how-to
How to Read an EICR Report and Understand Every Code
Last Updated: October 30, 2026
Quick Summary
To read an EICR report, start with the front page for the overall satisfactory or unsatisfactory result, dates and scope, then read Part 2 limitations before Part 3 observation codes. C1 and C2 items make the report unsatisfactory, while C3 items alone do not.
- A satisfactory result means no dangerous conditions were found at the time of inspection, not that the wiring is perfect.
- One C2 observation anywhere in the report makes the whole report unsatisfactory.
- C1 means danger present and the electrician should isolate the circuit and make it safe before leaving.
- FI items need a follow-up visit before anyone can say whether they are C1, C2 or C3.
- Ask for an itemised quote that references each observation by its row or description in the report.
Table of Contents
- Start With the Front Page: Overall Assessment and Scope
- EICR Report Example: A Section-by-Section Walkthrough
- EICR Codes Explained: C1, C2, C3 and FI in Plain English
- Reading the Limitations, Extent and Access Notes
- Unsatisfactory EICR Report: What to Do Next
- Who Can Carry Out an EICR and How to Check the Report Is Valid
- What Each Role Should Take From the Report
- Book Your EICR With a NAPIT-Registered Team
- Frequently Asked Questions
Start With the Front Page: Overall Assessment and Scope
Learning how to read an EICR report starts with one page: the front.
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal record of the condition of the fixed wiring in a property (Electrical Safety Advice for Landlords).
The front page tells you three things:
- The overall result: either satisfactory or unsatisfactory
- The inspection date and the next due date
- The extent of the inspection and any limits agreed with the client
If you are new to these documents, our plain-English guide on what an EICR involves explains what gets tested and why.
Watch out: a "satisfactory" result does not mean the wiring is perfect. It means no dangerous conditions were found at the time of the inspection.
EICR Report Example: A Section-by-Section Walkthrough
A typical domestic report runs to around ten pages, mostly tables. To see what actually happens during the inspection that produced the report, read what happens during an EICR inspection. Here is how the sections run, in the order you will find them, and what to check in each one.
- Front page: overall assessment, dates, and scope
- Part 1: details of the client, the installer, and the property
- Part 2: the extent of the inspection and any limitations
- Part 3: the summary of the inspection, including the observation codes
- Section D: the schedule of items tested, plus the schedule of test results
Most people skip straight to Part 3. That is the right instinct, but read Part 2 first. It tells you what the electrician could not check.
What to Check on Each Page
Use this as a checklist as you turn the pages. It is the same sequence an experienced reviewer follows.
Front page. Confirm the overall assessment (satisfactory or unsatisfactory), the date of inspection, the recommended next inspection date, and the address.
Part 1, details of the client, installer, and property. Look for the inspector's name and the trading name of the business.
Part 2, extent and limitations. This is the most under-read page.
The Schedule of Inspections and Schedule of Test Results
You do not need to interpret the numbers. What matters is that the readings were taken and recorded. Blank rows or "N/V" entries mean the item was not verified.
A few practical checks on these pages:
- Every circuit listed in the schedule of test results should also appear in the schedule of inspections. A circuit that appears in one but not the other is worth querying.
- The "limitations" column should be consistent with Part 2. If Part 2 says a loft was inaccessible, the schedule should not claim every item in that area was inspected.
- Look for the tester's signature and the date on the schedule pages, not just the front page. A report that is signed only at the front is harder to verify.
If any page is missing, or a section is left blank without explanation, treat that as a limitation in its own right and ask the inspector to clarify in writing.
EICR Codes Explained: C1, C2, C3 and FI in Plain English
The observation codes are the heart of the report, and they are simpler than they look. Each code tells you how serious a finding is and what to do about it.
- C1: danger present. Someone could be harmed now. The electrician should isolate the circuit and make it safe before leaving.
- C2: potentially dangerous. The defect could become dangerous and needs remedial work urgently.
- C3: improvement recommended. Not dangerous, but the installation would be safer or more reliable if improved.
C1 and C2 items make the report unsatisfactory. C3 items on their own do not. FI needs a follow-up visit to resolve.
Why the Overall Result Is Not the Same as the Codes
Here is the point most guides get wrong: the overall assessment is a summary of the codes, not a separate finding. One C2 anywhere in the report makes the whole report unsatisfactory, even if everything else is clean.
So do not treat the front page as the verdict and the codes as detail. Read them together. The codes explain the verdict.
Reading the Limitations, Extent and Access Notes
Limitations tell you what was not inspected, and they matter more than people think. If a loft, a locked cupboard, or a section of fixed wiring was not accessible, the report should say so.
Common limitations include:
- Circuits that could not be isolated during the visit
- Areas with no safe access, such as a boarded loft
- Equipment that was not in use at the time of testing
An honest report names these clearly. A report with no limitations at all on an older property deserves a second look.
Unsatisfactory EICR Report: What to Do Next
An unsatisfactory result is not a disaster, but it does need action. The key is to work in order of risk, not in the order the observations appear on the page.
Step 1: Separate the Codes Before You Do Anything Else
Go through Part 3 and sort the observations into three piles: C1, C2, and C3/FI. Do not start with the cheapest fix or the one nearest the front door. Start with the code that carries the most risk.
- C1 items mean danger is present. If the electrician isolated a circuit, leave it off. Do not re-energise it to "test whether it really is a problem".
- C2 items are potentially dangerous and need remedial work urgently. These are what make the report unsatisfactory, so they are the priority for quoting and booking.
- C3 and FI items do not make the report unsatisfactory on their own. FI items need a follow-up visit before anyone can say whether they are C1, C2, or C3.
A common pattern is for a report to list one C2 and several C3s. The C2 drives the unsatisfactory result; the C3s are improvement recommendations you can plan over time.
Step 2: Get an Itemised Quote Against the Report
Ask for a written quote that references each observation by its row or description in the report. A quote that says "remedial works as per EICR" without itemising is hard to check and easy to inflate.
If you are a tenant, you are not usually the person who commissions the work, but you can still ask the landlord or agent for the itemised quote and the date the work is booked.
Step 3: Book the Work With a Competent Person
The remedial work should be carried out by someone competent to do it, and the installation should then be re-tested. In practice this means a qualified electrician working to BS 7671. Ask for the same standard of evidence you would expect on the original report: a dated certificate or minor works certificate for the remedial work, and a follow-up EICR where the original report recommended one.
Step 4: Keep the Paper Trail Together
Keep the original unsatisfactory report, the itemised quote, the remedial certificates, and any follow-up report in one place. If you later sell, let, or need to demonstrate compliance, that bundle is what you will be asked for. A follow-up report that shows the C2 has been resolved is far more useful than a clean report with no history.
What Each Role Should Do First
The same unsatisfactory report leads to different first actions depending on who is holding it.
| Role | First action | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Tenant | Ask the landlord or agent in writing when the C1 and C2 items will be remedied | Copy of the report, your written request, and the landlord's reply |
| Landlord | Diarise the remedial work and the next inspection date; commission the C2 work | Itemised quote, remedial certificates, follow-up report |
| Homeowner | Get the C2 work quoted and booked; plan C3 improvements separately | Quote, certificates, and a note of which C3s you chose to defer |
| Buyer | Treat C2 items as a cost to price into your offer, not a reason to walk away | The report, the quote, and your surveyor's comments |
If you need remedial work or a re-test, our team handles EICR testing and electrical inspections across the area.
Who Can Carry Out an EICR and How to Check the Report Is Valid
An EICR must be carried out by a competent person, and in practice that means a qualified electrician with inspection and testing qualifications. The work should follow BS 7671, the wiring regulations (BS 7671 - Requirements for Electrical Installations).
To check a report is valid, look for:
- The inspector's name, qualifications, and registration body
- The scheme logo, such as NAPIT, with a membership number
- The date of inspection and the recommended next inspection date
Our own team is NAPIT registered under member number 69848 and qualified to BS 7671 18th Edition and inspection standards. If you want to know what that registration means for you, read our guide on what NAPIT registration means. Landlords can also check the rules on how often an EICR is needed.
What Each Role Should Take From the Report
The same report reads differently depending on who you are. Here is what to focus on.
| Role | Focus on | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Tenant | C1 and C2 items | Ask the landlord when remedial work is booked |
| Landlord | Overall result and dates | Keeps you compliant with safety duties |
| Homeowner | C3 items and limitations | Plan improvements and future checks |
| Buyer | C2 items and age of report | Informs your survey and negotiation |
Tenants should ask for a copy and query anything marked C1. Landlords should diarise the next inspection date the day the report lands. Buyers should treat a C2 as a cost to price in, not a reason to walk away.
Book Your EICR With a NAPIT-Registered Team
Reading a report is one thing. Getting a clear, honest one is another.
Our NAPIT-registered electricians carry out EICR testing for homeowners, landlords, and businesses. Our team is fully insured for domestic and commercial sites and qualified to BS 7671 18th Edition and inspection standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the different EICR codes C1, C2 and C3 mean?
C1 means danger is present and the circuit or equipment should be taken out of use immediately. C2 means a potentially dangerous condition that needs urgent remedial work, though it is not an immediate threat. C3 means improvement is recommended but the installation is not unsafe. A report with any C1 or C2 observation is classed as unsatisfactory, while C3 items alone do not change a satisfactory result. FI means further investigation is needed before the inspector can assign a code.
What does a code 2 on an EICR mean?
A code 2, written as C2, is a potentially dangerous condition. It sits between an immediate hazard and a recommendation: the inspector has found something that could become dangerous and needs remedial work urgently. Common examples include a missing main protective bonding conductor or a consumer unit with no RCD protection on socket circuits. Any C2 makes the overall EICR report unsatisfactory, so ask your electrician for a written quote and timescale for the work.
What should I do if my EICR report is unsatisfactory?
Read the observations list first and separate the C1, C2 and FI items from any C3s. Arrange for C1 items to be made safe straight away, then book the C2 remedial work with a competent electrician and keep the invoice as proof. Ask for a minor works or installation certificate covering the repairs. Landlords should retain the report and the remedial evidence, as a satisfactory result is needed to demonstrate compliance. Do not simply file the report away without acting on the codes.
Can any electrician carry out an EICR?
No. An EICR must be carried out by a competent person, meaning someone with the qualifications, experience and test equipment to inspect and test to BS 7671, the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations. In practice that means an electrician qualified in inspection and testing, often registered with a scheme such as NAPIT or NICEIC. Ask for the inspector's registration number and check it on the scheme's online register before booking,
If your report has come back unsatisfactory, do not sit on it. Book a re-test or remedial visit with a team that will walk you through the findings line by line.
