Business owners and landlords must complete EICR tests to keep their employees and tenants safe. In this blog, we’ll explore everything you need to know about EICRs and who is responsible for them when it comes to commercial property.
An EICR is an Electrical Installation Condition Report also referred to as an EICR test or fixed wire testing. This is an assessment that ensures the safety of a property’s occupants. This test must be performed in both residential and commercial properties.
An EICR is used to summarise the safety of the electrical installations within the property. It will also identify any harm, faults or potential decay that may impact the safety of a property.
Without an assessment, electrical maintenance can be neglected leading to faults, fires and electrocution. EICRs will ensure any faults are detected.
Commercial property owners are legally obligated to ensure the safety of electrical installations under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (as amended). Carrying out an EICR assists with ensuring that the property owners comply with their statutory obligations.
Once a Tenant takes occupation of the premises it will usually, as condition of the lease, be the tenant's responsibility.
Qualified engineers must perform an EICR test, to ensure it is completed properly and in line with the law. Once an engineer has been arranged to complete the EICR it is the engineer's responsibility to identify any faults. The responsibilities of a qualified engineer include:
There are a range of legal requirements involved in EICRs for commercial properties, such as:
Business owners and landlords have a duty of care (a legal obligation) to maintain a safe environment for employees and tenants.
All electrical installations within a property must comply with electrical safety regulations. This includes the building's electrical wiring and individual appliances.
It is recommended that inspections are carried out every 5 years for industrial premises and every 3 years for commercial buildings which include offices, shops, and restaurants.
That said, timings will vary depending on factors such as age and condition of the electrical installation.
If an EIRC test is not completed it could mean that the electrics in the property are not maintained correctly and may not be sate. Some consequences include:
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There is no specific law requiring an EICR but obligations are placed on property owners under under various statutes such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which requires employers to make sure their employees are safe and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 which requires that all electrical equipment be maintained safely. These regulations may not explicitly require an EICR but they do require that electrical installations are safe. By obtaining an EICR you will be more likely to demonstrate that a commercial property’s electrical installations have been maintained in a safe condition.
No, however, as referred to above, by obtaining an EICR you will be more likely to demonstrate that a commercial property’s electrical installations have been maintained in a safe condition.