Electrical Installation Condition Report

An Electrical Installation Condition Report is the inspection of the condition of an existing electrical installation to identify any deficiencies against the national safety standard (BS7671 Wiring Regulations). An Electrical Installation Condition Report is the only report specified in the wiring regulations for existing electrical installations. There is no such thing as a landlords electrical certificate, an electrical safety certificate or NICEIC safety certificate. The report is exactly that, a report on the current state of the electrical installation. Think of it as an MOT for your electrical installation. On the report we will indicate that the installation is either ‘satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory’.  Please note that all installations are checked to the current regulations which at this point are the 17th Edition. If your installation was built before this they do not necessarily fail but simply do not comply with the current regulations.

An Electrical Installation Condition Report will:

Reveal if any electrical circuits or equipment is overloaded
Find any potential shock risks or fire hazards in the installation
Identify any defective DIY electrical work
Highlight any lack of earthing or bonding

A number of tests are then carried out on each circuit using sophisticated electrical testing equipment and the readings obtained recorded on the report. These are then checked against figures in the wiring regulations to ensure compliance. As you can see an Electrical Installation Condition Report is very thorough. It requires above average knowledge of electrical installations and can take several hours to complete. The electrical supply to the house must be isolated and all equipment and light bulbs unplugged or disconnected before any testing can begin. Access is required to all sockets, switches, isolators or any other wiring accessories as well as the fuse board and meter position.  A standard (3 bedroom) domestic Electrical Condition Report normally requires around 4-5 hours to complete. A commercial or industrial condition report can take days or even weeks to complete and are often carried out when the businesses are closed to avoid downtime. After the inspection and test Plugs will produce a report as required by the regulations but also a list of problems found, if any, and their solutions written in laymens terms. This is usually emailed to the customer.

Visual Condition Report

In order to fully determine the safety of an electrical installation an Electrical Installation Condition Report is the best method.  A Visual Inspection Report can only report on the fixed electrics that can be physically seen within a dwelling. For example the condition of the socket outlets, lighting pendants, correct earthing and bonding etc. It can never confirm complete electrical safety like an Electrical Installation Condition Report can. Nevertheless the Visual Inspection Report certainly has an important role to play between Electrical Installation Condition Reports. Especially in rented accommodation where the tenant is less likely than a homeowner perhaps to look out for damage and wear and tear. Homebuyers too may benefit from a professional casting an eye over the electrical installation prior to exchanging.

As with the Electrical Installation Condition Report, customers receive a report by email plus an explanation in laymens terms of any faults found and their solutions.

If you would like to book an Installation Condition Report or a Visual Inspection Report Please call Tony on 07944 162 958 or email us