What is the electrical inspection condition report (EICR)? This is a formal document that is provided after an assessment of the electrical installation of the building. The assessment should always be carried out by an approved contractor such as an experienced and qualified electrician.
Once the assessment has been completed, an EICR certificate will be provided as evidence that the property has been assessed.
What is an EICR?
It’s important to get an EICR for both domestic and commercial properties. A domestic EICR or commercial EICR/fixed wire testing will let you know whether the electrical installation is in good, safe condition. If you are looking to rent out a property for either domestic or commercial purposes, then an EICR is the easiest way to reassure people that the electrical connections are safe and there is no risk of hazards regarding the electrical system in the property. You should get an EICR carried out in a domestic property once every five years, to check on the deterioration of wires and plugs and ensure that any issues are brought to your attention. Get in touch with Hexo Electrical Testing with any general EICR queries you might have.
Why Do You Need an EICR Certificate?
There are several reasons why you might need to get an EICR assessment and certificate on a property. These include:
Upgrading or Replacing Old Connections
The EICR assessment will provide you with more information on the age of the installation when it comes to the electrical systems inside the building. When electrical components reach a certain age, they will need to be upgraded or replaced for both safety and efficiency purposes. As electrical connections age, they become less efficient. The risk of fire is also increased as electrical connections become worn out over time. The older the wires and connections, the more regularly you should have an EICR carried out.
Reduce Electrical Bills
If the property is dealing with increased electrical bills, then it’s important to find the reason behind this so that you can achieve better energy efficiency and bring the bills down. Getting an EICR will provide you with more information on the efficiency of the electrical system in the home and give you more information on what might be contributing to higher bills. When you get the report, it will include a description of the condition of the property’s electrical connections, along with some potential solutions that you can use to make the connections more efficient.
Avoid Electrical Hazards
Peace of mind for yourself and anybody else who is living in the property, whether it’s a home you own and live in with your family, or a property that you are renting out to domestic or personal tenants, is one of the top reasons for getting the EICR carried out. The EICR is a report that provides you with peace of mind and makes sure that you do not need to worry about the dangers of electrical hazards in the property. If you are renting the property out to tenants, then getting an EICR carried out means that you will have no trouble convincing your tenants that the property is safe for them to live in or run a business from.
Before Maintenance
An EICR report will include a thorough assessment of the electrical installation and provide you with further details on the condition of the electrics in the property. If you want to conduct some maintenance on the property, or it has been a while since any work has been done on the electrical connections, then it’s a good idea to have an EICR carried out before you do any maintenance on the electrical system. This is because, with the EICR report, you will have a more in-depth idea of what needs to be looked out for and what work needs to be carried out in order to ensure that the electrics are safe and in top condition. Ultimately, this can help you save money on maintenance as you won’t waste cash or time doing jobs that might not be necessary.
For Insurance Purposes
Whether you live in the property, run a business from it, or are renting it out to a tenant to live or run their business from, then electrical safety is important when it comes to potential insurance claims. If there is an incident in the property that relates to the electrical system, then your insurance company is likely going to demand to see the EICR report before they pay out. The report will prove to your insurance company that the electrical system in the property is safe.
Whether you have a property that you live in, run a business from, or rent out as a domestic or commercial property, it’s important to have peace of mind regarding your electrical system. Since there are so many hazards, the electrics aren’t something you can take a chance on within a property. The EICR provides you with peace of mind and more information on the property’s electrics.
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