Pre-Purchase Electrical Surveys

Pre-Purchase Electrical Surveys

We are an independent company specialising in Pre-Purchase Electrical Surveys for new and old properties in the following counties: London, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Surrey, Bedfordshire, Kent, Essex, Suffolk, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Sussex, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Manchester.

We offer a pre purchase electrical installation condition report (EICR) which was previously known as ‘Fixed Wire Testing’. This report outlines any damage, deterioration, defects and conditions of the current electrical install.

There are several stages of the EICR test. The different procedure are as follows:

• Visual Inspection. Within the initial stage a visual assessment from the engineer is undertaken to see if anything is clearly in need of repair or replacement.

• Dead Testing. Here the engineer will disconnect the electrical installation from the mains power supply. The various phases of Dead Testing are performed to check for possible issues with an electrical system. These tests include an insulation test, a continuity test, and a polarity test. Possible issues that may come up: faulty electric connectors, potential system shocks etc.

• Live Testing. These tests are carried out to ensure that the electric system can immediately shut down in the event of a major emergency.

• RCD Testing. These EICR tests are in place for fire prevention purposes (Testing is done on more modern electrical systems’ RCDs -Residual-Current Devices).

For Landlords and their properties an EICR is a legal requirement and required every 5 years. Generally, an EICR will provide codings against the condition of the installation. The classification codes are as follows:

Code C1 - This code should indicates that danger exists, requiring immediate remedial action. The persons using the installation are at immediate risk.

Code C2 - This code indicates that, whilst an observed deficiency is not considered to be dangerous at the time of the inspection, it could become a real and immediate danger if a fault or other foreseeable event was to occur in the installation or connected equipment.

Code C3 - This code means that this installation does not comply with wiring regulations, but does not pose any immediate danger. In addition, its improvement will strengthen the safety of the electrical installation. An example of a C3 code might be the location of an electrical socket that could potentially damage the plug or cable. You should deem this code as an "advisory note". Although you are not required to repair it, it is recommended that you do. 

Code FI - The code ‘ Further investigation required without delay’ means that your engineer notices something whilst carrying out the testing. An example of this maybe the light level intensity of the emergency lighting seems lower than expected. FI codes can be enough to make an EICR unsatisfactory. For instance if there are a number of circuits cannot be verified.

An EICR range from £185 - £300 depending on the size of your property and the number of circuits. To find out availability and to book your Pre-Purchase Electrical Survey please select the button below ‘Book Your Inspection’.