Guide to choosing your electrical installation condition report in London

Electrical faults are responsible for 200,000 annual accidental household fires in the UK. Many overlook the importance of electrical safety, but electrical issues pose a threat to life and can lead to loss of property and income.

Whether you’re a business owner, homeowner or landlord, it’s important to arrange for regular electrical safety checks, but deciding who to hire to complete the work can be challenging. This guide to choosing your Electrical Installation Condition Report in London will enable you to select the right company to carry out this essential maintenance work.

What is an Electrical Installation Condition Report?

An Electrical Installation Condition Report, also known as an EICR, is a thorough inspection of the electrical installations inside a building, including such things as light fixtures and distribution boards. The inspection will highlight any issues or areas of concern that could lead to injury or even fire.

During the examination a qualified engineer will identify any defects and assign each with an observation code. These four codes, C1, C2, C3 and F1, range in severity. In order to ensure your property is safe and habitable, all C1, C2 and FI faults should be fixed as a matter of urgency.

How to Choose a Company for your EICR

So, how should you go about choosing the right company to complete your EICR? Well, there are several things to consider:

Customer Service and feedback

Before hiring a company to complete your EICR, you should take a look at customer reviews and feedback. This is a great place to start when selecting a diligent electrical services company. Check out Google Reviews and dedicated sites such as Feefo and Yelp.

You can also rely on recommendations from friends and family, who have had a good experience in the past. Next, look for a company that offers out-of-hours appointments, such as weekend and evening slots. This will highlight that the company is dedicated to good customer service.

Industry Accreditations

When selecting an electrical contractor to complete your EICR, it’s important to ensure that they are both professional and diligent. This doesn’t just mean selecting a company that has excellent reviews from real customers, but one that’s also supported by recognised industry organisations, too.

When it comes to electrical safety, there are several industry accreditation schemes to look out for, which will highlight that the company you’re hiring is trustworthy. These include TrustMark, NAPIT, CHAS, Constructionline and beAccredited. These industry schemes focus on raising standards and improving safety, as well as promoting excellence. Any company worth hiring should be supported by at least one of these trusted accreditation schemes.

Experienced Engineers

Before hiring a company, you should also ensure its engineers are competent and experienced in electrical works. An EICR is highly specialised work and should only ever be completed by a skilled worker.

Your engineer should be fully qualified, with recognised electrical training certificates. Most electrical companies will only hire engineers that have undertaken industry-standard training and now specialise purely in the testing of electrical systems. Specialists in the field will be able to pick up on faults that other less experienced engineers might overlook.

Latest Equipment

In order to complete an EICR correctly, you should employ a contractor or company that uses the latest electrical testing equipment and has access to the best possible tools for the job. By using the most up-to-date equipment, your engineer will be able to complete the work with the utmost accuracy.

Prices and Remedial Works

Before committing to a company or engineer, be sure to confirm prices and a schedule for remedial works in advance. All necessary repair works should be fixed quickly, and to the highest possible standard, so the company you hire should prioritise you and your property. They should also be able to advise you on the best course of action for achieving compliance. All good companies will offer same-day repairs, as well as out-of-hours appointments that work for you. Reach out and get a quote from us now.