# Does my business need an EICR?

Look beyond portable appliances to the condition of the wiring and fixed installation.

Jurisdiction: England, Wales, Scotland
Source check: 2026-11-03. Editorial status: source-checked draft; specialist sign-off pending.

## Who this covers
People responsible for the safety of electrical installations at work. Rented homes can have separate statutory inspection requirements.

## The requirement
Maintain the electrical installation so it remains safe. Competent inspection and testing help establish its condition and identify defects.

## Practical steps
- Identify who is responsible for the fixed installation.
- Find the latest installation records and inspection reports.
- Ask a competent electrical contractor to advise on inspection scope and timing.

## Common mistake
Do not apply a residential rental inspection interval to every commercial premises. PAT testing does not inspect the whole fixed installation.

## Timing
Set inspection and maintenance arrangements for the installation and its risks. Check any specific premises rules and previous inspection recommendations.

## Questions for a provider
- Which areas and circuits will be inspected?
- What limitations will appear in the report?
- How will urgent defects be explained and made safe?

## Official sources
- [HSE: electrical safety FAQs](https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq.htm)

General information, not an assessment or a statement that a business is compliant.


## Organise the inspection around access and operations

### Before you commission work
Provide available installation records and previous findings. Identify who controls shared electrical areas and which operations could be affected by a shutdown. Agree how the electrician will obtain access and who on site can authorise operational arrangements. Make unresolved scope questions visible before the visit.

### Follow through on the result
Ask the inspector to explain findings and limitations in terms the responsible manager can act on. Keep remedial proposals linked to the original observations so quotes can be compared. Record the evidence supplied after repairs, and ask the competent provider whether further inspection or testing is needed to close the finding.

## Related buying guides
- [Commercial EICR quotes: scope, costs and remedial work](https://whatcompliance.com/buying-guides/commercial-eicr-costs-and-quotes)

## Buying the right work
- Find the previous report, circuit information and unresolved observations.
- Agree which areas and circuits are included and any access or shutdown restrictions.
- Separate the inspection price from the cost of remedial work and explain who authorises repairs.

## What you can do yourself
You can locate records, identify the party responsible and prepare access. Do not treat that administrative work as competence to inspect an installation or undertake electrical repairs.

## When to get help
Use a competent electrical professional for inspection, testing and technical interpretation. Ask them to explain any limitations and findings in terms you can act on.

## Records to keep
- Installation information and the inspection report.
- The inspection scope and any agreed limitations.
- A record of action on observations and the reasoning for the next review.

## Does PAT testing replace an EICR?
No. The fixed installation and portable equipment are different parts of electrical safety. Ask what each service actually covers.

## Is every business required to have an EICR every five years?
Do not apply a residential letting rule as a universal commercial requirement. The installation, use, risks, relevant premises rules and previous findings affect the arrangements.

Source check for this expanded guide: 2026-11-03. Specialist sign-off pending.