What is an EICR? The C1, C2, C3 and FI codes explained

EICR stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report. It is an inspection and test of a property’s fixed wiring, carried out by a qualified electrician, that records the condition of the installation and anything that needs attention.

It is not a certificate that the wiring is new or perfect. It is a report on the condition it is in today.

The codes

Anything the electrician finds is given a code.

Code	Means	What it means for you
C1	Danger present	A risk of injury right now. It is made safe on the spot, or you are told immediately
C2	Potentially dangerous	Not dangerous this minute, but could become so. Needs putting right urgently
C3	Improvement recommended	Does not meet current standards but is not unsafe. Worth doing, not required
FI	Further investigation	Something could not be fully checked and needs looking at further, without delay

Satisfactory or unsatisfactory

The overall result is one or the other.

• Any C1, C2 or FI means the report is unsatisfactory. The items have to be put right, or investigated, before the installation can be called safe.
• Only C3s, or nothing at all, means it is satisfactory. C3s are recommendations, not failures.

A report full of C3s on an older house is normal. It does not mean anything is wrong.

How long does an EICR last?

The report gives a date for the next inspection. The usual maximums are:

• Rented homes in Wales: at least every five years, or sooner if the report says so. This is a legal requirement. See EICRs for landlords in Wales.
• Owner-occupied homes: the electrician recommends an interval, commonly up to ten years, and sooner for older installations or a change of occupier.

When you might need one

• You are a landlord
• You are buying or selling, and the survey or buyer asks for one
• The house is older and has not been checked in years
• You are planning work, like an EV charger or an extension, and want to know what you are starting from