EICR Codes Explained: What C1, C2, C3 and FI Mean for Your Business
You have had your Electrical Installation Condition Report back, and it is full of codes. Some observations say C3, one says C2 and the summary says unsatisfactory. What does it actually mean, and how urgent is it?
Every observation on an EICR is given a classification code. Understanding them helps you prioritise remedial work, talk to your insurer and landlord with confidence, and avoid paying for work that is not needed.
C1: Danger Present
A C1 means there is a risk of injury right now, such as exposed live parts or a badly damaged accessory. Immediate action is required. The inspector should make the situation safe before leaving site, usually by isolating the affected circuit or equipment, and will tell the person responsible straight away.
C2: Potentially Dangerous
A C2 is a defect that is not dangerous at this moment but could become so, for example if a fault developed. Typical examples include missing earthing or bonding, no RCD protection where it is required, or circuits where protective devices would not disconnect quickly enough under fault. Urgent remedial action is required.
C3: Improvement Recommended
A C3 highlights something that does not meet the current edition of the wiring regulations but is not considered dangerous. Older installations often carry several C3 observations simply because standards have moved on. A C3 alone does not make a report unsatisfactory, although it is often sensible to plan the improvement during other works.
FI: Further Investigation Required
FI means the inspector found something that could not be fully assessed during the visit, such as a circuit that could not be traced or an unexpected test result. It needs investigating without delay, because the outcome could reveal a C1 or C2.
What Makes a Report Unsatisfactory?
Any C1, C2 or FI observation makes the overall report unsatisfactory. Once the remedial work has been completed and certified, you have the evidence that the installation is safe. Keep the remedial certificates with the original report, as insurers and assessors will want to see both.
Planning Remedial Work Without the Guesswork
After every commercial EICR, we provide an itemised quote for each coded observation, so you can see exactly what needs doing, why and what it costs. C1 and C2 items come first. C3 improvements can be phased and timed around your business, or built into planned works such as a board replacement or a commercial installation project. Older distribution boards are a frequent source of C2 codes, which we cover in our post on commercial fuse boards.
If something serious is found out of hours, our commercial emergency electrician service can respond.
Commercial EICRs Across the North East
LC Electrical Services is NAPIT registered and carries out EICRs for offices, retail units, schools and industrial sites across Hebburn, Gateshead, Sunderland, Newcastle and beyond. Read about our commercial EICR service or request a quote.