Worried about getting the electrical certification for your property? Not sure which electrical installations need to be checked and how often? Numerous safety checks can help you identify if a problem occurs. Typically, such checkups and inspections are carried out each time a tenant is replaced. Hexo services make sure that the required laws and regulations are followed, and the entire electrical system falls in accordance with the laws. Read on to know all the basics of an electrical certification and how long it takes to acquire one.

ELECTRICAL-INSTALLATION CONDITION REPORT (EICR)

An electrical installation condition report (EICR) tells the consumer that the electrical service performed is in accordance with the appropriate standards. This provides the customer with a report that the task is performed following the respective standards and identifies complications. An electrical installation condition report is a formal document produced by a certified electrician following an in-depth examination of all the electricals present within a domestic or commercial property.

What does EICR contain?

The EICR comprises of a detailed analysis of the electrical systems according to the health and safety standards. The analysis outlines the systems in accordance with standards, any missing items in wirings that are mandatory for safety and any disparity that should not be a part of the electrical systems. The importance of a valid EICR cannot be overstated, for it provides a critical condition check on your property and greatly reduces the risks of electric shocks, fire hazards and other serious injuries.

The report also includes recommended improvements required in the system. The EICR uses a coding system, and each code represents the severity and priority of the problem. There are three types of codes.

CODE C1
This code indicates that a threat exists and requires immediate action. The user of the system is exposed to an immediate threat.

CODE C2
This shows that the threat is not immediate but could become in the foreseeable future.

CODE C3
This indicates that the threat is not immediate but is of significant nature and would require major improvements in the system.

What is the EICR procedure?

Usually, an electrical installation condition report takes about four hours which depends on the property’s size. It is a very detailed check of electric wirings of property, including identifying safety issues and verifying if the electric systems are compliant with safety laws. This also involves checking of underlying systems such as wiring, fuse board, circuit breakers and all other elements that can pose a potential risk.

The electrician visits the property, makes an assessment and then performs a series of checkups on electrical systems. If any problems are found which can be a threat, the electrician then performs further procedures to nullify those threats, and even if those risks cannot be eradicated entirely, they are minimised to an acceptable level.

The electrician will also make a report encompassing 7 pages. This report is reviewed by a supervisor and then signed. The electrician will also provide remedies to standardise the electrical system. The paperwork can take a couple of days to process.

Overall, there is no shortcut to reduce the time span of generating EICR. If the original installation is entirely in accordance with the safety standards, the time taken to review the systems will also be reduced.