Fixed Wire Testing (EICR): Your Legal Responsibilities and Best Practice Guide
Why Fixed Wire Testing Matters
Fixed Wire Testing (EICR) is part of our Compliance Education Series.
Electrical systems in commercial buildings deteriorate over time. Loose connections, overloaded circuits, and ageing cabling can create serious safety hazards if left unchecked. Typical commercial cable life expectancy is 25–40 years, but high-stress environments shorten this dramatically.
Overloading circuits or poor ventilation in conduits can cause cables to overheat. Continuous exposure to elevated temperatures accelerates insulation breakdown and hardening. Cables exposed to sunlight (UV radiation), cleaning chemicals, oils, or corrosive fumes (e.g., in industrial settings) can have their insulation gradually degraded
Fixed Wire Testing EICR inspections ensure your electrical installations remain safe, compliant, and capable of supporting your business operations without risk of fire, injury, or legal liability.
For facilities managers, maintaining an up-to-date Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a legal and moral duty. It protects your staff, your property, and your business continuity — and it’s one of the most important areas of statutory compliance under UK law.
What Is Fixed Wire Testing (EICR)?
Fixed Wire Testing is a comprehensive inspection and testing process that checks the safety and integrity of all electrical installations within a building. This includes:
- Main panels and distribution boards
- Circuits, sockets and lighting
- Fixed plant and equipment connections
- Protective devices and earthing arrangements
An EICR identifies any damage, deterioration, defects, or non-compliance with the current BS 7671 Wiring Regulations (also known as the IET Wiring Regulations).
After testing, a formal report is issued detailing the condition of the installation and any remedial actions required to bring it back to compliance.
For official guidance, see the IET Electrical Installation Condition Reporting Guide
The Legal Framework for Electrical Safety
There is no single law that explicitly names Fixed Wire Testing or EICR, but several UK regulations make it a legal obligation to maintain electrical safety in the workplace:
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 – Regulation 4(2) requires electrical systems to be maintained to prevent danger.
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 – Employers must ensure the safety of employees and others affected by their work.
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – Requires risk assessments and appropriate maintenance systems.
- The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 – Mandates that electrical installations are kept in good order and working condition.
In practice, the EICR is the accepted industry standard for evidencing compliance with these duties.
You can review the Electricity at Work Regulations directly on the UK Government Legislation website.
How Often Should Fixed Wire Testing Be Carried Out?
The frequency of Fixed Wire Testing EICR depends on your building type, usage, and environmental conditions. The general guidance is:
- Commercial properties: every 5 years or at change of occupancy
- Industrial installations: every 3 years or at change of occupancy
- Offices, retail, and public buildings: every 5 years or at change of occupancy
- Construction sites: every 3 months
- Hotels and leisure facilities: every 1–3 years or at change of occupancy
It is also important to note that, in addition to EICR fixed wire testing, any RCD/RCBO/AFDDs within the building require 3-monthly testing, unless installed after 31st December 2018.
For full details, refer to the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671)
Understanding EICR Codes and Outcomes
The Electrical Installation Condition Report classifies findings using standard codes to prioritise corrective actions:
- C1 – Danger Present: Immediate risk of injury; must be rectified urgently.
- C2 – Potentially Dangerous: Urgent remedial action required.
- C3 – Improvement Recommended: Not immediately dangerous, but not compliant with current standards.
- FI – Further Investigation: Required without delay to confirm safety.
A satisfactory EICR will have no C1 or C2 issues outstanding.
Who Can Carry Out an EICR?
Only qualified and competent electrical engineers should conduct Fixed Wire Testing.
- The law doesn’t prescribe a specific licence or certification exclusively for EICRs, but emphasises that the person must be competent.
- “Competent” means they have the necessary education, training, practical skills and experience for the specific electrical inspection/testing involved. IET Electrical Excellence
- In practice, this means an electrician (or electrical contractor) who holds relevant inspection/testing qualifications (e.g., a Level 3 Award in Inspection & Testing or City & Guilds 2391/2392) and has experience in inspecting installations.
- It’s strongly advisable (though not legally mandated in every case) that they belong to a recognised competent-person scheme (for example NICEIC, NAPIT) or are on a register of competent persons.
You can verify competence via the Electrical Competent Person Register.
*IMPORTANT NOTICE*
There are changes under Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) coming into effect October 2026 that will impact the criteria for who can perform a Fixed Wire Test (EICR) under NICEIC.
From October 2026 all employed persons undertaking Fixed Wire Testing (EICR) and Qualified Supervisors (QS) responsible for it need to:
- Have evidence of at least two years’ experience in periodic inspection and testing
- Hold the relevant acceptable qualifications
- Have evidence of ongoing continuing professional development (CPD)
Best Practice for Facilities Managers
- Maintain accurate records: Keep copies of all EICRs, certificates, and remedial completion notes.
- Schedule proactively: Build Fixed Wire Testing into your planned maintenance programme to avoid last-minute disruptions.
- Rectify C1 and C2 issues immediately: Failure to do so may invalidate insurance and expose you to prosecution.
- Integrate with other compliance checks: Combine with PAT, emergency lighting, and fire alarm testing for efficiency.
- Communicate findings: Ensure all stakeholders, including senior management and tenants, understand key outcomes.
The Risks of Non-Compliance
Ignoring your Fixed Wire Testing EICR responsibilities can lead to:
- Electrical fires and serious injury
- Enforcement notices from the HSE
- Invalidated insurance policies
- Business disruption and costly downtime
- Reputational damage if incidents occur
The average cost of an electrical fire in a UK commercial property exceeds £25,000 – and that’s before accounting for downtime and reputational loss.
ICH Services can provide:
NICEIC-accredited engineers to carry out EICR Fixed Wire Testing nationwide, ensuring your sites remain safe, compliant, and fully documented. We use digital reporting tools to give you full visibility and cloud storage of results and evidence of remedial works, helping you demonstrate compliance effortlessly.
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