If you’re running a business then commercial EICR inspections are a necessity. Today we’ve put together a quick guide to help explain what they are and how often they should be carried out.
What is an EICR Inspection?
The term EICR refers to an electrical installation condition report and is a vitally important inspection that businesses need to have carried out regularly. An EICR ensures that your electrical circuits have all been tested for potential danger/damage, minimising the dangers of electrical accidents/fires. They must be carried out by professional electricians who can then provide a full report on your system.
Legal Requirements
For most institutions, you are legally required to carry out a commercial EICR inspection once every five years, although for some the requirement can be less. This can vary a lot depending on specific types of business so we highly recommend that you research your specific type of institution before implementing a new policy.
That said, the businesses that require shorter periods of testing are generally those which are likely to experience a higher frequency of foot traffic such as shops and venues.
If you fail to carry out EICR inspections within the right amount of time then your business will be liable for any accidents that occur on the premises. Furthermore, it’s important to stress that these time frames should be treated as a minimum and not a maximum.
If you have reason to suspect that your building has dangerous electricity, then you shouldn’t hesitate to act.
Practical Advice
With all that said, we do have some practical advice about when to get an EICR inspection.
First of all, if you don’t know when you last had one and you have none on record, then it’s best to get one right away. Otherwise, you simply have no way of knowing what the risks might be.
Following an initial inspection, it’s generally advisable to have one carried out at least once every five years (or less if legally required). If you’re experiencing several issues within a short period, then you may want to book one sooner, although, as with all such decisions, this is up to the discretion of the person responsible.
If you need a commercial EICR inspection from a team of professional experts, then get in touch with us today by emailing info@pesheatingandplumbing.co.uk or calling 0203 439 9474. And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
