What the EICR codes mean: C1, C2, C3 and FI

An Electrical Installation Condition Report tells you whether the wiring in a property is safe to keep using. It does not tell you whether it looks tidy.

By Joseph Lawrence · 18th Edition (BS 7671) · 4 min read

Multifunction tester and test schedule beside an open consumer unit

What is an EICR?

A full inspection and test of a property's fixed wiring, with a written report. Each issue found is coded by how urgent it is. Most electrical faults are hidden behind a faceplate or inside a wall, which is why the report is built on test readings rather than appearance.

What the codes mean

C1: Danger present, needs fixing straight away.
C2: Potentially dangerous, needs fixing soon.
C3: Improvement recommended. Advice, not a fail.
FI: Further investigation needed.

A report with any C1, C2 or FI is unsatisfactory until the work is done. A C3 on its own is advice, not a fail.

Electrics can look fine and still not be safe.

How long it takes

Usually two to four hours for an average house. The power is off for parts of the test. Some faceplates and fittings are opened to inspect them and put back.

Who needs one

Landlords, by law, at least every five years and at every new tenancy if the last report has expired. Homeowners when buying, selling, or if the wiring has not been checked in about ten years.