What it is
Industrial installations work harder than most and see more change: new machinery, extensions, harsher environments. We plan inspection and testing around production, agree isolation windows, and report on distribution boards, sub-mains and final circuits feeding fixed equipment. Larger sites can be split into a rolling programme so the whole installation is covered over an agreed cycle. Observations are coded C1 (danger present), C2 (potentially dangerous), C3 (improvement recommended) or FI (further investigation advised). A C1 or C2 makes the report unsatisfactory. On reports made to the 2026 edition of the wiring regulations (BS 7671 Amendment 4), C3 and FI don't change the overall result; on older reports an FI also made it unsatisfactory.
What's included
- Site survey and inspection plan
- Three-phase distribution and sub-main testing
- Final circuits supplying fixed machinery
- Out-of-hours working where needed
- Rolling programme option for large sites
Not included
- Machine-internal control wiring
- Remedial work
- Specialist systems unless agreed in the quote
Who needs it
- Factories, warehouses and workshops
- Duty holders under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
- Sites required to provide evidence to insurers or auditors
What you'll receive
EICR in the BS 7671 model format, with an executive summary and prioritised findings.
How often
Set by risk and condition. Industry guidance (IET Guidance Note 3) is commonly quoted as up to 3 years for industrial installations, and shorter for harsh or high-risk environments.
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 requirementGreat Britain
Workplace systems must be maintained to prevent danger
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical systems at work to be maintained, so far as reasonably practicable, to prevent danger. They don't set a fixed inspection interval: how often depends on the type of installation, its use and condition.
Sources: Electricity at Work Regulations (opens external site): Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, regulation 4; HSE maintenance guidance (opens external site): Electrical safety: maintenance
- Recommended practiceGreat Britain
Keep records that show the system is maintained
The Electricity at Work Regulations require systems to be maintained; records of inspections, tests and repairs are how duty holders show it to insurers, auditors and enforcing authorities. HSE's guidance on maintenance explains a risk-based approach.
Sources: Electricity at Work Regulations (opens external site): Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, regulation 4; HSE maintenance guidance (opens external site): Electrical safety: maintenance
- Lease, licence or insurerVaries
Your insurer or lease may set an interval
Commercial leases, insurers and some licensing bodies may require periodic EICRs at a set interval. Check your documents: these are contractual duties, not general law.
- Technical standardUK (BS 7671)
What makes a report unsatisfactory
C1 (danger present) and C2 (potentially dangerous) make the overall result unsatisfactory. On reports issued to BS 7671 Amendment 4 (2026), C3 (improvement recommended) and FI (further investigation advised) don't affect the overall result. Older reports used 'further investigation required without delay', and an FI made them unsatisfactory.
Sources: IET model EICR form (opens external site): BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 model Electrical Installation Condition Report form; IET Wiring Matters (opens external site): Further investigation (Wiring Matters, issue 110, July 2026); IET (current BS 7671) (opens external site): Ensure you are up to date with BS 7671
Before your appointment
- Agree isolation windows or planned shutdowns, and list any machinery that mustn't lose power without warning.
- Share single-line diagrams, distribution board schedules and the previous EICR.
- Tell us about permits to work, site inductions and PPE rules before the visit.
If something's found
- Findings are prioritised in an executive summary for duty holders, with C1 and C2 items first.
- Anything dangerous is reported to you straight away, with options to make it safe.
- Further work is quoted before we do it, so nothing is added to your bill without your agreement.
- Completed work is certified, and notified to building control where the law requires it.
What affects the price
- Size of the site and number of distribution boards
- Shutdown and out-of-hours working
- Access equipment for high-level containment
- Rolling programme versus a single visit
Read more
- Commercial electrical compliance: a practical checklist
The inspections and records most commercial premises need, which are law, which are British Standards, and which come from your lease or insurer.
- EICR codes explained: C1, C2, C3 and FI (updated for 2026)
What each code means, which ones fail a report under the 2026 rules, and what landlords must do about each.
Questions
Can testing be done without stopping production?
Usually in stages. We agree isolation windows in advance and can work evenings, weekends or during planned shutdowns.