Commercial EICR & Fixed Wire Testing

An Electrical Installation Condition Report, commonly known as an EICR, is a formal inspection and testing exercise carried out on the fixed wiring and electrical installation within a commercial or industrial building. It is not a superficial visual check. Our engineers test circuits, distribution boards, protective devices, earthing and bonding arrangements against the current edition of BS 7671, the national standard for electrical installations in the UK, and record any deviation from that standard as a classified observation.

This service covers everything a business or landlord needs from a single inspection: a full dead and live testing regime of the installation, sampling and testing of accessible circuits, visual inspection of consumer units and distribution boards, insulation resistance and earth loop impedance testing, and a written report classifying any defects found as C1 (danger present), C2 (potentially dangerous), C3 (improvement recommended) or FI (further investigation required). Where fixed wire testing forms part of a wider periodic testing programme, we combine the two so you get one visit and one invoice rather than duplicated site attendance.

This service is for commercial landlords, letting agents, facilities managers, school business managers, retail operators, manufacturers and any organisation that has a legal duty to keep its electrical installation safe. It is relevant whether you own a single retail unit in South Tyneside or manage a portfolio of industrial units across the North East. It is equally suited to businesses preparing for insurance renewal, a change of tenancy, a commercial mortgage valuation, or simply reaching the end of the recommended inspection interval for their premises type.

The legal position is straightforward. Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, employers and those in control of premises have a duty to maintain electrical systems so far as reasonably practicable to prevent danger. An EICR is the recognised way of demonstrating that duty has been discharged. Landlords letting commercial property also have obligations under their lease agreements and often under insurance policy conditions to hold a valid, in-date report. Failure to hold a satisfactory EICR can invalidate insurance, breach lease covenants and, in the event of an incident, expose a business or its directors to liability.

Recommended inspection intervals vary by premises type. Offices and retail units are typically inspected every five years, industrial premises more frequently due to harsher operating conditions, and premises with a high public footfall such as schools or leisure facilities may be tested more regularly still. We advise on the correct interval for your specific premises based on its use, age of installation and any previous report findings, rather than applying a blanket rule.

Fixed wire testing is the technical process that underpins every EICR. It involves systematically isolating and testing circuits for continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance and RCD operation, in line with BS 7671. Where an installation has previously only had a visual inspection, or where circuits have never been tested since original installation, we recommend a full fixed wire test to establish a genuine safety baseline rather than relying on assumption.

Our process always starts with a free, no-obligation site survey. One of our qualified engineers visits your premises to understand the scale and layout of the installation, identify the number and type of distribution boards and circuits, and note any access constraints such as occupied retail floors, live production lines or out-of-hours restrictions. This lets us plan testing around your operating hours wherever possible, minimising disruption to your business.

Following the survey we provide an itemised, fixed-price quotation that sets out exactly what is included, the expected time on site, and the certification you will receive. There are no vague day-rate estimates and no surprise extras once the job is underway. If the survey identifies that remedial works are likely to be needed alongside the inspection, we flag this at quotation stage so you can budget accordingly.

All testing is carried out by qualified, experienced engineers using calibrated UKAS accredited test equipment, and delivered to BS 7671 18th Edition requirements. As a NICEIC approved contractor and NAPIT registered business, our certification carries recognised industry weight with insurers, landlords, letting agents and building control.

On completion you receive a full written report with every observation photographed and classified, a clear summary of overall condition (satisfactory or unsatisfactory), and a schedule of any recommended remedial works with pricing. Where C1 or C2 observations are identified, we can carry out the remedial electrical work ourselves and issue updated certification once the installation has been brought back to a satisfactory standard, so you are not left holding an unsatisfactory report with no route to resolution.

We keep a full digital record of every report and certificate we issue, so if you need a copy for an insurer, a prospective tenant, a lender or a compliance audit at a later date, we can reissue it promptly without you needing to store paperwork yourself.

We provide commercial EICR and fixed wire testing across South Tyneside, Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside and the wider North East, working with landlords, facilities managers and business owners who need a straightforward, properly documented way to prove their electrical installation is safe and compliant.