Safety2026-05-227 min read

What Happens During an EICR Inspection: A Homeowner's Complete Guide

An Electrical Installation Condition Report — known as an EICR — is a comprehensive inspection of your property's fixed electrical installation. For homeowners, it is recommended every 10 years. For landlords, it is a legal requirement every 5 years. But many people feel uncertain about what actually happens during an EICR and what the results mean. This guide explains the entire process from start to finish.

The inspection begins with a visual assessment. Your electrician will examine the consumer unit, looking for signs of damage, overheating, or water ingress. They will check that all circuit breakers are correctly rated, that the enclosure is compliant, and that the unit is properly labelled. The visual inspection also covers accessible parts of the wiring including socket outlets, light switches, and junction boxes.

Next comes the testing phase. Your electrician uses professional multifunction test equipment to carry out a series of electrical tests. These include continuity of earthing and bonding conductors, insulation resistance testing, polarity checks at every point, and RCD functionality and trip time verification. Loop impedance testing is also carried out to verify that protective devices will operate correctly in a fault condition.

The results of these tests are recorded and classified using three codes. C1 means danger present — immediate action is required. C2 means potentially dangerous — remedial work must be carried out within 28 days. C3 means improvement recommended — the installation is not dangerous but could be improved. An unsatisfactory report contains one or more C1 or C2 codes.

The time an EICR takes depends on the size of the property and the number of circuits. A typical 3-bedroom home with 8-10 circuits takes 3 to 4 hours. Larger properties or older installations with more circuits may take longer. Someone needs to be present to provide access, and the power will be turned off for periods during the testing.

At DM Electrical Installations, we carry out EICR inspections across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire. We provide clear, detailed reports in plain English, not technical jargon. If your report is unsatisfactory, we can carry out all required remedial work and issue a satisfactory certificate. For landlords, we manage EICR schedules across multiple properties, sending reminders before renewal dates and ensuring you never miss a deadline. Book your EICR with us today for peace of mind and complete legal compliance.

Local Information for Safety

An EICR inspection in Derby DE1, Nottingham NG1, or Chesterfield S40 begins with a thorough visual assessment of your consumer unit, wiring, and accessories. Your electrician checks for signs of damage, overheating, water ingress, and incorrect labelling before any testing begins.

During the testing phase, we use professional multifunction test equipment to check continuity of earthing, insulation resistance, polarity at every point, and RCD trip times. For properties in Mansfield NG18, Heanor DE75, and Arnold NG5, this typically takes 3 to 4 hours.

After the EICR, we explain every code in plain English. C1 means danger present and requires immediate action. C2 means potentially dangerous and must be remedied within 28 days. C3 is an improvement recommendation. We carry out all remedial work for homeowners and landlords across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.