EIC vs EICR: What's the Difference?

Two of the most important documents in the UK electrical industry are the Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) and the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). Despite their similar names, they serve different purposes and are used in different circumstances. Understanding the difference is essential for electricians, property owners, landlords, and anyone involved in buying, selling, or maintaining property.

In simple terms, an EIC is issued for new electrical work, while an EICR is issued for existing electrical installations. There is also a third document — the Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate — which is used for smaller jobs that do not warrant a full EIC. This guide explains all three documents, when each is used, and who can issue them.

An Electrical Installation Certificate is issued when new electrical work has been carried out and tested. It certifies that the new installation has been designed, constructed, and tested in accordance with BS 7671 (the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations) and is safe to put into service.

When Is an EIC Required?

An EIC is required whenever new electrical installation work is completed. This includes new builds, complete rewires, new circuits added to an existing installation, and significant alterations to the existing installation. Any work that involves the installation of one or more new circuits requires a full EIC.

• ✓New-build properties — the entire electrical installation requires an EIC
• ✓Full domestic rewires — all new wiring, consumer unit, and accessories
• ✓New circuits — adding a new cooker circuit, shower circuit, or lighting circuit
• ✓Extensions and conversions — new circuits installed as part of building work
• ✓Consumer unit replacement with new circuit additions
• ✓New outbuilding or garden room electrical supply

What Does an EIC Contain?

An EIC is a detailed document that records comprehensive information about the new installation. It contains three key sections.

The first section records the design details, including the earthing arrangement, the method of protection against electric shock, and the details of the supply (voltage, frequency, prospective fault current, and external earth fault loop impedance). It is signed by the designer of the installation.

The second section covers the construction of the installation and confirms that it has been erected in accordance with the design. It is signed by the person who installed the work.

The third section covers initial verification — the inspection and testing carried out after construction to confirm that the installation is safe. It includes a schedule of test results for every circuit, recording continuity, insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, RCD operation, and polarity. It is signed by the person who carried out the testing.

Who Can Issue an EIC?

The inspection and testing section of an EIC must be completed and signed by a person who holds the City & Guilds 2391-52 qualification (or equivalent). The designer must be competent to design electrical installations, and the installer must be competent to carry out the installation work. For notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations, the certificate should be issued through a competent person scheme (such as NICEIC or NAPIT) or the work must be signed off by building control.

An Electrical Installation Condition Report is issued after the inspection and testing of an existing electrical installation. Its purpose is to assess the current condition and safety of the installation and to identify any defects, deterioration, or non-compliance with current regulations.

When Is an EICR Required?

An EICR is required or recommended in the following circumstances.

• ✓Rented properties — legally required every 5 years under the 2020 regulations
• ✓Commercial premises — recommended every 5 years (or more frequently for high-risk environments)
• ✓Owner-occupied homes — recommended every 10 years
• ✓Change of tenancy or occupancy
• ✓When buying or selling a property
• ✓After any major alteration or addition to an existing installation
• ✓When requested by an insurance company
• ✓When signs of electrical problems are observed (burning smells, tripping, discolouration)

What Does an EICR Contain?

An EICR records the results of the inspection and testing and provides an overall assessment of whether the installation is satisfactory or unsatisfactory. The report includes details of the supply, earthing arrangement, and the extent and limitations of the inspection. It lists all observations with their classification codes (C1, C2, C3, or FI) and includes a schedule of test results for every circuit tested.

Unlike an EIC, an EICR does not have separate design and construction sections because it relates to an existing installation rather than new work. It has a single signature — the person who carried out the inspection and testing.

Who Can Issue an EICR?

An EICR must be issued by a qualified and competent person. This means someone who holds the City & Guilds 2391-52 Inspection and Testing qualification (or equivalent) and has sufficient experience of the type of installation being inspected. For rented properties, the person should ideally be registered with a competent person scheme, although the regulations define a qualified person more broadly.

The Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate is used for small additions or alterations to an existing circuit that do not involve the creation of a new circuit. It is a simplified version of the EIC designed for jobs that are too small to warrant the full certificate but still require documentation.

When Is a Minor Works Certificate Used?

• ✓Adding an additional socket outlet to an existing ring final circuit
• ✓Adding a light fitting to an existing lighting circuit
• ✓Replacing a consumer unit (when no new circuits are added)
• ✓Adding a fused connection unit (spur) to an existing circuit
• ✓Replacing accessories (sockets, switches) if testing is required
• ✓Installing an outside light on an existing circuit

What Does a Minor Works Certificate Contain?

The Minor Works Certificate is a single-page document that records the description of the work, the circuit details, the method of protection against electric shock, and the test results for the affected circuit. It is signed by the person who carried out the work and testing. It does not require separate design and construction signatures.

When Is a Full EIC Needed Instead?

If the work involves the installation of a new circuit, a full EIC is required regardless of the size of the job. For example, installing a new dedicated cooker circuit, a new shower circuit, or a new circuit to an outbuilding all require a full EIC. A consumer unit replacement that involves adding new circuits also requires a full EIC for the new circuits. The minor works certificate is only appropriate when working on an existing circuit.

Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)

• ✓Used for: new electrical installations and new circuits
• ✓Issued: once, when the work is completed
• ✓Signatures: three (designer, installer, inspector)
• ✓Test results: full schedule of test results for all new circuits
• ✓Requires: 2391-52 qualification for the inspector
• ✓Part P: required for notifiable work (via competent person scheme or building control)

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

• ✓Used for: existing electrical installations
• ✓Issued: periodically (every 5-10 years depending on property type)
• ✓Signatures: one (the person carrying out the inspection)
• ✓Test results: schedule of test results for circuits tested
• ✓Includes: observation codes (C1, C2, C3, FI) and overall satisfactory/unsatisfactory assessment
• ✓Requires: 2391-52 qualification and sufficient experience
• ✓Legal requirement: for rented properties every 5 years

Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate

• ✓Used for: small additions or alterations to existing circuits (no new circuits)
• ✓Issued: once, when the work is completed
• ✓Signatures: one (the person carrying out the work and testing)
• ✓Test results: test results for the affected circuit only
• ✓Simpler format: single-page document

Part P of the Building Regulations for England and Wales requires that certain types of electrical work are notifiable — meaning they must be certified as compliant with the Building Regulations. Notifiable work includes the installation of a new circuit, the replacement of a consumer unit, and work in special locations such as bathrooms and kitchens.

There are two ways to certify notifiable work. The first is through a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT. Members of these schemes can self-certify their work and issue a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate alongside the EIC. The second route is to notify the local authority building control department before starting work, who will then arrange for the work to be inspected and certified.

It is important to understand that the EIC and the Building Regulations Certificate are separate documents. The EIC records the technical details of the installation and test results. The Building Regulations Certificate confirms compliance with Part P. Both are required for notifiable work.

To issue any of these electrical certificates, you need the appropriate qualifications. The City & Guilds 2391-52 Inspection and Testing qualification is the key requirement. It covers both initial verification (required for issuing EICs) and periodic inspection and testing (required for issuing EICRs).

The 2391-52 requires the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) as a prerequisite. Together, these two qualifications demonstrate that you have the knowledge and competence to carry out inspection and testing — including the full electrical certificates process — and to certify the results in accordance with the current regulations.

Related Course

Inspection & Testing (2391)

The 2391 qualifies you to issue EICs, EICRs, and Minor Works Certificates.

View Course

Related Course

18th Edition (2382)

The 18th Edition is a prerequisite for the 2391 and is required for all practising electricians.

View Course