At a glance
- Installation certificate and applicable schedules
- Circuit labels matching the records
- Retained work and exclusions identified
- Specialist commissioning documents where included
- Outstanding items and maintenance contact
Distinguish assessment from installation certification
An Electrical Installation Condition Report records the findings of an inspection of an existing installation. It helps identify condition and observations within the agreed inspection scope. An Electrical Installation Certificate documents new installation work and relevant additions or alterations. The documents serve different purposes; an old EICR does not certify a newly completed rewire.
Agree the scope that the certificate will cover
Ask the quotation to define the new work, the existing parts being retained and any separate systems outside the contract. The installation certificate and schedules should correspond with the work actually undertaken. Where different contractors take responsibility for design, construction and inspection or testing, that responsibility needs to be clear. Do not assume one contractor’s document covers unrelated work carried out by someone else.
Make circuit identification usable
Labels should help the people operating and maintaining the premises understand the installation. Agree how rooms, equipment and distribution points are named, particularly where several areas have similar descriptions. Keep circuit schedules with the electrical records. A document is more useful when the labels in the building and the names on the plan refer to the same places.
Keep specialist systems distinct
Fire alarms, emergency lighting, security, data networks and machinery may have separate commissioning or maintenance documentation. Identify who is responsible for each system before the job starts. A rewire of general power and lighting does not automatically include a full review or commissioning of every connected specialist system. Arrange the appropriate specialist input where needed.
Use a written completion review
Walk through the agreed scope with the project contact. Record any outstanding items, explain controls and identify limitations or work excluded from the quotation. Confirm who receives electronic or paper documents. If a phase returns to use before the whole project finishes, the contractor needs to establish the appropriate testing and record arrangements for that phase; do not substitute an informal verbal assurance.
Plan maintenance after the project
Keep the new records accessible to the person responsible for the premises and make them available for later alterations or inspections. HSE advises that electrical installations should be inspected and tested often enough to prevent deterioration leading to danger. The appropriate arrangements depend on the installation and its use; a single interval should not be advertised as universally suitable for every commercial building.
What to request in your quotation
Ask Essex Home Electricians to identify the installation, testing and handover scope for your premises. Send the postcode, current reports, proposed changes and any document requirements from your building manager or insurer. We can discuss what applies to the electrical work and which requirements need a separate specialist. Keep business restart checks alongside the electrical handover so reopening is properly coordinated.
Is an EICR the certificate for a new rewire?
No. An EICR reports on the condition of an existing installation. New rewiring work requires appropriate installation certification with the relevant schedules; separate specialist systems may have their own documents.
Useful next steps
Further reading
HSE: electrical safety questions for workplaces. IET: electrical installation certificates and report forms. These resources explain the wider safety and documentation context; the work for your premises is assessed individually.