What it is
An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) is issued by the person or company responsible for new electrical work, such as a rewire, a new circuit or a replacement consumer unit. It confirms the work was designed, constructed, inspected and tested in accordance with BS 7671. An EIC can only be issued for work that was inspected and tested as it was installed — it can't be produced retrospectively for an existing installation; for that, you need an EICR. In England, many types of domestic electrical work are also notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations, either through a registered competent person scheme or through building control.
What's included
- Inspection and testing of the new work
- Schedules of inspection and test results
- Building Regulations notification where the work is notifiable and we carried it out
Not included
- Certifying work installed by someone else without testing it
- The installation work itself (quoted separately)
Who needs it
- Anyone having a new circuit, rewire or consumer unit replacement
- New-build and refurbishment projects
- Property owners who need certification for building control or a sale
What you'll receive
Electrical Installation Certificate in the BS 7671 model format, plus a Building Regulations compliance certificate where applicable.
How often
Issued once, when the work is completed.
What the rules say
Each point is labelled so you can tell what's law, what's a British Standard, and what's good practice or comes from your lease, licence or insurer.
- Legal requirementEngland
Notifiable work in homes (Part P)
In England, installing a new circuit, replacing a consumer unit, or adding to or altering circuits in a special location (near a bath, shower, pool or sauna) is notifiable. A registered competent person self-certifies the work and building control is notified within 30 days; otherwise it goes through building control.
Sources: Building Regulations reg 12 (opens external site): Building Regulations 2010, regulation 12 (notifiable electrical work); Building Regulations sch 4 (opens external site): Building Regulations 2010, schedule 4 (special locations); Approved Document P (opens external site): Approved Document P: electrical safety in dwellings
- Technical standardUK (BS 7671)Awaiting professional review
An EIC is issued for new installations and new circuits
BS 7671's model forms include the Electrical Installation Certificate for new installations, new circuits and consumer unit replacements, the Minor Works Certificate for small additions and alterations, and the EICR for the condition of an existing installation.
Before your appointment
- Tell us who designed and installed the work, and whether it was inspected and tested as it was installed.
If something's found
- An EIC can only be issued by those responsible for the design, construction and inspection and testing of the work. We can't certify work we didn't do or see installed; in that case an EICR on the condition of the work is the honest alternative.
What affects the price
- Size and type of the new work
- Whether design and installation are ours
Read more
- EICR, EIC or Minor Works Certificate: which one do you need?
Three documents that are often confused, what each is for, and which one proves remedial work is done.
Questions
What's the difference between an EIC, a Minor Works Certificate and an EICR?
An EIC covers new installations and new circuits. A Minor Works Certificate covers small alterations or additions that don't add a new circuit, such as an extra socket on an existing circuit. An EICR reports on the condition of an existing installation. The first two certify work just done; the EICR reports on what's already there.
Can you certify work someone else did?
We can't issue an EIC for work we didn't install and test. We can inspect and test it and issue an EICR describing its condition, which may help — and building control has its own route for regularising unnotified work.