Are my electrics in my home safe?
When it comes to the electrics in your home it is important that they are safe and must protect you should a fault arise. The best way to find out whether the electrical systems in your home is safe and fit for purpose is to ask a qualified registered electrician to carry out a EICR (electrical installation condition report). In the UK, this should take place every 10 years in a domestic property, and every five years if you live in a rented home. A property should also ideally be tested before being sold so that the buyers know the condition of the electrics. Commercial premises require more frequent checks. If it’s been a while since you have had your electrics tested give us a call and we’ll give you a quote. For the relatively small cost, the peace of mind is priceless. Ask for an “electrical installation condition report”.
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Well this is an easy one to start off with EICR stands for Electrical installation condition report.
An EICR is like a MOT for your homes wiring system. It highlights any dangerous situations, anything that could be potentially dangerous, it there are any recommendations to make your homes electrical system safer and if anything needs a closer look.
You will be issued with a full report, giving you a insight into the general health of your homes electrical system and what could be done to make it safer.
When carrying out an EICR, a visual assessment is carried out at first, then a series of electrical tests for which time the powersupply to the home will be turned off, after the inspection and testing has been completed a detailed report will be issued to the customer.
How long a EICR last depends on the overall health of the electrical installation, this can range from a few days all the way up to 10 years
A normal domestic property that is in a good sate of repair should be inspected and tested at a maximum of every 10 years. This is a maximum 5 years if the property is rented out.
A code C1 – means its dangerous, you can touch something which is electrically live and needs fixing now. Code C2 – Its potentially dangerous it might not give you a shock now but it could in the near future, these types of issues need to be fixed before a satisfactory EICR can be issued. Code C3 – is a recommendation or upgrade to make your electrics safer. You are under no obligation to have any of the issues fixed, though it is recommended that corrective action to rectify any C1 and C2s are completed as soon as possible
A property would receive an unsatisfactory report if something is dangerous, potentially dangerous or is something requires further investigation is found.
EICRs can only be carried out by registered electricians with the relevant skills and competencies.
EIC stands for Electrical installation Certificate and is issued when an installation is new, such as a rewire, new circuit or fuseboard upgrade, a EICR is a report on the generanl health of the installation.
You are normally asked to have an EICR carried out when selling a house, at maximum of every 5 years if your property is rented out and its recommended to have an EICR every 10 years if you are a home owner.
Flats/Apartments
1 Bedroom Flat £180, 2 Bedroom Flat £200, 3 Bedroom Flat £220
Maisonettes
2 Bedroom £220, 3 Bedroom £250
Houses
2 Bedroom house £240, 3 Bedroom house £270, 4 Bedroom house £300
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Garages and external buildings are charged at £75 per board plus £20 per circuit e.g. a garage fuse board containing one circuit for the lights and another for some sockets would be charged at £115.