All homes need an electrical-installation condition report (EICR) – does yours have one?
Did you know that according to Government statistics around 4 people a day are injured or killed in fires related to electrical faults?
Every home should have a regular EICR check to ensure your electrics are safe.
This is where RC Electrical can help. Whether you’re a landlord or homeowner, have a read about what these reports are all about and give us a call to book an appointment.
What is an EICR?
An EICR is the safety certificate and report that an electrician supplies following an inspection of your property.
The EICR is a fully comprehensive check of the fixed wiring in your property. It’s basically a check of your electrics to establish whether they’re safe and compliant with the regulations, and more importantly to identify any potential safety issues.
It’s about checking the underlying electrical system – the bits you can’t see that could be a risk.
Checks include making sure your fuse board is safe and compliant with the current regulations – this means whether it has the necessary circuit breakers and RCD protection. (Residual current devices are designed to prevent you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live.)
Other checks designed to prevent fatal electric shocks include ensuring that everything is correctly earthed. We will check this on your gas-meter pipework, water pipework, radiators and all the metal in the building.
A sample (at least 10%) of your sockets, lights, switches and accessories will be checked to see that the wiring is installed correctly.
We make an appointment to visit your property and make a visual assessment. We then carry out a series of checks on your electrical systems. If there are any ‘code one’ problems, (problems that are immediately dangerous) we will fix those there and then or at least make them safe. Then we’ll note any other ‘code two’ problems and provide a quote to fix them at the end of the process, along with any ‘code threes’, which are recommendations not deemed unsafe.
The report consists of a seven-page report. We will provide you with a copy, and arrange a second appointment if any additional work is required.
How often do I need this report?
Electrical Safety First recommends getting an EICR done every 10 years in a private property. Landlords are encouraged to get a new EICR each time they change their tenants, or every five years, whichever is sooner. If you fail to check and maintain your electrical systems, insurance companies can use this as a reason to refuse claims if they’re a result of electrical faults.
Not enough people are aware of these checks. It’s always essential to stay safe with anything to do with electricity.
For further information on these reports and what RC Electrical can do to assist you please give Ryan a call on 07813 195943.