EICR Testing In Harwich (Fixed Wire Testing)
TISS Electrical carry out certified EICR testing across Harwich and Dovercourt for landlords and commercial property owners, inspecting the wiring, distribution boards and switchgear built into your building against BS 7671 Wiring Regulations. Whether you let a period terrace near the Dovercourt seafront or run a unit close to Harwich International Port, our engineers plan the inspection around how the property is used and keep disruption to a minimum. Every circuit is tested using Bluetooth data logging and recorded on a written EICR with each observation clearly coded, followed by a call to talk you through what it means.
TISS Electrical provide EICR testing and fixed wire testing in Harwich, Dovercourt and across north east Essex, working with landlords, businesses and industrial sites to keep their electrical installations safe and compliant with BS 7671.
Harwich’s old town still follows its medieval street plan and is full of listed buildings, including the Electric Palace Cinema, which opened in 1911. Dovercourt grew as a Victorian seaside resort, while the warehouses and logistics units around Harwich International Port at Parkeston run on far newer and heavier electrical supplies, so the engineer checks how old your installation is and how the building is used before testing starts.
TISS Electrical, now merged with City 2 City Electrical, have offices in Ipswich and Chelmsford, with Ipswich the closer of the two to Harwich. Send us a few details about the property through our contact form and we’ll confirm the cost and the earliest date we can book you in.
Do I Need An EICR?
If you rent out a property in Harwich or Dovercourt, yes. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require landlords to have the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified person, and to give tenants a copy of the report within 28 days. Many landlords still call this a landlord electrical safety certificate, but the document itself is the EICR. We also carry out PAT testing for landlords, which can be done on the same visit.
For shops, offices and industrial premises, no single law names an EICR. What the law does require, under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, is that employers keep their electrical systems safe, and a periodic inspection against BS 7671 is the recognised way to show you’ve done that. Insurers may ask to see a current report, especially after an electrical fault or fire.
If you want the full background on legal duties and testing intervals, our guide to fixed wire testing covers it in detail.
What Happens If You Don’t Have A Valid EICR?
For landlords, the local council can issue a fine of up to £30,000 for breaching the 2020 regulations. It can also arrange the remedial work itself and recover the cost from you.
For businesses, an out of date or missing report leaves you with very little to show an insurer or inspector if something goes wrong. The wiring behind your walls rarely shows its age, and loose connections or failing insulation can sit unnoticed for years until testing picks them up.
What’s Included In An EICR Visit
- Inspection and testing of every circuit, distribution board and accessory against BS 7671
- Results recorded with Bluetooth data logging, so readings feed directly into your report
- DBS checked engineers on every visit
- A written EICR with each observation coded by priority
- A follow up call to go through the results with you
- Costs for any remedial work explained and agreed with you first
How Long Does An EICR Take And Will The Power Be Off?
It depends on the size of the installation. A small flat usually takes a few hours, while a larger commercial building with several distribution boards can take a full day or more.
Each circuit has to be switched off for part of the testing, so expect short interruptions to the power. For businesses we can work through the building in sections or outside opening hours, so the site keeps running while the inspection is carried out.
How Much Does An EICR Cost In Harwich?
The price depends mainly on the number of circuits and distribution boards and the size of the property, with a different rate if the work has to happen out of hours. You’ll get a clear quote before anything is booked.
To get an accurate figure quickly, let us know:
- The type of property and roughly how big it is (number of bedrooms for a home, or floor area for commercial premises)
- How many distribution boards it has, if you know
- When the last EICR was carried out, if there was one
What Do C1, C2, C3 And FI Mean On An EICR?
Every observation on your report is given a code, and the codes decide whether the installation passes.
C1 means danger is present right now, such as exposed live parts. With your permission, the engineer makes the affected circuit safe before leaving the property.
C2 means the fault is potentially dangerous, such as inadequate earthing, and needs fixing as soon as possible.
C3 is a recommended improvement. It doesn’t make the installation unsafe, and a report with only C3 observations is still satisfactory.
FI means something needs further investigation before the engineer can say whether it’s safe.
Any C1, C2 or FI makes the report unsatisfactory. For landlords, the remedial work then has to be completed within 28 days of the inspection, or sooner if the report says so.
What Happens If Your EICR Fails?
You don’t need to find another contractor. TISS Electrical carry out the remedial work themselves, whether that’s replacing an outdated consumer unit or correcting earthing and bonding. You’ll see the cost and the reason for each job before anything goes ahead.
Once the work is finished, landlords receive written confirmation that the faults have been fixed. The regulations require you to send a copy to your tenants and your local council within 28 days of the work being completed. Your records are then updated so the property is fully documented until the next inspection.
Commercial EICR Testing Around Harwich International Port
Port and logistics sites often run several distribution boards across large floor areas. We can bring a team of anywhere from 2 to 20 engineers depending on the size of the site, which means less time on site and less disruption to your operations.
If your PAT testing or emergency lighting test is due around the same time, we can cover them in the same visit through our combination testing.
Areas We Cover Around Harwich
As part of our fixed wire testing across Essex, our engineers carry out EICRs in Harwich, Dovercourt and the villages nearby, including:
Frequently Asked Questions About EICR Testing In Harwich
No. TISS Electrical price every EICR in Harwich individually, based on the size of the property and the number of circuits and distribution boards, so you only pay for the testing your property actually needs. Bluetooth data logging and advisory photos are included at no extra cost, and your written quote has no hidden costs.
For a rented home, the price mainly comes down to the number of bedrooms and circuits in the property. If you let several homes around Harwich or Dovercourt, tell us how many there are and where they are, and we’ll quote for the whole portfolio in one go.
It can be. Booking your PAT testing and EICR together through our combination testing can reduce the total cost by up to 25%, and your tenants or staff only have to deal with one visit instead of two.
Up to five years for rented homes and most commercial premises, three years for industrial sites and ten years for owner occupied homes, based on IET guidance. If the engineer sets an earlier date on your report, that date takes priority.
No. Under the 2020 regulations, a valid EICR covers the property for up to five years across tenancies. You just need to give each new tenant a copy before they move in.
They can. Every EICR records a recommended date for the next inspection, and older installations with worn wiring or outdated consumer units often get a shorter interval than the standard five years.
An EICR has to be carried out by a qualified and competent electrician. TISS Electrical engineers are trained to inspect to BS 7671 and complete a refresher course every year.
An EICR checks the fixed wiring built into the building, while PAT testing checks the equipment that plugs into it. Many businesses and landlords need both.
For more on your legal obligations, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 are published in full on legislation.gov.uk.