigation Required: An FI code means the engineer has identified a condition that cannot be fully assessed during the standard inspection. This typically arises where concealed wiring cannot be accessed without structural works, where specialist testing beyond the scope of a standard fixed wire test is required, or where a suspected defect cannot be confirmed without intrusive investigation. An FI code does not automatically result in an unsatisfactory EICR but it requires follow-up action before the installation can be considered fully assessed. Our electrical diagnostic service is designed for exactly these situations.
Satisfactory vs Unsatisfactory: What the Overall Outcome Means
A fixed wire test produces one of two overall outcomes:
Satisfactory: The installation contains no C1 or C2 observations. It may contain C3 observations. A satisfactory EICR confirms that the installation is in an acceptable condition and is compliant with BS 7671 to a standard consistent with its age, type, and use. The next inspection is due in accordance with the applicable interval.
Unsatisfactory: The installation contains one or more C1 or C2 observations. Remedial works must be completed and a re-inspection conducted before a satisfactory certificate can be issued. The unsatisfactory EICR does not expire; it remains in force until the specific observations recorded within it have been rectified and verified.
What Is Tested? The Full Scope of a Fixed Wire Inspection
The scope of a fixed wire test is defined precisely by BS 7671 Part 6. Every circuit in the installation is tested not a sample, not a percentage. Any contractor offering to test a percentage of circuits as a cost-saving measure is not providing a compliant fixed wire test; they are providing a limited inspection that will not satisfy the requirements of the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020 or the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
Distribution Boards and Consumer Units
Every distribution board and consumer unit in the installation is opened, internally inspected, and tested. The engineer checks for signs of overheating, arcing, or moisture ingress; verifies that all circuit protective devices are of the correct type and rating; confirms that all circuits are correctly labelled; and tests the main switch and all RCDs within the board. The integrity of the board enclosure ensuring that live parts are not accessible is checked visually. Where a consumer unit requires replacement as a result of the inspection findings, our fuse box installation service handles all consumer unit upgrades.
Wiring, Circuits, and Final Outlets
All power circuits (ring final and radial), lighting circuits, and circuits serving fixed equipment are tested for continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, and earth fault loop impedance. Socket outlets, connection units, and fixed accessories are tested for polarity and earth loop impedance at the point of use. For ring final circuits, the standard wiring arrangement for power in UK buildings, the ring configuration itself is tested to confirm that both ends of the ring are correctly connected and that there are no broken conductors within the ring.
Earthing, Bonding, and Protective Conductors
The earthing and bonding arrangement is one of the most safety-critical elements of any electrical installation and one of the areas most frequently found deficient in older London properties. The main earthing conductor, main equipotential bonding conductors (to incoming gas, water, and structural steelwork where applicable), and all circuit protective conductors are tested for continuity and checked for adequate cross-section. Inadequate earthing and bonding is among the most common C1 observations recorded by Safety Spectrum London engineers in London commercial and residential properties.
RCDs, Circuit Breakers, and Protective Devices
Every RCD in the installation is tested for operation at the specified tripping currents, and the actual tripping time is recorded. Circuit breakers are manually operated to confirm correct function. Any protective device that does not operate correctly, an RCD that trips slowly or fails to trip, a circuit breaker that cannot be operated manually is a C1 or C2 observation.
Surge Protective Devices Amendment 2 of BS 7671 (2022)
The IET published Amendment 2 to BS 7671:2018 in March 2022, effective September 2022. Among its provisions, Amendment 2 introduced requirements for surge protective devices (SPDs) in new domestic installations and certain rewires, reflecting the increased sensitivity of modern electronic equipment to transient overvoltages from lightning and switching events. Properties inspected since September 2022 may receive C3 observations where SPDs are absent in an installation completed or substantially rewired after that date. Existing installations that pre-date Amendment 2 are not required retrospectively to install SPDs but their absence will be recorded as a C3 where the installation otherwise falls within scope.
How to Choose a Qualified Fixed Wire Testing Contractor
The fixed wire testing market in London includes both highly competent contractors and those whose work is inadequate and from the outside, the difference is not always easy to identify. A certificate that looks correct may have been produced by an engineer without the necessary qualifications, using test equipment that has not been calibrated, testing only a sample of circuits. These certificates do not satisfy your legal obligations, will not satisfy your insurer, and provide no meaningful assurance of the safety of the installation.
The following criteria should be used when selecting any contractor for fixed wire testing work.
Verify NICEIC Registration
The NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting) is the UK’s primary electrical contracting certification body. NICEIC Approved Contractor status requires annual technical assessment of the company’s work, engineer qualifications, and quality systems, and is backed by the NICEIC Guarantee of Standards, a consumer protection arrangement that provides a route for redress if registered work is found to be non-compliant. Always verify a contractor’s NICEIC registration at electricalcompetentperson.co.uk before commissioning any fixed wire test. A company that is not registered or whose registration has lapsed cannot legally issue a fully compliant NICEIC-backed EICR.
Alternative approved schemes accepted by the government’s Part P competent person scheme include NAPIT and ELECSA. Registration with any of these bodies provides equivalent assurance.
Confirm the Engineer’s Individual Qualifications
NICEIC registration is a company-level accreditation. The individual engineer conducting your inspection must hold a current inspection and testing qualification, the City & Guilds 2391-52 Award in the Periodic Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical Installations, or an equivalent qualification. Ask the contractor to confirm the qualifications held by the specific engineer who will attend your property. A company that cannot or will not provide this information is one whose engineers’ qualifications should be treated with caution.
Ask Whether 100% of Circuits Will Be Tested
Some contractors offer fixed wire testing at reduced cost by testing only a percentage of circuits typically 20% or 33% on a rolling basis, completing the full installation over a five-year period. This is sometimes called a “rolling programme.” A rolling programme may be appropriate for very large complex installations where a full-building test in a single visit is not operationally feasible but it produces a different, more limited document than a full EICR, and that distinction should be clearly understood before accepting this approach. For most residential and standard commercial properties, a full-building EICR testing 100% of circuits at each inspection is the correct approach.
Check What the Report Will Contain
A compliant EICR must contain: the full schedule of test results for every circuit tested; a record of all observations, graded by code; a statement of the extent and limitations of the inspection; the inspector’s name, signature, and qualification; and the overall outcome satisfactory or unsatisfactory. A fixed wire test that produces only a certificate stating a satisfactory outcome, without the full test schedule attached, is not a compliant EICR and will not satisfy the requirements of the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020.
Fixed Wire Testing by Safety Spectrum London — What We Provide
Safety Spectrum London provides fixed wire testing for residential and commercial properties across all London boroughs. Every inspection is carried out by a named, directly employed engineer holding current City & Guilds 2391 qualifications.
Every fixed wire test we conduct includes:
- Full visual inspection of the complete installation
- Electrical testing of 100% of circuits no sampling
- Real-time recording of all test results using calibrated test equipment
- EICR certificate in BS 7671-compliant format, issued within 48 hours
- Engineer briefing at the time of inspection you will understand the findings before we leave
- Written remedial works quotation, itemised by observation code, where applicable
- Free re-inspection and new satisfactory EICR after remedial works are completed by Safety Spectrum London
What is not included: Portable appliance testing (PAT), fire alarm testing, emergency lighting testing, or any services beyond the scope of a fixed wire test as defined by BS 7671. Congestion charge, where applicable, is charged at cost.
For pricing, availability, or to discuss the scope of a fixed wire test for your specific property, contact Safety Spectrum London directly:
- Phone: +44 20 4628 6504
- Email: info@safetyspectrumlondon.co.uk
- Address: 58a Tudor Road, Hayes, UB3 2QD
- Book online: safetyspectrumlondon.co.uk/booking
We cover all 32 London boroughs and the City of London. For residential EICR certificates, visit our residential EICR page. For commercial properties, visit our commercial EICR page.
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Fixed Wire Testing Frequently Asked Questions
What is fixed wire testing?
Fixed wire testing is the formal inspection and testing of all permanently installed electrical wiring and circuits within a building, carried out in accordance with BS 7671:2018 by a qualified electrician. It covers all fixed circuits, distribution boards, earthing, bonding, and associated electrical equipment. The test produces an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), which records the condition of the installation and any observations requiring remedial action.
What is the difference between fixed wire testing and an EICR?
Fixed wire testing describes the process of inspecting and testing a building’s fixed electrical installation. The EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is the formal document produced as the outcome of that process. The two terms refer to the same service. Other synonyms include periodic inspection and testing, hardwire testing, and periodic electrical inspection.
How often should fixed wire testing be carried out?
The required frequency depends on the type of property. Residential rental properties in England must be tested at least every five years. Offices, retail premises, schools, hotels, and restaurants have a maximum recommended interval of five years. Industrial premises have a maximum of three years. Caravan parks, marinas, and swimming pools require annual testing. An installation that has been damaged, or that received an unsatisfactory result at its previous test, should be re-tested sooner.
Is fixed wire testing a legal requirement?
For residential landlords in England, yes it has been a legal requirement since June 2020 under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. For commercial property owners and business occupiers, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 create a legal duty to maintain safe electrical systems, for which a current fixed wire test certificate is the accepted evidence of compliance. Most commercial property insurers now require a current EICR as a condition of cover.
What happens if a property fails a fixed wire test?
An unsatisfactory fixed wire test one containing C1 (Danger Present) or C2 (Potentially Dangerous) observations requires remedial works to be completed and a re-inspection conducted. For residential landlords in England, remedial works must be completed within 28 days of receiving the unsatisfactory EICR. Our EICR remedial works service covers all rectification work required following an unsatisfactory inspection.
How long does a fixed wire test take?
For a domestic property with up to 10 circuits, a fixed wire test typically takes between two and four hours. A small commercial premises with up to 20 circuits will typically take four to six hours. Larger commercial installations and multi-board buildings may require a full day or a planned multi-day programme.
Does fixed wire testing require the power to be switched off?
Not in its entirety. Each circuit must be isolated briefly during its own tests — typically for five to fifteen minutes per circuit. Only one circuit is offline at any time, and circuits are restored immediately after testing. The main supply is not disconnected. For circuits serving critical systems, isolation is planned and coordinated with the client in advance.
What qualifications should a fixed wire testing engineer hold?
A qualified fixed wire testing engineer should hold the City & Guilds 2391-52 Award in the Periodic Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical Installations, or an equivalent qualification, and should work for a contractor registered with the NICEIC, NAPIT, or an equivalent government-approved competent person scheme. Always verify the contractor’s registration before commissioning a test.
What do C1, C2, C3, and FI codes mean on a fixed wire test certificate?
C1 (Danger Present) means immediate remedial action is required. C2 (Potentially Dangerous) means urgent remedial action is required. Both C1 and C2 observations result in an unsatisfactory EICR. C3 (Improvement Recommended) records a departure from current standards that does not present an immediate safety risk; a certificate with only C3 observations is a satisfactory EICR. FI (Further Investigation Required) records a condition that cannot be fully assessed within the standard inspection.
Can a fixed wire test certificate be used as evidence of compliance for insurers?
Yes. A satisfactory EICR issued by a NICEIC-approved contractor is the standard documentary evidence accepted by commercial property and landlord insurers as proof that an electrical installation has been maintained in accordance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Verify the precise wording of your policy’s electrical safety condition with your insurer.
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