An EICR is not a visual once-over. It is a structured conformance check against BS 7671:2018 Amendment 4 (April 2026), backed by IET Guidance Note 3 (Inspection & Testing), conducted by an inspector who personally signs the result under their certification body enrolment. The inspection has three distinct phases — visual, dead testing, live testing — each with its own instrumentation, methodology and documented evidence trail.
The visual phase verifies that the installation is suitable for continued use: condition of accessories, cable routes, earthing arrangement, consumer unit labelling, special locations such as bathrooms and kitchens. The dead testing phase is performed with the supply isolated — insulation resistance and earth continuity readings at the consumer unit and along each circuit. The live testing phase brings the supply back to measure Zs (earth fault loop impedance), RCD trip times, and confirm polarity at energised accessories.
Most domestic and small-commercial EICRs are performed under sampling per IET Guidance Note 3: typically 100% of the circuits at the consumer unit, plus a representative sample (10–20%) of the accessories on each circuit. HMO, three-phase commercial and high-risk environments are usually 100% tested both at the board and at every accessible accessory. The cover page of the certificate records the sample percentage and the limitations of the inspection — both regulated fields.
Why Electrician London
BS 7671:2018 + A4:2026 testing
Full awareness of the April 2026 Amendment 4 — Type A RCD requirements, AFDD considerations, SPD installation and the updated coding guidance from Best Practice Guide 4.
Sample versus 100% transparency
The cover page records exactly what was tested and what was sampled. No hidden methodology — if we sampled 12 of 18 sockets on a ring circuit, the certificate says so.
Photo evidence per finding
Every C1, C2 and FI carries a photograph on the digital certificate. Useful for the landlord, decisive for the council, indispensable when handing over to the remedial engineer.
Walk-through before we leave
A 10–15 minute verbal report at the end of the visit — what was found, what passes, what needs remedying, when the certificate will land in your inbox. No surprises.
EICR inspection pricing
Same pricing whether sampled or 100%-tested — methodology is set by the installation, not the price.
1–2 bedroom
£89.99
3–4 bedroom
£99.99
5 bedroom
£110.99
6+ bedroom or multiple fuse boards
Larger properties or installations with multiple consumer units
Call for best price
EICR + CP12 + EPC landlord bundle
One visit, one report pack, one renewal date
Save 10–15%
What an EICR inspection covers
- Visual inspection of every accessible accessory and circuit
- Dead testing — supply isolated
- Live testing — supply restored under controlled conditions
- Insulation resistance (IR) per circuit, both lives and live-to-earth
- Earth continuity (R1+R2) per circuit
- Polarity confirmation at every accessible accessory sampled
- RCD trip time at IΔn and 5×IΔn, trip current at IΔn
- Earth fault loop impedance (Zs) at the consumer unit and accessories
- Photo documentation of every C1, C2 and FI finding
- Certificate lodgement on the NICEIC online registry
The 6 stages of an EICR inspection
- 1
Booking and access
Quote agreed on the call, slot confirmed by SMS. Inspector arrives with NICEIC ID, test instrument calibration certificates and PPE. Initial conversation: consumer unit location, any known faults, tenant or occupant access.
- 2
Dead testing — IR and continuity
Supply isolated at the meter or main switch. Insulation resistance test between live and earth on each circuit (≥1 MΩ pass, ≥1000 MΩ healthy). Earth continuity (R1+R2) measured from the consumer unit to the furthest accessory on each circuit.
- 3
Live testing — Zs and RCD trip
Supply restored. Earth fault loop impedance (Zs) measured at the consumer unit and at representative accessories on every circuit. RCD trip time (≤300 ms at IΔn, ≤40 ms at 5×IΔn) and trip current (≥50% IΔn) measured on every protective device.
- 4
Coding and sample documentation
Each observation coded C1, C2, C3 or FI against BS 7671 and Best Practice Guide 4. Sample percentages recorded on the cover page. Photos taken of every coded item for the digital certificate.
- 5
Report generation
Schedule of inspections, schedule of test results and cover page populated in our certification software. NICEIC online registry submission. Digital PDF rendered for the client.
- 6
Walk-through and delivery
10–15 minute verbal walkthrough on-site, plain-English summary of findings and any remedial recommendations. Digital certificate emailed before we leave the postcode. Pay-on-receipt — no upfront payment.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an EICR inspection take?
A 1–2 bedroom flat takes 90 minutes typical. A 3-bedroom house 2–3 hours. A 5-bedroom HMO or property with multiple consumer units 4–6 hours. The variation is driven by the number of circuits and accessories, not the floor area — a heavily-circuited 2-bed flat can take longer than a single-circuit studio.
Will the power be off during the inspection?
For 60–90 minutes typically, during the dead testing phase. We coordinate around your day — IT-critical home offices, freezers, fridge-freezers, medical equipment. Live testing follows with the supply restored; visual inspection happens throughout. Most occupants notice only the dead-testing window.
What if I have a pet or vulnerable occupant?
No problem — we work around pets and vulnerable occupants every day. Cats and dogs are kept in one room while we move through the installation; medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators or stairlifts is given priority isolation windows. Tell us at booking and we plan around it.
Can I be present during the inspection?
Yes — most homeowners and landlords prefer to be present, particularly for the walk-through at the end. We don't need supervision while testing but we welcome questions throughout. For let property, the inspection can run with the tenant in residence or during a void — both arrangements are routine.
What if you find a fault during the inspection?
Documented on the schedule of inspections, photographed, coded against BS 7671. We never quietly remedy mid-inspection — that would undermine the audit trail. After the certificate is issued we quote any C1, C2 or FI remedial separately, with the option to dispatch the same engineer within 24–48 hours.
How is the sample percentage decided?
IET Guidance Note 3 sets the framework. Domestic and small commercial installations: 100% at the consumer unit, 10–20% sample of accessories per circuit, with the sample weighted toward accessories most likely to be defective (high-use sockets, bathroom and kitchen accessories, outdoor sockets). HMO and high-risk environments: 100% across both board and accessories.
Do you need attic, loft or cupboard access?
Yes — wherever cable routes pass through. Loft access for first-floor lighting circuits and any junction boxes routed through the loft. Under-stair cupboard for the consumer unit. Kitchen units for the ring circuit. If access is restricted we record the limitation on the cover page rather than guess — that's what the 'extent and limitations' field is for.
What about hidden cable runs we cannot see?
Concealed cable routes are inferred from the test data — insulation resistance, continuity and Zs readings tell us whether a buried cable is healthy without lifting plaster. Where readings are anomalous we issue an FI (further investigation) code, and the follow-up is a targeted intrusive inspection rather than ripping out finishes blindly.
Related services
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