When you receive an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), each fault or observation found during the inspection is assigned a code. These codes indicate the severity of the issue and what action you need to take. Understanding what each code means will help you make sense of the report and respond appropriately.
Danger Present
Immediate action required
A C1 code means there is a real and present risk of injury. The installation has a dangerous condition that requires immediate action. A C1 code automatically results in an Unsatisfactory EICR. If a landlord, you must not allow tenants to occupy the property until C1 observations are rectified and a satisfactory certificate is issued.
Common C1 examples: Exposed live conductors, missing earth connections on metal fixtures, severe overheating damage.
Potentially Dangerous
Urgent remedial action required
A C2 code means the installation could become dangerous. It is not immediately causing harm, but there is potential for injury under certain conditions. C2 observations also result in an Unsatisfactory EICR and require remedial work. For landlords, the statutory 28-day window applies from the date of the report.
Common C2 examples: Missing RCD protection, inadequate earthing, wiring that doesn't meet current standards and poses a risk of shock or fire.
Improvement Recommended
Action recommended but not urgent
A C3 code means the inspector has found something that doesn't meet current standards but is not considered dangerous. The EICR can still be issued as Satisfactory if there are only C3 observations. However, C3 items are improvements that should be attended to eventually — particularly when upgrading or altering the installation.
Common C3 examples: Old but serviceable wiring that doesn't comply with current colour codes, sockets that lack surge protection, single-pole switches on neutral conductors.
Further Investigation Required
Cannot be resolved during the inspection
An FI code means the inspector found something that requires further investigation before a final assessment can be made — for example, a wiring section that is concealed and inaccessible, or an intermittent fault that couldn't be reproduced during testing. FI observations result in an Unsatisfactory EICR until the investigation is completed.
Common FI examples: Inaccessible wiring runs, suspected concealed junction boxes, intermittent circuit failures.
No. A C3 code on its own does not make the EICR Unsatisfactory. If the report contains only C3 observations, it can still be issued with a Satisfactory outcome. C1, C2 and FI observations all result in an Unsatisfactory report.
If the EICR is Unsatisfactory due to C1 or C2 observations, the remedial works need to be completed and a Minor Works Certificate or new EICR issued to confirm the work is done. For landlords, the 28-day statutory window runs from the date of the original report. We quote for all remedial works identified in our reports before any work begins.
Need an EICR in Eltham?
We carry out EICR testing across Eltham SE9, Greenwich, Lewisham and surrounding areas. Same-day reports issued digitally.
Related Guides