Commercial EICRs are more involved than domestic ones, more legally important, and far more scrutinised by insurers and auditors. If you run a commercial premises in Mid Somerset — hotel, office, retail, warehouse, care home, HMO — you almost certainly need a current EICR on file. Here’s what the regulations actually say, what the inspection covers, and what happens when one expires.
Quick summary: Most commercial premises need an EICR every 5 years under BS 7671, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Your insurer almost certainly requires one.
The legal framework
Three pieces of legislation combine to make the commercial EICR effectively mandatory:
1. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Regulation 4(2) requires every employer and self-employed person to maintain the electrical system in a condition “to prevent danger”. You can’t demonstrate that without a periodic inspection.
2. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Article 8 makes the “responsible person” (usually the employer or building owner) responsible for ensuring electrical installations don’t pose a fire risk. An EICR is the standard evidence.
3. BS 7671:2018 Amendment 2 (the Wiring Regulations)
BS 7671 Chapter 65 recommends maximum periods between inspections. For commercial premises, that’s 5 years (3 years for some high-risk environments). Insurance policies almost universally reference BS 7671 compliance.
Inspection frequency by premises type
| Premises type | Max period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Offices | 5 years | Or at change of occupancy |
| Retail / showroom | 5 years | More frequent if high customer footfall |
| Restaurants & cafes | 5 years | 3 years if wet / humid areas extensive |
| Hotels & B&Bs | 5 years | Plus annual emergency lighting and fire alarm |
| Care homes | 5 years | HTM 06-01 may require 3-yearly |
| Schools & nurseries | 5 years | Annual minor inspections also recommended |
| HMOs (licensable) | 5 years | Also 1 year after any major alteration |
| Industrial / warehouse | 3–5 years | 3 years for harsh environments |
| Petrol stations / hazardous | 1–3 years | Dedicated ex-rated inspection regime |
| Laundrettes / swimming pools | 1 year | High-risk wet environment |
What a commercial EICR actually covers
Unlike a domestic EICR (often a single distribution board and one-phase supply), a commercial inspection typically covers:
- The origin of the installation — main switch, incoming supply, main earthing and bonding, prospective fault current (PSCC) measurement
- All distribution boards — main DB, sub-DBs, specialist boards for mechanical plant, kitchen, server room, etc. Each gets a detailed schedule
- Every final circuit — tested individually. Insulation resistance at 500V DC, continuity of protective conductors, polarity, earth fault loop impedance (Zs) at the furthest point
- Three-phase verification — phase rotation, phase-to-phase and phase-to-neutral voltages, balanced loading across all three phases
- RCD and RCBO testing — every device tested at 1x and 5x rated residual current, with trip times verified against BS 7671 tables
- Sampling of accessories — sockets, switches, light fittings, cable terminations at junctions. A minimum 10% sample is required, with all areas accessible inspected
- Fire safety interface — inspection of fire alarm supply, emergency lighting supply, fire-rated cable where required
Classification codes (and what they cost you)
C1 — Danger Present
Immediate danger of injury. The inspector will usually make-safe on the day (isolate the circuit). Overall report rated Unsatisfactory. Example: exposed live conductors, missing earth to a Class I appliance.
C2 — Potentially Dangerous
Defect could become dangerous. Urgent remedial required, typically within 28 days. Overall report rated Unsatisfactory. Example: lack of RCD protection on socket circuits, damaged cable insulation not yet exposed.
C3 — Improvement Recommended
Doesn’t comply with current BS 7671 but complied when installed. Report can still be Satisfactory. Example: older installations without surge protection now required for new work.
FI — Further Investigation
Potential defect that cannot be fully assessed without opening up concealed work. Must be investigated before the report is finalised.
An EICR is Satisfactory only when there are no C1 or C2 codes.
Insurance consequences of a lapsed EICR
Nearly every commercial property policy includes an “electrical installations” condition — usually worded as requiring compliance with BS 7671 and a valid inspection certificate. If an electrical fire occurs and you can’t produce a current EICR:
- The insurer may reduce or refuse the claim
- Repudiation can reference pre-existing breach of policy conditions
- Loss-of-use (business interruption) cover may also be void
- Civil liability to employees or customers injured may fall to you personally
Insurers increasingly ask for EICR dates on policy renewal paperwork. An expired EICR is a common reason for renewal refusals or premium hikes.
Timing your next EICR
Don’t wait for the 5-year anniversary to arrive. Book your next EICR 3 months before expiry so that:
- Any remedial work can be planned and quoted before the existing certificate expires
- Your insurance policy renewal arrives with a fresh certificate attached
- Tenant / lease / audit deadlines don’t force rushed quotes on remedial works
Bundling EICR into a maintenance contract
For premises with fire alarm service requirements (BS 5839 quarterly / annual), emergency lighting (BS 5266 monthly / annual), and PAT testing, bundling everything into a single maintenance contract saves money and eliminates compliance gaps. We run a single annual schedule, issue all certificates to a single digital pack, and provide reactive callout cover — often cheaper than paying for each inspection on demand.
Getting a commercial EICR quote
For commercial quotes we’ll need to do a brief site walk-through to count distribution boards and circuits — this takes 15–30 minutes and is free. Call Dan on 07889 334849 or use the contact page. Larger portfolios (letting agents, facilities managers, multi-site operators) get discounted batch pricing.