Periodic Inspections & EICR
A condition report on an existing installation, with the findings explained in plain English and coded honestly — not padded to sell work.
What a periodic inspection actually involves
A periodic inspection is a structured examination and test of an existing installation: the board and protective devices, earthing and bonding, a sampled inspection of accessories and fittings, and dead and live testing — insulation resistance, continuity, polarity, earth loop impedance and RCD operation. It produces a report listing what was inspected, what was tested and what's wrong, with each defect coded by seriousness.
The codes are the part people care about, so here's the plain version. Dangerous means it needs attention now and we'll make it safe on the visit. Potentially dangerous means it needs remedying but isn't live-risk today. Improvement recommended means it isn't dangerous but doesn't meet current standards — think no RCD on an older but sound circuit. A further-investigation item means something needs chasing before it can be signed off either way.
We report what we find and nothing else. If an installation is sound, the report says so — a clean report is a perfectly good outcome and we don't invent items to generate remedial work. Where remedials are needed they're quoted separately so you can compare, and we're happy for you to have someone else do them.
- Board, earthing and bonding inspection with sampled accessory checks
- Full dead and live testing with recorded results
- Every defect coded and explained in plain English
- Remedial work quoted separately, never bundled in
- Written report suitable for landlords, buyers and insurers
Common questions
- How often should an installation be inspected?
- As a general rule around every ten years for an owner-occupied home, five years or change of tenancy for a rental, and shorter intervals for commercial premises. Any installation being bought, let or significantly altered is worth inspecting regardless of date.
- Will the power be off during the inspection?
- Partly. Dead testing needs circuits isolated, so expect the power off in blocks rather than all day. We work around anything critical if you tell us in advance.
- What happens if something dangerous is found?
- We make it safe there and then — usually isolating the affected circuit — and explain what it will take to repair. You're never left with a live danger and a report telling you about it.
- Does a failed report mean a rewire?
- Rarely. Most reports come back with a handful of specific items — a missing bond, a damaged accessory, no RCD on a shower circuit — and those are targeted repairs. A rewire only comes up when the cable itself is at the end of its life.
Need someone today?
Describe the symptom rather than the solution and we'll tell you honestly whether it needs an emergency visit or a booked appointment. Emergency call-outs are prioritised.