TECHNICAL ADVICE
ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION CONDITION REPORTING CLASSIFICATION CODES FOR DOMESTIC AND SIMILAR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS EXPLAINED...
Acloser look at EICRcodes
E CA’s technical experts are often quizzed by Members about the coding on electrical installation condition reports (EICRs). They are often asked which codes should be applied to specific faults during inspections of existing electrical installations. A huge number of factors can impact an inspector’s decision-making process when drawing up an EICR, so it is no wonder they are sometimes a source of confusion. For a deeper dive into the rationale behind the different codes when undertaking an EICR, read on… Who decides what codes to assign? The inspector is the only person who can make an informed decision about what code is suitable in any given situation. This is because they are on site and can see any defects first-hand, and therefore make an informed call on how safe an installation is. As an aside, it is important to note that any item raised should be set against the Wiring Regulations requirements (BS 7671:2018), not against the inspector’s personal judgement. Is it a type of risk assessment? Indeed it is. When considering what code is relevant to any given situation, the inspector needs to consider the environment and the potential risk of damage or injury. So, simply saying that scenario ‘X’ results in outcome ‘Y’ is not always suitable. A nuanced decision-making process is required. To do this, we must first look at what the codes mean… C1 – Danger present. Risk of injury. Immediate remedial action required: in this scenario, there is an immediate danger of shock or fire to persons, property or livestock. C2 – Potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial action required: in this scenario,
there is a fault that could potentially become dangerous (a hazard), but another fault or foreseeable action must occur for danger to arise. C3 – Improvement recommended: in this scenario, there is a defect against BS 7671, but it does not present any immediate or potential danger to people or property. FI – Further investigation required without delay: in this scenario, there is an electrical issue, but additional time is required to ascertain what this is. Codes and consequences It is extremely important to understand the consequences of any code raised during an EICR. For instance, both a C1 and C2 result in an ‘unsatisfactory’ outcome. Therefore, overzealous use of these codes can potentially cause unwarranted disruption to the client, their building and possibly their business. Additionally, an inspector should not reduce a code from a more serious to a lesser code just because it is the client’s whim. The inspector has been employed as an expert in electrical safety and should not let their decisions become compromised by any external influence. The inspector must be well-versed in the latest version requirements of the Wiring Regulations and offer appropriate codes for each defect. If need be, before raising a coded item, the inspector should always be in a position to reference a BS
7671 Regulation number on the issue if challenged. Where further investigation is required, this will also result in an unsatisfactory report as the inspector has highlighted a safety issue but requires additional time to clarify the details. Only defects against BS 7671 should be recorded The EICR is aimed specifically at defects against the requirements of BS 7671. The inspector should not raise a code against defects noticed against other British Standards; however, they are at liberty to raise comments or notes about other issues or defects and inform the client. The final decision Of course, guidance material cannot take the place of the inspector’s skill, knowledge, and experience. The ultimate decision is down to them. The recognised industry guidance is there, but only as a guide - it can certainly be deviated from should the inspector be able to suitably argue the reasons for it.
More info... ECA’s technical assistance helpline is open to ECA Members and can be found at www.eca.co.uk/myECA.
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