EICR Codes Explained: What C1, C2, C3 and FI Mean

Why EICRs use codes

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) records every observation the electrician makes during the inspection. Each observation is given a classification code so you can see at a glance how serious it is and what needs to happen next.

The overall result of the report is either satisfactory or unsatisfactory, and that result depends entirely on which codes appear.

C1: Danger present

A C1 means there is an immediate risk of injury, for example exposed live parts that can be touched. The electrician should make the danger safe before leaving, usually by isolating the circuit or repairing it on the spot, and will tell you straight away.

Any C1 makes the report unsatisfactory.

C2: Potentially dangerous

A C2 is not an immediate danger but could become one if a fault occurred. Common C2 items include:

• No RCD protection on socket circuits that could supply equipment used outdoors
• Missing or inadequate earthing or main protective bonding to gas and water pipes
• Damaged accessories or cables where live parts could become exposed
• Signs of overheating at sockets, switches or the consumer unit

Any C2 makes the report unsatisfactory, and the work should be carried out urgently.

C3: Improvement recommended

A C3 means the installation does not meet the current edition of the wiring regulations (BS 7671) but is not considered dangerous. A typical example is an older consumer unit that is safe but lacks features a new one would have.

C3s on their own do not make a report unsatisfactory. You do not have to act on them, but they are worth planning for, especially when you next renovate.

FI: Further investigation required

FI means the electrician found something that could be a problem but could not fully check it during the inspection, for example a circuit that could not be traced or a test result that needs investigating.

An FI makes the report unsatisfactory until the investigation is done and the result is recorded.

What landlords must do after an unsatisfactory EICR

Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, if your report contains a C1, C2 or FI you must:

• Have the remedial work or further investigation carried out by a qualified person within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so
• Get written confirmation from the electrician that the work has been done and the installation now meets the required standard
• Give that confirmation, along with the original report, to your tenants and to the local council within 28 days of the work being completed

If you are unsure what an item on your report means, email us and we will explain it in plain English.