What Should I Do If My EICR Inspection Is Unsatisfactory?

Keeping your building electrically safe and compliant goes beyond a legal obligation. It’s central to protecting your people, your assets and your organisation’s reputation.

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a key part of this. But what happens if the inspection doesn’t go to plan? Must you take immediate action or do you have a period of time to get things fixed? What if you don’t have a satisfactory EICR?

Here’s what an unsatisfactory EICR really means and the steps you need to take when that happens.

What is an EICR?

An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a detailed assessment of the condition and safety of your building’s electrical systems. It’s carried out by a qualified electrician to determine whether your installation functions correctly and complies with wiring regulations (specifically BS 7671). The EICR testing process identifies potential electrical faults like faulty wiring which could be unsafe.

When we conduct these tests, we do a visual inspection and compile the report. That highlights any defects, deterioration and potentially dangerous issues. We list the remedial electrical works required to bring you up to British standards and wiring regulations.

What does an unsatisfactory EICR mean?

An unsatisfactory EICR means your electrical installation has one or more issues that make it unsafe or non-compliant. An EICR certificate may be marked unsatisfactory for several reasons such as a failed RCD (residual current device) safety test, poor earth fault loop impedance results, insufficient insulation on wiring and more. Each observation is coded to show its severity, helping you prioritise remedial work efficiently.

The key fault codes you’ll see are:

• C1 code: Danger present – immediate action required.
• C2 code: Potentially dangerous – urgent remedial work needed.
• C3 code 3: Improvement recommended – non-urgent remedial action needed.
• FI code: Further investigation – required without delay.

Even a single C1 or C2 code makes the whole EICR report unsatisfactory. Until the flagged issues are resolved, your electrical installation should be deemed unsafe for continued use.

Does an unsatisfactory EICR invalidate insurance?

Potentially, yes. It depends on the specifics of your policy. Most commercial insurance policies assume your electrical system’s kept in a safe and compliant condition.

However, you could find your insurer rejecting or reducing your claim if an equipment failure or fire occurs and your EICR shows known defects that weren’t remedied. To mitigate risk, it’s advisable to act promptly on all recommended remedial works. In addition, you should maintain accurate records of repairs, certification and inspection schedules.

How long do I have to complete remedial work after an unsatisfactory EICR?

There’s no fixed legal deadline for commercial buildings (unlike private rental properties), but we highly recommend swift action. It’s best practice and regulatory guidance.

If serious faults are identified, remedial work should be completed as soon as possible. That’s particularly important with C1 or C2 issues. Your electrician may suggest a timeframe for completion depending on the specific fault and its environment. Ultimately, you want to minimise the risk of injury, fire and damage, and to achieve a satisfactory EICR.

Once the issues are fixed, you’ll need a new EICR to ensure everything’s satisfactory. You must have confirmation of compliance to show that the electrical installation’s now safe.

What if I ignore the unsatisfactory EICR report?

Our advice? Please don’t! Ignoring an unsatisfactory EICR isn’t an option. Firstly, that brings obvious safety risks. But failing to act can leave your organisation open to enforcement action, insurance issues and/ or reputational damage.

If there’s an electrical incident, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) may investigate your maintenance practices. A neglected EICR report could be evidence of non-compliance. That can cause operational downtime, equipment damage and potential breaches of your duty of care to people in your premises.

In short, don’t leave remedial action on the back burner. It doesn’t matter if it’s a simple fix like replacing sockets or bigger work like rewiring or replacing the consumer unit. Action it to ensure the ongoing safety and continual operation of your business.

Take action, stay compliant

An unsatisfactory EICR doesn’t have to be a major setback. It’s a prompt to put things right before they become a serious hazard. Working with a trusted electrical contractor ensures your systems are safe, your paperwork’s in order and your business remains compliant. You can trust our team of experienced, professional and personable electricians.

We’re here to help keep your electrics, and consequently your building and your people, safe and at minimal risk of injury. Contact us for all your electrical testing needs – EICR reports, portable electrical appliance testing (PAT), lighting or alarm testing.