Commercial fixed wire testing, commonly called an EICR, is the inspection and testing of a building’s fixed electrical installation. As the dutyholder you must commission a competent EICR and act on any C1 or C2 findings without delay, because a certificate alone does not discharge your legal duty to keep the installation safe.
TL;DR:
- Most commercial properties are tested regularly based on their risk profile, with harsher environments requiring more frequent inspections.
- Immediate remedial work is mandatory for C1 and C2 findings, as they indicate danger or potential danger to safety.
- A proper EICR includes detailed test results, defect descriptions, classification codes, and photographic evidence for thorough documentation.
- Contractors should provide clear reports, demonstrate adherence to BS 7671, and include remedial cost options in their quotes.
- Records of inspections, repairs, and a risk-based testing schedule are essential to maintain compliance and safety over time.
Table of Contents
- What fixed wire testing and an EICR cover
- Legal duties and regulatory context in the UK
- How often to test: risk-based frequency and common commercial intervals
- What a fixed wire test looks like: step-by-step process for commercial sites
- Acting on the report: classification codes, remedial work and timelines
- Choosing a competent contractor for commercial fixed wire testing
- Publisher expertise: what Smart Home Technical Ltd provides
- Common pitfalls and practical priorities for managers
- How Smart Home Technical Ltd can help with testing and remedial works
- Sources
- FAQ
What fixed wire testing and an EICR cover
An EICR examines the fixed parts of your electrical installation: the circuits buried in walls and ceilings, the consumer unit or distribution boards, socket outlets, lighting circuits and any permanently connected equipment. It does not cover portable appliances, which fall under separate PAT testing arrangements.
The inspection is judged against BS 7671, the IET Wiring Regulations that set the technical benchmark for safe electrical installations in the UK. An inspector checks the installation against this standard and records any departures.
A completed EICR typically contains:
- An inspection schedule detailing what was examined and the method used.
- Test results for every circuit, including readings for continuity and insulation resistance.
- Written observations describing any defects found.
- A classification code attached to each observation, showing how urgent the issue is.
Legal duties and regulatory context in the UK
Dutyholder responsibility for electrical safety in commercial premises sits with the person or business in control of the installation. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that electrical systems are maintained to prevent danger, and HSE guidance treats inspection and testing as part of that ongoing duty rather than a one-off exercise.
BS 7671 itself is not statutory. It is the technical standard that inspectors use to judge whether an installation is safe, and compliance with it is the accepted way of meeting the broader legal duty to prevent danger.
In practice, this means:
- You cannot treat an EICR as a box-ticking exercise; findings must be acted on.
- Dangerous and potentially dangerous observations (C1 and C2) require remedial work, not just a note on file.
- Records of inspections, tests and repairs should be kept and made available to inspectors, insurers or enforcing authorities on request.
- Where building work or alterations are involved, compliance with building regulations may also apply alongside BS 7671.
How often to test: risk-based frequency and common commercial intervals
There is no single statutory interval for commercial fixed wire testing. HSE guidance and BS 7671 both point to a risk-based approach, where the frequency depends on the type of premises, how the installation is used and its condition history.
In practice, many commercial and industrial properties are commonly subject to regular testing at intervals that reflect their risk profile, with retail units often reviewed more frequently and premises with harsher conditions inspected sooner. Factors that shorten the interval include:
- Damp, dusty or corrosive environments that accelerate wear on cables and connections.
- Heavy or continuous use, such as commercial kitchens or workshops.
- Temporary or frequently altered installations, including construction sites and event spaces.
- A history of previous defects or unresolved C2 observations.
Whatever interval you choose, document the reasoning behind it. An auditable risk assessment showing why you selected a given frequency is far more defensible than a date picked without justification.
What a fixed wire test looks like: step-by-step process for commercial sites
A commercial EICR follows a structured sequence, though the exact scope depends on the size and complexity of the site.
- Scoping and paperwork. The inspector reviews any previous EICRs, drawings or alteration records before arriving on site.
- Visual inspection. This covers the consumer unit or distribution boards, earthing and bonding conductors, and the general condition of cables, accessories and enclosures.
- Instrument testing. Continuity, insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance and RCD operation are all measured using calibrated test equipment.
- Safe isolation. Circuits are proved dead before live testing begins, following the safe working practices set out in HSG85.
- Recording and reporting. Results are logged against each circuit, defects are photographed, and observations are assigned a classification code.
Instrument accuracy matters as much as the inspector’s competence. Electrical Safety First’s best-practice guidance recommends documented checks on test instruments, since BS 7671 does not set a mandatory calibration interval but relies on operators maintaining their own accuracy system. A contractor without a visible instrument-check routine is a red flag before testing even begins.
Expect isolations to affect parts of the building during testing, so agree access windows and any circuits that cannot be switched off in advance.
Acting on the report: classification codes, remedial work and timelines
Every observation on an EICR carries a code, and Electrical Safety First’s condition reporting guidance sets out what each one means:
- C1: danger present. Immediate risk to life, requiring urgent remedial action, often before the inspector leaves site.
- C2: potentially dangerous. Not an immediate risk but needing prompt correction.
- C3: improvement recommended. Not a compliance failure, but worth addressing.
- FI: further investigation. The inspector could not fully assess an issue and it needs follow-up work to classify it properly.
C1 and C2 items are where your legal duty bites hardest: HSE guidance is clear that dutyholders must not simply file the certificate, they must ensure the installation is put back into a safe condition. Our guide for landlords facing EICR deadlines covers the timelines that typically apply once defects are found.
Pro Tip: Ask your contractor to quote for a combined test-and-repair service, so remedial work on C1 and C2 items starts the same day rather than waiting for a second visit.
A digital handover pack, complete with photographs and a defects tracker, gives you evidence of completion for insurers and future inspectors alike.
Choosing a competent contractor for commercial fixed wire testing
Not every electrician who can wire a socket is equipped to produce a defensible EICR. Before commissioning one, check the following:
- Confirm the contractor holds third-party registration and can demonstrate working knowledge of current BS 7671 amendments.
- Ask for evidence of a documented instrument accuracy system, not just a claim that equipment is “calibrated”.
- Request a sample EICR or defects report to judge the clarity of observations and classification codes.
- Check the quote specifies what happens after the report: does it include remedial pricing, or is that a separate negotiation?
Pro Tip: A vague quote that only mentions “testing” with no reference to reporting format, photographs or remedial pricing is worth questioning before you sign.
Contractors who reference HSE electrical testing guidance or Electrical Safety First materials during procurement conversations tend to have a firmer grasp of what a compliant report actually requires. One useful independent overview of what an EICR should include comes from Complete EPC’s EICR guide, which is worth reading alongside any quote you receive.
Publisher expertise: what Smart Home Technical Ltd provides
This article is written by Simon on behalf of an electrical contracting business operating in the local region. The business carries out electrical testing alongside remedial repairs, meaning C1 and C2 findings can be actioned without waiting for a second contractor to be sourced.
Clients on the Solar & Battery Service & Maintenance Plan receive scheduled site visits that fold electrical checks into a wider maintenance routine, backed by a digital handover pack covering photographs, test results and defect status for long-term compliance tracking.
Common pitfalls and practical priorities for managers
The biggest mistake I see is treating the EICR as paperwork to file rather than a maintenance roadmap. A report that sits unread until the next renewal date does nothing for the people using the building.
Prioritise C1 and C2 remediation immediately, keep records centralised across every site you manage, and insist on photographic evidence with a digital handover. Those three habits do more for genuine safety than any certificate on its own.
— Simon
How Smart Home Technical Ltd can help with testing and remedial works
If you need an EICR carried out on a commercial property in the local area, a qualified contractor can survey the site, test the installation and quote for any remedial work in one visit rather than several.
Clients receive a written scope of any defects found, a digital handover pack with photographs and test schedules, and the option to move onto the Solar & Battery Service & Maintenance Plan for ongoing scheduled visits. Get in touch to arrange a survey and a quote for your next EICR.
Sources
- Electrical inspection and testing
- Test instruments for electrical installations (Electrical Safety First)
FAQ
Is fixed wire testing a legal requirement in the UK?
There is no law that names “fixed wire testing” directly, but the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require dutyholders to maintain electrical systems to prevent danger. Inspection and testing against BS 7671 is the accepted way of demonstrating that duty is being met.
Who pays for an EICR on commercial property?
Responsibility usually falls to whoever controls the electrical installation, typically the business operator or property owner rather than a tenant with no control over the fixed wiring. Lease terms can shift this responsibility, so it is worth checking the specific agreement for the property.
How often does a commercial property need an EICR?
Frequency is risk-based rather than fixed by law, with commercial premises commonly tested periodically at intervals informed by risk, and higher-risk sites reviewed more often. Our guide for landlords facing EICR deadlines sets out how remedial timelines typically follow once a report identifies defects.
What are the regulations regarding electrical testing in the UK?
Electrical testing sits under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, with BS 7671 serving as the technical standard inspectors use to judge safety. Dutyholders must act on dangerous or potentially dangerous findings rather than treating the certificate as the end of the process.
What do the C1, C2 and C3 codes mean on an EICR?
C1 means danger is present and needs urgent action, C2 means the issue is potentially dangerous and needs prompt correction, and C3 is a recommended improvement rather than a failure. An FI code means the inspector needs further investigation before the item can be properly classified.
