Commercial Electrical FAQs — Answered by a Time-Served Engineer

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal inspection of a property's fixed electrical installation, carried out by a qualified electrician in accordance with BS 7671. It covers the wiring, sockets, consumer unit, earthing, bonding and all circuits built into the fabric of the building.

The electrician classifies the overall installation as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. Individual defects are coded: C1 (danger present — immediate action required), C2 (potentially dangerous — urgent action required) or FI (further investigation required). A property with no C1 or C2 observations is Satisfactory and the certificate is valid for the stated period.

Private landlords in England must hold a valid EICR renewed every 5 years, or at every change of tenancy — whichever is sooner. This became a legal requirement under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, in force for new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and all existing tenancies from 1 April 2021.

A copy of the EICR must be provided to the tenant within 28 days of the inspection, to any prospective tenant within 28 days of a request, and to the local authority within 7 days of a request.

Duration depends on the size of the installation, number of circuits and access requirements. As a guide:

• Small commercial unit (single distribution board): 4–6 hours
• Medium commercial premises (multiple boards, 3-phase): 1–2 days
• Large estate, industrial or multi-sub-board: multiple days

NorthGrid provides a realistic time estimate with every quote so access can be planned in advance and business disruption minimised.

These are observation codes defined in BS 7671 used to classify defects found during the inspection:

• C1 — Danger present: The installation or equipment poses an immediate risk. The installation must not be used until the defect is rectified.
• C2 — Potentially dangerous: A condition that could become dangerous. Urgent remedial action is required.
• FI — Further investigation: The inspector could not determine whether a danger exists without further investigation or testing.

A property with no C1 or C2 observations is classified as Satisfactory. One or more C1 or C2 observations results in an Unsatisfactory certificate.

No. An EICR covers the fixed electrical installation — the wiring, sockets, consumer unit, earthing and all circuits in the fabric of the building. A PAT (Portable Appliance Test) covers portable electrical equipment such as desk fans, kettles, power tools and extension leads.

They are separate tests with different regulatory frameworks, different scopes and different certification documents. Holding a valid PAT record does not substitute for an EICR, and vice versa.

An Unsatisfactory result means the inspection identified one or more C1 or C2 observations requiring remediation. For private landlords, the law requires remedial works to be completed within 28 days of the EICR date — or sooner if the report specifies an earlier deadline.

Once remedial works are complete, a new EICR certificate is issued confirming the installation is Satisfactory. NorthGrid carries out all C1 and C2 remedial works in-house — the same contractor who identified the defect rectifies it and signs off the certificate.

An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a periodic inspection of an existing electrical installation, verifying it remains safe and compliant with BS 7671. It is used to assess the condition of wiring, protective devices and the consumer unit in a property already in use.

An EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) is issued when new electrical installation work is carried out. It certifies that the new work was designed, installed, inspected and tested in accordance with BS 7671. An EIC documents new work; an EICR assesses existing installations — they are not interchangeable.

A Minor Works Certificate (MWC) is required for small additions or alterations to an existing circuit — for example: adding a socket outlet, replacing a circuit protective device, or installing additional lighting points on an existing circuit.

It is not required for simple like-for-like replacements such as changing a socket faceplate or replacing a luminaire. If a new circuit is being installed, an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) is required rather than an MWC.

Yes, in practice. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires all electrical systems to be maintained in a safe condition. A 5-year EICR has become the recognised industry standard for demonstrating that obligation has been met.

Insurers, commercial landlords and FM contracts increasingly require valid EICRs as a condition of cover or contract. HSE guidance supports regular periodic inspection and testing for all commercial premises. In the event of an electrical incident, the absence of a current EICR is likely to be treated as evidence of failure to maintain the installation.

BS 7671 is the British Standard for electrical installations, published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and known informally as the IET Wiring Regulations. It sets out the requirements for the design, construction, inspection and testing of electrical installations in buildings across the UK.

All electrical certificates issued in the UK — EICRs, EICs and Minor Works Certificates — must reference compliance with BS 7671. Any electrician carrying out certifiable work in the UK is required to work to this standard.

The 18th Edition refers to the 18th Amendment to BS 7671, published in 2018 and updated with Amendment 2 in 2022. It is the current version of the IET Wiring Regulations and the standard all electrical work in the UK must comply with today.

Key changes introduced by the 18th Edition include: mandatory surge protection devices (SPDs) in many installation types, updated consumer unit protection requirements, revised guidance on protective bonding, and new rules for installations that incorporate solar PV and EV charging. An electrician issuing any certificate today must work to the 18th Edition.

Yes. Any new electrical installation or significant alteration to an existing circuit requires certification under BS 7671 and, for domestic premises, Part P of the Building Regulations. Notifiable work must either be carried out by a registered competent person scheme member (such as NICEIC or NAPIT) who can self-certify, or be inspected and approved by a Building Control Body.

On completion, an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) is issued confirming the work complies with BS 7671. For smaller additions to existing circuits, a Minor Works Certificate is the correct documentation.

A distribution board (also known as a consumer unit or fuse box) is the panel that distributes electrical supply around a building and houses the protective devices — circuit breakers, RCDs or fuses — for each circuit.

An upgrade is typically required when: the board contains rewireable fuses or outdated MCB-only protection that does not comply with current BS 7671 requirements; the board cannot accommodate additional circuits; or an EICR classifies it as a C1 or C2 defect. Modern 18th Edition compliant boards use RCBOs or dual RCDs with SPD protection.

A single-phase supply (230V) is standard in domestic and small commercial premises and is sufficient for most standard loads. A three-phase supply (400V) provides three live conductors and is used where high-load equipment requires more current than a single phase can safely deliver.

Typical applications requiring three-phase include: industrial machinery, large commercial HVAC systems, server infrastructure, three-phase motors, commercial catering equipment, and multi-bay EV charging installations. NorthGrid designs, installs and tests three-phase supplies for commercial and industrial clients across the North West.

Yes. NorthGrid works routinely in occupied commercial premises — offices, retail units, industrial facilities and managed estates. All live-environment works are preceded by a full risk assessment and method statement (RAMS) and coordinated with building managers or FM teams to minimise disruption.

Where isolation is not possible, live working is carried out only by competent engineers under strict safe-working procedures in full compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the associated HSE guidance on live working.

Programme duration depends on the scope of works. As a rough guide:

• Small retail unit: 2–5 days
• Medium office fit-out: 1–3 weeks
• Industrial installation or full rewire: several weeks, programme agreed at contract stage

NorthGrid provides a project programme with every commercial installation quote so you can coordinate other trades, schedule building control inspections and plan handover dates. We work within agreed timescales and can interface directly with principal contractors and FM teams.

BS 5266-1 (the UK standard for emergency lighting) requires three levels of routine testing:

• Monthly: A brief function test — each luminaire activated for a short period to confirm it illuminates
• Annual: A 1-hour duration test, confirming sustained illumination for at least 1 hour
• Three-yearly: A full 3-hour duration test to the rated duration of the system

In practice, most commercial premises, insurers and FM contracts require a full 3-hour test annually. The Responsible Person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is legally accountable for ensuring testing is carried out and records are maintained.

A 3-hour duration test fully discharges each emergency luminaire to verify it will illuminate for a minimum of 3 hours in the event of a mains failure — the rated duration required by BS 5266 for most commercial premises.

The test is conducted by isolating the mains supply to the emergency lighting circuit and monitoring every luminaire over the 3-hour period. A written test report is issued documenting the result for each individual fitting, including any failures. The system must be allowed to fully recharge — typically 24 hours — before the building is occupied overnight following the test.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Responsible Person — typically the employer, building owner or facilities manager — is legally accountable for ensuring emergency lighting is maintained in effective working order. This includes arranging regular testing, keeping written test records and ensuring failed luminaires are replaced promptly.

NorthGrid provides written test reports in a format suitable for compliance audits and can operate as a contracted testing partner under an FM or service agreement, supplying test records on completion of each visit.

Yes. NorthGrid installs and maintains fire alarm and detection systems in commercial and residential properties, including conventional and addressable systems. All fire alarm works are carried out in accordance with BS 5839-1 for commercial premises and BS 5839-6 for domestic and residential buildings.

We work with FM companies, housing associations and commercial landlords on both new installations and upgrades to existing systems, and can provide full documentation including test records and commissioning certificates.

Aico is a UK manufacturer specialising in fire and carbon monoxide detection for residential and social housing applications. Their product range includes interlinked smoke alarms, heat alarms, CO detectors and multi-sensor devices designed for domestic installation.

NorthGrid installs and maintains Aico systems — including the Ei3000 MK2 and Ei450 ranges — across housing association and private landlord portfolios. Aico's AudioLINK and HomeLINK technology enables alarm activation data to be logged and reported remotely, providing a digital compliance audit trail that is increasingly specified by social housing clients under the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023.

For commercial premises, BS 5839-1 requires:

• Weekly manual trigger test on a rotating call point basis
• Six-monthly service and inspection by a competent person
• Full annual inspection and test with written report

For rented residential properties, the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 require that alarms are tested and in working order at the start of each tenancy. The landlord bears responsibility for ensuring this. Housing associations typically operate quarterly or annual servicing schedules across their stock.

Yes. NorthGrid installs commercial EV charge points for businesses, car parks, housing associations and commercial landlords. We carry out the full installation scope — from distribution board assessment and incoming supply upgrade where required, through to charge point mounting, wiring, earthing and commissioning.

We work with landlords and FM teams to design multi-bay charging infrastructure matched to the available electrical supply capacity, with load management systems where multiple chargers need to share a limited supply.

Yes. Three-phase EV chargers (typically 22kW) provide significantly faster charging than single-phase units (7kW) and are the standard choice for commercial car parks, fleet depots and multi-bay residential schemes where throughput matters.

NorthGrid designs and installs three-phase EV charging infrastructure to BS 7671 18th Edition requirements, including load management systems where multiple chargers need to share available three-phase capacity. A three-phase supply must be present at the premises or installed as part of the project — NorthGrid can arrange both.

Not always — it depends on the installation type and existing electrical infrastructure. In many commercial and multi-residential installations, a dedicated sub-board or consumer unit is the most practical and compliant approach. It simplifies metering (important for billing purposes), fault isolation and future expansion, and keeps EV charging circuits clearly separated from the building's main distribution.

For smaller single-charger domestic or light commercial installations, connection to the existing consumer unit may be appropriate. NorthGrid assesses each site individually and recommends the correct configuration to meet BS 7671 18th Edition requirements and any applicable network operator requirements.

Private landlords in England must hold:

• EICR: Valid every 5 years or at change of tenancy. Copy provided to each tenant within 28 days of inspection and to new tenants before they move in.
• EIC: Required whenever new electrical installation work is carried out on the property.
• MWC (Minor Works Certificate): Required for minor additions to existing circuits.

Landlords must also comply with the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, which require a smoke alarm on each storey and a CO alarm in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance. HMO landlords face additional local authority licensing requirements which may specify further electrical standards.

Local authorities in England can impose financial penalties of up to £30,000 per breach under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Breaches include:

• Failing to carry out an EICR every 5 years
• Failing to provide a copy of the EICR to tenants or the local authority on request
• Failing to carry out remedial works within the required 28-day period

The penalty is assessed per property, per breach. Landlords with portfolios who are non-compliant across multiple properties face compounding exposure. In addition to fines, non-compliance may void landlord insurance policies.

A new EICR is required at change of tenancy only if the existing certificate has expired — i.e., it is more than 5 years old. If the current EICR is within its 5-year validity period when the tenancy changes, it does not need to be repeated solely because of the change of tenant.

However, any remedial works identified on the existing certificate must have been completed and documented before the new tenancy begins. The new tenant must receive a copy of the current EICR before they move in, together with written confirmation of any remedials completed.

Yes. NorthGrid has experience operating within FM management systems including Verisae, Elogs, MRI Evolution and Service Works (SWS). Where portal access is provided, we can log jobs, upload certificates and compliance records, submit RAMS documentation and complete job closedown directly within the system.

This removes administrative overhead for FM teams and ensures documentation lands in the correct place in the system without manual chase, supporting audit trails and planned maintenance schedules.

Yes. NorthGrid works with housing associations on planned EICR programmes across multi-site domestic and communal area portfolios. We can operate to agreed annual inspection schedules, provide compliance reports in your required format, upload records to your asset management system, and provide escalation routes for C1/C2 remedials requiring rapid response.

Volume pricing and framework agreement discussions are welcomed. Contact us with your portfolio size, locations and reporting requirements to discuss a structured programme.

Yes. Matt Foster holds aviation security clearance and has direct, practical experience working airside at aviation facilities. NorthGrid can carry out electrical inspection, testing and installation works in airside and security-restricted environments.

All aviation works are supported by appropriate RAMS documentation, site-specific induction compliance and the operational standards expected in regulated airside environments. We understand the security, access and documentation requirements unique to airport clients and have a track record of working in these environments without incident.

Yes. NorthGrid provides 24/7 reactive response for FM and commercial clients. Out-of-hours call-outs cover fault diagnosis, emergency isolations, luminaire and lighting circuit failures, consumer unit faults and urgent compliance issues that cannot wait until the next working day.

Reactive attendance times and out-of-hours rates are agreed at the outset of any FM or commercial relationship — not applied ad hoc on the invoice. Contact us to discuss a reactive maintenance agreement that suits your operational requirements.

EICR pricing depends on the property type, size, number of circuits and access requirements. NorthGrid provides a fixed written quote for every job before any work begins — no day-rate billing, no surprises at invoice.

To get a price, send us the property postcode, type (domestic, commercial or HMO) and approximate size or circuit count. We'll give you a written price in most cases the same working day. Volume pricing is available for portfolio holders, housing associations and FM clients with recurring work.

NorthGrid charges a fixed price for all standard works — EICRs, testing, installations and remedial works — quoted in writing before any work begins. Day-rate billing is not used for standard engagements.

For larger commercial projects where scope cannot be fully defined upfront — such as a major industrial installation or a phased portfolio programme — we can agree a fixed-price contract or a schedule of agreed rates. In all cases, the pricing basis is confirmed in writing before work starts. There are no hidden charges.

For standard EICR and testing work across Lancashire and Greater Manchester, NorthGrid typically offers next-day or same-week availability. For urgent compliance requirements where a certificate is needed quickly, same-day attendance is often possible subject to current scheduling.

For commercial clients on a reactive FM agreement, attendance windows are agreed at the outset of the relationship. Out-of-hours emergency response is available 24/7 for clients on a reactive agreement.

Yes. NorthGrid is based in Bamber Bridge, Preston — well-positioned for rapid response across Lancashire and Greater Manchester. Routine coverage includes:

• Preston, Bamber Bridge, Chorley, Leyland, Blackburn
• Manchester, Bolton, Wigan, Bury, Rochdale
• Liverpool, Southport, Blackpool, Lancaster, Burnley

For clients in Greater Manchester and Merseyside, travel times from Bamber Bridge are typically 40–60 minutes. Same-day and next-day response is available across all these areas.

Yes, for commercial, FM and housing association contracts. NorthGrid regularly undertakes work outside the North West for clients with multi-site portfolios, and has worked across England for commercial property, aviation and social housing clients.

Distance is not a barrier for the right project. We are structured to mobilise quickly, work within agreed programme timescales and provide full documentation regardless of location. Contact us with your location, scope and timeline to discuss feasibility.