Commercial EICR Testing & Electrical Compliance

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require every employer to ensure that electrical systems in their workplace are maintained in a safe condition. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is the standard way to demonstrate that you have fulfilled this duty of care. It provides documented evidence that your electrical installation has been inspected and tested by a qualified person, and records its condition at the time of the inspection.

Beyond the legal requirement, an EICR protects your business in practical ways. If there is an electrical incident, a fire, an electric shock, or a near-miss, your insurer and the HSE will ask for evidence of regular inspection and maintenance. A current EICR demonstrates that you have been proactive about electrical safety. An absent or expired EICR suggests you have not.

Recommended Inspection Intervals

The IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) recommend the following maximum intervals between EICRs for commercial premises:

• Commercial offices and shops: every 5 years
• Industrial and manufacturing premises: every 3 years
• Cinemas, restaurants, and hospitality venues: every 3 years
• Leisure centres and swimming pools: every 1 year
• Petrol stations and places of public entertainment: every 1 year
• Agricultural installations: every 3 years
• Change of use or change of occupancy: at every change

These are maximum intervals. If the previous EICR specified an earlier re-inspection date based on the condition of the installation, that earlier date takes precedence.

What the Inspection Covers

A commercial EICR is more extensive than a domestic one. We inspect and test main switchgear, sub-distribution boards, every circuit, socket outlets, fixed equipment connections, emergency lighting circuits, fire alarm circuits, external installations, and earthing and bonding arrangements. For larger installations, the inspection may take several days and may need to be carried out in stages to avoid disrupting your operations.

Minimising Business Disruption

We understand that shutting down power in a commercial premises has a direct impact on your business. We plan our EICR inspections to minimise disruption, testing can often be carried out with the power on using non-invasive methods, and where circuits need to be isolated for testing, we schedule those tests outside working hours or during quiet periods. We will discuss the logistics with you before we start and agree on a testing schedule that works for your operations.