Commercial EICR

A Commercial Electrical Installation Condition Report is a detailed inspection and testing programme used to assess the condition of a building’s fixed electrical installation.

It identifies defects, deterioration and safety risks, confirms whether the installation is satisfactory for continued service and provides clear recommendations where action is required.

There is no single law stating that every commercial property must have an EICR at one fixed interval.

However, employers, landlords and those responsible for commercial premises must maintain electrical systems so they do not present a danger. A Commercial EICR provides a clear, auditable way to assess the installation and demonstrate that electrical risks are being properly managed.

EICRs may also be required by insurers, landlords, lease agreements, licensing conditions or internal compliance policies.

The appropriate inspection interval depends on the type of premises, how the building is used, the condition of the installation and the quality of ongoing maintenance.

Five-year inspections are common across many commercial premises, but some industrial or higher-risk environments may require more frequent assessment. Whitton Electrical will recommend an appropriate next-inspection date based on the installation we find.

The inspection combines visual assessment, electrical testing and professional engineering judgement.

Depending on the agreed scope, this can include:

• Switchgear and distribution boards
• Protective bonding
• Circuit identification and labelling
• Insulation resistance
• Earth-fault loop impedance
• Prospective fault current
• RCD operation
• Signs of overheating or deterioration
• Previous alterations and additions
• Electrical documentation and test records

The completed report records the condition of the installation, coded observations and recommended actions.

Yes. Whitton Electrical regularly carries out Commercial EICRs in occupied offices, warehouses, factories, retail premises and other live working environments.

We plan the inspection around your operations, agree access and isolation requirements in advance and phase the testing where necessary to minimise disruption.

Some electrical tests require individual circuits or sections of the installation to be safely isolated.

We will agree any required shutdowns in advance and plan them around your operational requirements wherever practicable. Larger inspections can be divided into phases to reduce the impact on staff, tenants, production or business-critical equipment.

C1 — Danger Present
Immediate action is required to remove the danger.

C2 — Potentially Dangerous
Urgent remedial action is required.

C3 — Improvement Recommended
An improvement is advised, but the observation does not by itself make the report unsatisfactory.

FI — Further Investigation Required
Further investigation is required without delay because the inspector could not safely determine the full extent of the issue.

An EICR will be recorded as unsatisfactory where a C1 and/or C2 observation is identified.

The report will explain the defect, its location and the level of action required. Whitton Electrical can also provide a separately scoped quotation for remedial works where requested.

No. An older installation does not automatically become unsafe simply because electrical standards have changed.

The inspection considers its current condition, the risks present and whether it remains suitable for continued service. Differences from the latest edition of BS 7671 are assessed using professional engineering judgement rather than treated as automatic failures.

If a C1 defect is identified, we will notify the responsible person immediately rather than waiting for the final report.

Where necessary and authorised, the affected circuit or equipment may need to be isolated to remove the immediate danger. The action taken will be clearly recorded.

Yes. Whitton Electrical provides structured digital reporting supported by photographic evidence for significant observations.

This gives facilities teams, building managers and other decision-makers a clear record of what has been found, where the issue is located and why remedial action may be required.

No. The EICR is an independent report on the condition of the electrical installation.

Where defects are identified, Whitton Electrical can provide a separate quotation with the remedial work clearly prioritised and scoped. This keeps the inspection findings distinct from the cost of any repairs.

Yes. Our commercial test engineers are experienced in inspecting ageing switchgear, older distribution equipment and installations that have been altered over many years.

Where equipment cannot be fully assessed through standard testing alone, we will explain any limitations and recommend further investigation or specialist assessment.

A standard EICR assesses the fixed electrical installation and does not replace the specialist inspection and testing required for fire-alarm or emergency-lighting systems.

Their electrical supplies may form part of the EICR, but the systems themselves should be inspected separately against the relevant standards. Whitton Electrical can provide these services where required.

The duration depends on the size and complexity of the premises, the number of distribution boards and circuits, access arrangements, the condition of the existing records and how testing must be phased around operations.

Whitton Electrical will agree the scope, programme and likely disruption before the inspection begins.

Whitton Electrical is based in the South East and regularly carries out Commercial EICRs across London and the Home Counties.

We also travel throughout the UK for major commercial premises, national accounts and larger multi-site inspection programmes.