It is indeed crucial to ensure the safety of the electrical system in a property is safe for its occupants. To make this safety assessment the EICR has been designed. EICR is the abbreviated form of Electrical Installation Condition Report. It is also popular by other names like fixed wire testing or an EICR test. An EICR ensures safety in both residential and commercial properties alike. The report provides an extensive and clear overview of the safety of electrical installations existing in a property.
Conducting an EICR or evaluation of electrical items proves helpful in detecting any fault, potential wear and tear, or any harm that may affect the people who use, inhabit, occupy, or reside in a building. In absence of proper electrical maintenance and its negligence often lead to different types of electrical faults. These faults pave the way for electrical shocks and fires. To avoid these hazards an assessment of an electrical system must be carried out at regular intervals.
An EICR covers a lot of things including testing of the earth fault loop impedance, the insulation resistance, and continuity of protective conductors. A fixed wire testing or EICR assures the absence of any electrical issue or fault related to aspects like sockets and casings. The test also confirms there is no leakage of electricity either. This testing service is a legal necessity. It demonstrates your property complies with the latest health and safety regulations.
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The responsibility of carrying out an EICR
The entire responsibility of conducting EICR tests rests on the shoulders of business owners and landlords. Employers have to ensure the safety of their employees through practical measures as mentioned in the law and this is mandatory. In the same way, commercial landlords also have a legal duty of care for their tenants. This duty of care involves making sure that the existing electrical system is safe to use before a new tenant moves into the property explains an expert in London who provides electrical safety certificates for commercial premises. To ensure electrics are safe detecting potential hazards and repairing those are unavoidable. Landlords have to get an EICR done or book an EICR test before a tenant moves into a property. Arranging this test is not a tenant’s responsibility.
EICR test – key responsibilities of landlords and business owners
- Ensure the safety and health of tenants or employees
- Before letting tenants it is crucial to ensure all electrics are safe to use
- Promptly arrange repairing of any potential hazard that has been detected
- Book an EICR or conduct one such test before tenants move in
As per the law, an EICR test must be conducted by trained and qualified engineers who are capable of understanding the correct procedures. To maintain compliance with the law a landlord must have his or her property surveyed with an EICR. Once a landlord arranges an EICR it is the responsibility of the engineers assigned to the task to identify potential defects and hazards existing in an electrical system. If the test reveals any issue or potential danger then the landlord also has to arrange the necessary remedial work to ensure the property does not pose a risk for its occupants or tenants in the course of the future.
Responsibilities of electrical engineers who conduct EICR tests
- Stick to the correct procedures while carrying out an EICR
- Identify any potential danger in the electrical installations of a property
- Inform the landlord or the business owner about any issue that was unearthed during the EICR test
Responsibilities of landlords regarding EICR tests
- Ensure the health and safety of one’s tenants or employees
- Before a tenant moves into the property it is important to ensure all electrics in the property are safe to use
- If any potential hazard comes out in the test then it has to be repaired or fixed promptly
EICR for commercial properties – about legal requirements and obligations
As far as commercial properties are concerned, who is responsible for arranging an EICR? This question is highly relevant as there is a lot of confusion about this. As per the health and safety regulations, the responsibility of electrical installation condition reports for commercial premises lies with commercial landlords and business owners. It is their sole responsibility to ensure electrical installations on their property are safe to use.
Duty of care and EICR
As far as EICR is concerned, the duty of care is legally binding. Under it, landlords and business owners have to maintain a safe environment for their tenants and employees respectively. To maintain a safe environment it is important to ensure all electrical installations are safe to use and are in sound working condition. And obviously, if any issue or hazard is detected then that must be promptly repaired.
Duty of care – the key points
- Before letting a property to a tenant it is important to ensure all electrical installations are safe to use.
- If any hazard or potential issue is detected then that must be promptly fixed without any unnecessary delay.
- It is important to maintain a safe environment for tenants and employees.
About Electrical Safety Regulations
Electrical safety regulations authorize that every electrical installation in a property must be in sound condition as well as fit and safe for use. Electrical tradesmen working at the Commercial Electrician London explain this includes everything ranging from wiring to individual electrical appliances. Properties must be surveyed with an EICR to comply with these regulations before a tenant moves in.
Electrical Safety Regulations – key points
- An EICR must be conducted in a property before a tenant is allowed to move into it.
- Every electrical installation in the property must be working fine and safe for use.
- The electrical installations must be regularly inspected at routine intervals.
Legal obligation to carry out regular inspections – key points
- Properties must be inspected regularly as a legal requirement.
- The inspection and test must be carried out by a qualified engineer.
- The gap between two successive inspections varies depending on the type of property concerned.
When you neglect your EICR responsibilities
As a landlord or a business owner, if you neglect your responsibility with an EICR then that can put you in a difficult situation. Under the Housing Act 2004, you may be legally penalized up to £30,000 per offense. This is confirmed by a trained professional who provides commercial electrical safety certificates. There can be more financial losses as well. There could be an electrical fire to damage your property. Even in the absence of a fire the repairing cost can be substantial. Moreover, there remains a constant threat to the lives and well-being of your tenants or employees when you skip getting an EICR done on your property for too long.
