Whilst we cannot see electricity, we have a huge dependence upon it and most of us get a huge shock (Hopefully not literally!) when its suddenly not there.
The majority of people are completely oblivious to the condition of their electrics. Concealed out of sight in cables within walls and consumer units hidden away in cupboards it’s easy to see why many have no idea of the condition of their home electrical systems and only really pay attention when it’s not working.
Faulty and old wiring is one of the main causes of domestic electrical fires, to reduce the risk of an electrical fire it’s important to check the condition of your cables, switches and sockets regularly. Scorch marks, noticeable heat coming from a plugged-in appliance plug or a burning smell should immediately set alarm bells ringing and you should call an electrician as soon as possible to check what’s going on.
For a more in-depth check of your electrical system its recommended that homeowners have an Electrical Installation Condition Report or EICR carried out on their property at least every 10 years. Landlords need to have regular Electrical Installation Condition Reports carried out at least every 5 years with copies available to letting agents and tenants and the local authority if requested, failure to do so can result in hefty fines.
The purpose of the Electrical Installation Condition Report is to assess the overall condition of your installation and fuse box. During the inspection the electrical installation will be tested to determine its safety, and highlight any damage or wear and tear that may affect safety and anything that may cause high temperatures or electric shocks and faults, these will be reported upon and remedial action may be recommended.
The electrical Installation Condition Report will pass or fail the tested elements of your system and will an include an explanation of the failure if found. The failure will also be graded as follows:
C1 – This means danger is present and there is a high risk of injury and immediate action is required.
C2 – This signifies for potentially dangerous findings which will require urgent remedial action.
C3 – This is the final code and the only one that can appear on an Electrical Installation condition report and still result with an overall pass. This code signifies an improvement is recommended but is not completely essential at this time. Whilst this code doesn’t need any urgent action its best not to put any recommended improvements off for too long!
The grading system gives the homeowner a clear overview of the tested elements making an Electrical Installation Condition Report the best way to get an overall health check of your full electrical installation. A well-maintained electrical system is designed to last and regular Electrical Installation Condition Reports give you all the information you need to ensure proper care and maintenance of the installation.
