An EICR can look like a wall of acronyms and numbers. It isn’t — once you know which page tells you what, the report becomes very readable. Here’s a tour.
The cover page
The cover names the property, the client, the inspecting contractor, the engineer’s qualifications, and crucially the overall result — Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. That headline result is determined entirely by whether any C1 or C2 observations were raised further on.
Summary of inspection
A short narrative describing the type of installation, extent of inspection, any limitations (e.g. inaccessible areas), and the date of the next recommended inspection. If anything was outside the scope — for example, the contractor couldn’t access a riser cupboard — you’ll find it here.
Observations and classification codes
This is the part that usually triggers questions. Each issue identified is given a code:
- C1 — danger present. Risk of injury. Immediate action required.
- C2 — potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial action required.
- C3 — improvement recommended. Not a fail, but worth doing.
- FI — further investigation required without delay.
Any C1, C2 or FI codes make the report Unsatisfactory. C3s do not.
Schedule of circuits
A table listing every circuit in the installation — what it serves, its protective device (MCB/RCBO), cable size, and reference method. This is what the engineer was actually working from on site.
Test results
The numerical results of each electrical test, circuit by circuit:
- Insulation resistance — megohms between conductors
- Continuity — ohms across protective conductors
- Earth fault loop impedance (Zs)
- RCD trip times
- Polarity — confirmed on every circuit
You don’t need to interpret these line-by-line; the engineer has done that already. They’re here so any future contractor can pick up exactly where this report left off.
What to do next
If your result is Satisfactory: file the certificate, schedule the next inspection (five years for most rentals), done. If Unsatisfactory: every C1/C2/FI item needs to be remediated, and the property re-tested or a partial supplementary certificate issued. Most contractors, including us, will price the remedials directly off the report so there’s no surveying round trip.
The EICR isn’t a pass/fail mystery — it’s a structured snapshot. Once you can read the codes, you can read the whole report.