Compliance · Inspections · Certification · North West

Electrical Compliance & Inspections — Preston & Nationwide

Audit-ready inspection, testing, certification and remedial works for facilities managers, housing associations, commercial landlords and regulated environments. From periodic testing and emergency lighting to fire alarm servicing and C1/C2 rectification — all in-house, all documented to BS 7671.

BS 7671 / 18th Edition NICEIC-Standard Reporting Aviation Cleared Same-Day Certificates Remedials In-House Nationwide Commercial

The Regulatory Landscape

What electrical compliance work actually covers

Electrical compliance is broader than most people realise. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require employers and duty holders to maintain all electrical systems in a safe condition — and demonstrating compliance means documented evidence, not assumptions. For landlords, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 make periodic inspection a legal obligation.

BS 7671 (18th Edition) is the standard to which all fixed electrical installations are inspected and certified in the UK. Every certificate NorthGrid issues — whether an EICR, an EIC or a minor works certificate — is produced to this standard, meaning they hold up under scrutiny from local authorities, housing regulators, FM audit teams and insurers.

Beyond domestic landlord requirements, compliance obligations extend to facilities management contracts, which increasingly require current EICR certificates, emergency lighting records and fire alarm test logs as a condition of the contract. Housing associations face regulatory scrutiny from bodies like the Regulator of Social Housing. Aviation operators are subject to their own sector-specific requirements, which Matt is cleared and experienced to work within.

NorthGrid is structured around this environment. Every service we deliver — from a single property EICR to a multi-site portfolio programme — produces documentation that is ready for the next audit the day it's issued.

Compliance Services

Everything we cover — under one roof

Eight distinct compliance services, all delivered in-house by Matt Foster or a directly supervised engineer. No subcontracting, no handover gaps.

EICRs — Electrical Installation Condition Reports

The full periodic inspection of your fixed electrical installation. Classifies defects as C1, C2 or FI and determines Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory status. Mandatory for landlords; expected across FM, housing association and commercial portfolios.

Learn more about EICRs

Periodic Inspection & Testing

Domestic, commercial and industrial periodic inspection across all property types — single units or portfolio programmes. Carried out to BS 7671 with full instrumentation records and same-day certification in most cases.

Full inspection detail

Electrical Installation Certificates & Minor Works Certificates

EICs issued for all new installation work. MWCs for additions or alterations to existing circuits. Both are BS 7671-compliant and audit-ready — required documentation whenever new electrical work is carried out.

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Emergency Lighting Testing — Including 3-Hour Duration Tests

Annual 3-hour full-duration discharge tests to BS 5266, plus certificate issue. Required for commercial and public buildings. Scheduled testing programmes available for FM clients and landlords with multiple properties.

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Fire Alarm Testing & Servicing — Aico Systems

Testing and servicing of fire alarm systems including Aico interconnected detection systems. Documented inspection records for landlord compliance, housing association portfolios and commercial buildings. Certificate issued on completion.

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Landlord Safety Certificates

EICR, fire alarm and emergency lighting compliance certificates bundled for residential and commercial landlords. Suitable for local authority submission, letting agent requirements and housing association audit. Issued same day in most cases.

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Remedial Works — C1, C2 & FI Rectification

All defects identified during inspection are rectified in-house by the same team. No second contractor needed. Fixed written quotes at the time of inspection. Fresh EICR certificate issued on completion. Covers consumer unit upgrades, rewiring, earthing and bonding remediation and circuit repairs.

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Electrical Fault Finding & Diagnostics

Systematic fault diagnosis for tripping circuits, intermittent faults, RCD nuisance tripping and unexplained failures. Domestic, commercial and industrial. Full written report on findings. Rectification quoted and carried out in-house where required.

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Defect Classification

Understanding C1, C2 and FI — what the codes mean

When an EICR identifies a defect, it is assigned one of three classification codes under BS 7671. Understanding these codes is essential for landlords, facilities managers and property owners.

C1 — Danger Present

Immediate Action Required

A C1 observation means danger is present and there is a risk of injury. The hazard exists right now in the electrical installation. Action is required immediately — the installation should not continue in use until the defect is rectified.

Common C1 examples include exposed live conductors, missing insulation, failed protective devices that will not operate under fault conditions, and severely deteriorated wiring at risk of ignition.

NorthGrid response: Matt will advise of any C1 findings immediately on site. A fixed quote for rectification is provided the same day. Works are carried out as a priority and a fresh certificate issued on completion.

C2 — Potentially Dangerous

Urgent Remediation Required

A C2 observation means the installation is potentially dangerous — not an immediate hazard in every operating condition, but one that presents a significant risk of injury if the fault develops or certain conditions arise. Urgent remediation is required.

Common C2 examples include inadequate earthing and bonding, absence of RCD protection, outdated wiring that does not meet current standards, and defective accessories with reduced integrity.

NorthGrid response: A written C2 remedial schedule is included with the EICR. Fixed-price quote provided. Works completed in-house and a satisfactory EICR certificate issued on completion — no need to source a second contractor.

FI — Further Investigation

Investigation Required

An FI (Further Investigation) observation is raised when the inspector is unable to determine the condition of a part of the installation without further investigation — for example, concealed wiring that cannot be accessed or tested without opening up the fabric of the building.

An FI does not mean the installation is unsafe, but it does mean the inspector cannot confirm that it is safe without additional work. FI observations should be investigated and resolved before the installation can be confirmed as fully satisfactory.

NorthGrid response: All FI observations are clearly documented. Where investigation reveals a defect, NorthGrid carries out the rectification in-house. Re-testing is carried out and documentation updated accordingly.

NorthGrid carries out all C1, C2 and FI rectification works in-house. No second contractor needed — ever. Single point of contact from inspection through to re-certification.

Who We Work With

Sectors served across the North West and nationwide

FM Companies
Housing Associations
Commercial Landlords
Aviation Operators
Property Managers
Industrial Operators

How It Works

From scoping to re-certification — one contractor throughout

1

Scoping & Quotation

Single property or multi-site portfolio. Call, WhatsApp or use the quote form. Fixed written price provided — no day-rate billing, no surprises. Same working day response.

2

On-Site Inspection & Testing

All inspection and testing carried out by Matt Foster or a directly supervised engineer. Never subcontracted. You always know who is on your site and what standard they work to.

3

Reporting & Certification

BS 7671-compliant certificates and test records issued the same day in most cases. Portal-ready PDFs. Defects clearly classified and a remedial schedule included where applicable.

4

Remedials & Re-Certification

All C1, C2 and FI works carried out in-house by the same team. Fixed quote. Works completed and a fresh certificate issued — single point of contact from first inspection to final sign-off.

Common Questions

Compliance & inspections — frequently asked questions

What's the difference between an EICR and an EIC?

An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is an inspection of an existing electrical installation. A qualified electrician inspects and tests the fixed wiring, sockets, consumer unit, earthing and bonding — identifying defects, deterioration and dangerous conditions. The outcome is a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory classification with C1, C2 and FI defect codes where applicable.

An EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) is issued when new electrical work is carried out — for example, a new circuit, a consumer unit replacement or a full rewire. It certifies that the new work meets BS 7671 standards at the time of completion.

A Minor Works Certificate (MWC) covers smaller additions or alterations to an existing circuit — like adding a socket to an existing circuit or replacing a light fitting with a different type.

EICRs look back at what's already there. EICs and MWCs sign off what's just been installed. All three are required documentation in different scenarios — NorthGrid issues all three.

How often do emergency lights need testing?

Under BS 5266, emergency lighting requires a structured testing regime:

  • Monthly: Brief functional test — a short activation of each luminaire to confirm it operates
  • 6-monthly: A 1-hour full-duration discharge test
  • Annually: A full 3-hour duration discharge test, with the result documented and a certificate issued

NorthGrid carries out the annual 3-hour duration test and issues a certificate. For FM clients and commercial landlords with multiple properties, we can set up scheduled testing programmes to ensure all sites remain compliant without you needing to track individual test dates.

Do you provide certificates compatible with FM portals such as Verisae, Elogs, SWS and MRI Evolution?

Yes. NorthGrid issues BS 7671-compliant PDF certificates and test records formatted for upload to major FM compliance portals. We are familiar with the documentation requirements of Verisae, Elogs, SWS, MRI Evolution and similar platforms.

If your FM contract specifies a particular documentation format, field labelling convention or upload process, let us know at the time of scoping and we will confirm whether we can meet it before the visit takes place — not after the certificate has already been issued.

Can NorthGrid carry out remedial works as well as the inspection?

Yes — and this is one of the key practical reasons clients choose NorthGrid. All C1, C2 and FI remedial works are carried out in-house by Matt Foster or a directly supervised engineer. There is no need to find, vet and coordinate a second contractor.

At the time of inspection, Matt will discuss any defects found with you, provide a fixed written quote for the remedial works, and confirm the earliest available return date. Once works are complete, a fresh EICR certificate is issued — you have a single point of contact and a single invoice throughout.

Do you cover housing association portfolios?

Yes. NorthGrid is structured to support housing association EICR programmes and compliance inspection schedules across large residential portfolios. We work to planned maintenance timetables, produce portal-ready documentation and provide a single point of contact throughout the contract.

For volume programmes, we offer competitive portfolio pricing. We can accommodate phased inspection schedules across multiple sites and provide consolidated reporting where required. Contact us to discuss your portfolio size, scheduling requirements and documentation needs.

Can you deliver compliance work in live commercial environments?

Yes. NorthGrid regularly delivers inspection, testing and remedial works in live commercial environments — including operating retail units, occupied office buildings, industrial facilities and aviation sites where access is restricted and works must be phased around operational requirements.

Matt is aviation-cleared and experienced in the specific access protocols and documentation requirements for airside and high-security compliance work. For all live-environment visits, we plan access requirements carefully, communicate clearly with your facilities team and work efficiently to minimise disruption to operations.

Need audit-ready compliance documentation?

Same-day weekday response. Fixed quotes in writing. BS 7671-compliant certificates issued the same day in most cases. All remedial works carried out in-house — no second contractor, no handover complications.