EICR for commercial buildings: what it is and how often you need one

For most commercial premises the law does not name a fixed interval, but the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical systems to be maintained so as to prevent danger. Periodic inspection and testing is the accepted way to show you are doing that, and insurers and landlords often ask to see the report. The HSE's electricity pages set out the wider duties.

Private rented homes in England are different: since 2020, landlords must have the installation inspected at least every five years.

The right interval depends on the building and how it is used. Industry guidance commonly suggests around five years for offices and shops and shorter intervals, such as three years, for industrial sites, with more frequent checks in harsher environments. The report itself will recommend when the next inspection is due.

• C1: danger present. Immediate action is required.
• C2: potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial action is required.
• C3: improvement recommended.
• FI: further investigation needed without delay.

A report with any C1, C2 or FI observations is classed as unsatisfactory, and the faults need to be dealt with. Keep the report and any remedial certificates together, because they form part of your compliance record. We arrange EICRs through qualified electrical contractors and keep the results alongside the rest of your planned maintenance schedule, so nothing falls due unnoticed. Contact us if you would like help setting that up.