BEFORE YOU REQUEST A QUOTE
Before comparing commercial EICR prices, give each electrician the same information about the installation, access and operating hours. Confirm what will be inspected, what may be excluded and whether remedial work is a separate purchase.
In this buying guide
Describe the installation, not just the floor areaAgree the inspection scope and limitationsPlan shutdowns with the people who run the siteSeparate the report from the repair budgetChallenge an unexplained renewal intervalQuestions for providersDescribe the installation, not just the floor area
Provide the premises address, use, available circuit schedules and previous electrical reports. Explain whether you occupy the entire building or only part of it, and identify the landlord or manager for shared areas. If you do not know the installation size, ask whether a preliminary survey is needed to establish a reliable quote. Avoid supplying a guessed circuit count as though it were verified.
Agree the inspection scope and limitations
Ask the electrician to set out the extent of the inspection and any proposed limitations before you accept. Make sure the report can distinguish areas inspected from those inaccessible or excluded. An apparently lower price may cover less of the installation. Ask what an exclusion means for the usefulness of the report and how an unresolved area could be assessed later.
Plan shutdowns with the people who run the site
Tell the provider about servers, refrigeration, security, machinery and other operations that may be affected by a loss of power. Agree how any required shutdown will be planned and communicated. Out-of-hours access, escorts and repeat visits belong in the commercial comparison. The electrician should establish the safe method of work; a buyer should not request live work simply to avoid disruption.
Separate the report from the repair budget
Confirm the report delivery date and how urgent concerns will be communicated before then. Ask for the meaning and priority of observations to be explained by the competent inspector. Where repairs are needed, request an itemised proposal identifying the original findings, proposed work and evidence of completion. A repair invoice alone may not answer whether further testing or certification is required.
Challenge an unexplained renewal interval
HSE describes electrical maintenance in relation to the equipment, installation and conditions of use. Ask the provider to explain the basis for the proposed next inspection, including previous findings and any relevant premises-specific rules. Do not treat a residential letting interval as the answer for every commercial building. Keep any insurance or lease condition alongside the technical recommendation so you can see the separate reasons.
Questions to include in your quote request
Send the same brief to each provider, and ask them to identify assumptions and exclusions in their reply.
- What installation and circuits does the price cover?
- Which limitations are proposed and what do they leave unresolved?
- What shutdowns, escorts or out-of-hours work are assumed?
- Are explanation, remedial work and follow-up testing included?
Common buying questions
Should I accept a repair quote from the inspector?
You can consider it, but ask for an itemised scope tied to the findings. For a second quote, give the other competent contractor the same report and access information. Do not delay action on urgent findings while comparing prices.
Will an EICR quote include PAT testing?
Do not assume so. Ask whether portable equipment is included or priced as a separate service.
Check the requirement before buying
These source-linked safety guides explain scope and jurisdiction. They remain drafts pending specialist review.
- Does my business need an EICR? — England, Wales, Scotland
- Where should an NI business start with electrical safety? — Northern Ireland
Official sources behind the distinctions
Sources checked 3 November 2026. Our quote-comparison suggestions are editorial guidance; these organisations do not endorse providers or this website.
This is purchasing guidance, not an assessment of your premises, technical approval or an interpretation of your contract. We do not publish unverified market-price ranges. Ask for a written quote for your actual scope.
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