Everything you need to know about Electrical Installation Certificates
In this guide, we will explain everything you need to know about electrical installation certificates.
What is an Electrical Installation Certificate?
Electrical installation certificates are a form of test certificate generated by a qualified and competent electrician or another competent person that is legally required to demonstrate that the electrical installation, wiring, and fuses are compliant with the BS 7671 standards.
Why do you need an electrical installation certificate?
An Electrical Safety Certificate is issued after an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) has been carried out on a property. A valid Electrical Safety Certificate or EICR certificate needs to be kept up to date, with new inspections mandatory every 5 years for domestic properties and every 3 years for industrial/commercial properties.
Electrical Installation Certificates aren't the only required documentation, they also go hand in hand with the Building Regulations Approval Document named Part P. Part P regulations were introduced to the Building Regulations to ensure the safety of electrical work, to prevent the risk of fires and/or deaths caused by unfit electrical compliance in-home or investment properties.
What is notifiable work?
Notifiable work is a type of electrical work that must be reported using one of the Government Self-Certified Schemes. These schemes give permission to electricians to certify that their work is completely compliant with Part P standards. If you are not a qualified and competent person, you will need to submit plans or notify a Building Control Body (BCB).
‘Notifiable’ work includes the following circumstances:
The installation of a new circuit, part or full rewire
Alteration or addition to an existing circuit
Replacement of a fusebox
Why is an Electrical Safety Certificate so important?
It is a landlord’s or business owners duty to keep their properties/workplaces safe and having an Electrical Safety Certificate is a big part of this.
Electrical faults are a serious concern as they can result in fires putting lives at risk. If electrical installations are not regularly inspected and compliant, this risk of a major incident is greatly increased.
How do you get an Electrical Installation Certificate?
The only way to get an Electrical Installation Certificate is from registered electricians. They must check the new or existing installation or any work that affects the electrical circuits, otherwise, the electrical certificate will not be accepted by Estate agents, insurance providers, or councils.
The different types of Electrical Installation Certificate
It is important to remember that the certificate will vary depending on the type of installation or inspection that needs to be completed. There are two main types of electrical certification, these include EICs also known as Electrical Installation Certificates, and MEIWCs which stands for Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificates.
The EIC certificate tells us the condition of the installation at the time of the inspection whether that is satisfactory or unsatisfactory. If the electrician believes the installation is classed as satisfactory, they should list all of the potential improvements for it to reach the satisfactory requirements. The codes to support these observations are as follows:
Unsatisfactory Codes include:
C1 – Danger present, risk of injury, immediate remedial action required
C2 – Potentially Dangerous, urgent remedial action required
FI – Further investigation required
A Satisfactory Code is:
C3 – Improvement recommended
If the certificate contains any of the unsatisfactory codes listed above action must be taken by the electrician to take temporary action to ensure the installation is safe.
Electrical Certificates for Landlords
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 1 June 2020. These regulations are applicable to all tenancies created on or after that date in England from 1 July 2020 and can be viewed in full here.
By law, landlords must have all their new electrical installations inspected at least every 5 years by an electrician. In addition to this, Landlords must be able to provide a copy of the electrical installation condition report for the rental property to their local authorities or tenants. NAPIT has created these guidelines that every landlord must comply with;
Following an inspection, a private landlord must:
Obtain a report from the person conducting that inspection and test, which gives the results of the inspection and test and the date of the next inspection and test
Supply a copy of that report to each existing tenant of the residential premises within 28 days of the inspection and test
Supply a copy of that report to the local housing authority within 7 days of receiving a request in writing for it from that authority
Retain a copy of that report until the next inspection and test is due and supply a copy to the person carrying out the next inspection and test
Supply a copy of the most recent report to any new tenant of the specified tenancy to which the report relates before that tenant occupies those premises; and any prospective tenant within 28 days of receiving a request in writing for it from that prospective tenant
What to do if you have an unsatisfactory report?
If the Electrical Installation Condition Report lists improvement or “further investigation’, this electrical installation work must be carried out by a registered electrician within 28 days unless stated otherwise.
The landlord must then:
Obtain written confirmation from a qualified person that further investigative or remedial work has been carried out and that the electrical safety standards are met, or that further investigative or remedial work is required
Supply that written confirmation, together with a copy of the report which required the further investigative or remedial work to each existing tenant of the residential premises within 28 days of completion of the further investigative or remedial work, and also to the local authorities within 28 days of completion of the further investigative or remedial work
What happens if you do not act upon an unsatisfactory Electrical Safety Report?
Landlords can be fined up to £30,000 by their local authority if they do not meet the legal requirements. The local authority can also give the landlord a remedial notice and with the permission of the tenant can carry out remedial work. If action is not taken within 28 days, the local authority then has the right to recover costs from the landlord.
What happens if a claim is made?
In the case of an electrical fire or personal injury, believed to be the result of unsafe electrical work, the Electrical Installation Certificate will be used as evidence against the claim. The Electrical Installation Certificate can also explain where any further electrical testing or action needs to be taken in the future which can be expensive.
The importance of an Electrical Safety Certificate
In conclusion, the Electrical Safety Certificate firstly proves that the new installations have been fitted in a condition that is compliant with the required standards. Secondly, regular testing every 3/5 years must be undertaken to ensure the installation continues to meet these requirements. It is extremely important these regulations are followed to minimise the risk of faults, electrical fires, or injuries.
If you are looking for an Electrical Installation Certification or for more information, get in touch with a member of our expert team today.