Do I have to test every single circuit?

The inspection should cover every circuit unless access genuinely isn’t possible. Where you can’t reach or isolate something, record it as a limitation on the relevant circuit rather than leaving the field blank — a report that’s silent about what wasn’t checked is less useful to the client than one that says so plainly.

How do I decide between a C2 and a C3?

A C2 is a potentially dangerous condition that should be addressed without delay — something that could become dangerous under foreseeable conditions. A C3 is a recommendation for improvement: not compliant with a current requirement, but not presenting the same risk. If you’re weighing the two, the practical test is whether you’d be comfortable leaving it live and unaddressed until the next inspection — if not, it’s a C2.

What if I find something that needs immediate action?

A dangerous condition found during an EICR is recorded as a C1 on the report, and separately warrants a formal Electrical Danger Notice to the client on the spot — the EICR is the periodic record; the Danger Notice is the immediate warning. Issue both rather than relying on the C1 entry alone to communicate urgency.

Can I fill in an EICR without dedicated software?

Yes. A paper pad or a general document works, but you check the codes against the outcome and work out the next-inspection date yourself, and re-enter client and property details each visit. CertSync checks test values as you enter them, stops you marking a report Satisfactory while a C1 or C2 is recorded, works out the next-due date from the interval you choose, and carries client and property details forward between visits. You still set the outcome yourself. The steps above are the same either way.

How long should I keep a completed EICR?

Certificates and reports are generally worth retaining for the life of the installation, since a later inspection or a dispute may reference an earlier report. CertSync keeps issued certificates in secure cloud storage while your account is active, and for a 90-day read-only grace period if you cancel — export your own copies during that window, because the data is permanently deleted on day 91.

UK electrical certificates explained

How to fill in an EICR: a step-by-step guide for electricians

To fill in an EICR, record the client, property and supply details, inspect and test the installation circuit by circuit, code any defects C1, C2, C3 or FI, then set the overall outcome and the next inspection date before you sign. This guide takes each stage in the order an electrician works on site.

Last updated 15 October 2026. Written by the CertSync team and checked against the standards.

The short answer

Filling in an EICR means working through six stages in order: record the client, property and supply details; inspect the installation systematically board by board; test each circuit and record the results; classify any defects found using the C1, C2, C3 and FI codes; set the overall outcome (Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory) and a recommended next inspection date; then sign and issue the report. The steps below cover each stage in the order most electricians work through it.

How to fill in an EICR

This is the practical sequence for completing the report itself, once you are on site and ready to start — not the wider process of commissioning an inspection (see "How to get an EICR" on the EICR certificate page for that side of it).

Record client, property and supply details firstEnter the client, address, property type and supply characteristics (earthing arrangement, number of phases, main protective device) before you start testing — most of these fields don’t change board to board, so getting them right early saves rework.
Work through the installation board by boardInspect and test one distribution board completely before moving to the next, recording each circuit against its own line in the schedule rather than jumping between boards, which is where transcription errors creep in.
Record limitations before you record resultsWhere full access or testing isn’t possible — a locked room, a circuit that can’t be isolated — note the limitation against the relevant circuit before you fill in test values, so the report is accurate about what was and wasn’t actually checked.
Enter the test results as you take themRecord insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance and RCD results against each circuit as you measure them, not from memory at the end of the day — live validation against the applicable limits catches an out-of-range entry immediately rather than after you’ve left site.
Classify each observation with a codeWhere a circuit or item doesn’t meet the required standard, classify it C1 (danger present), C2 (potentially dangerous), C3 (improvement recommended) or FI (further investigation is advised) — and write a plain description of what you found, not just the code.
Set the overall outcomeThe overall outcome is Unsatisfactory if any C1 or C2 observation is present; C3 and FI items are advisory and don’t make it Unsatisfactory on their own. Set a recommended next-inspection date appropriate to the premises and how it’s used.
Review, sign and issueRead back through the schedule for a board or circuit you may have skipped, then sign the report and issue it to the client — a report locked on signature is the point it becomes a fixed record, so this is the last chance to correct an entry.

A note on BS 7671:2018+A4:2026

This guide describes current EICR practice under BS 7671:2018+A4:2026: the report is Unsatisfactory if any C1 or C2 observation is present, while C3 and Further Investigation (FI) items are advisory and do not affect the overall assessment on their own. The previous edition, A3:2024, is withdrawn on 15 October 2026, so a report dated on or after that day is issued against A4:2026 and its model form.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to test every single circuit?: The inspection should cover every circuit unless access genuinely isn’t possible. Where you can’t reach or isolate something, record it as a limitation on the relevant circuit rather than leaving the field blank — a report that’s silent about what wasn’t checked is less useful to the client than one that says so plainly.
How do I decide between a C2 and a C3?: A C2 is a potentially dangerous condition that should be addressed without delay — something that could become dangerous under foreseeable conditions. A C3 is a recommendation for improvement: not compliant with a current requirement, but not presenting the same risk. If you’re weighing the two, the practical test is whether you’d be comfortable leaving it live and unaddressed until the next inspection — if not, it’s a C2.
What if I find something that needs immediate action?: A dangerous condition found during an EICR is recorded as a C1 on the report, and separately warrants a formal Electrical Danger Notice to the client on the spot — the EICR is the periodic record; the Danger Notice is the immediate warning. Issue both rather than relying on the C1 entry alone to communicate urgency.
Can I fill in an EICR without dedicated software?: Yes. A paper pad or a general document works, but you check the codes against the outcome and work out the next-inspection date yourself, and re-enter client and property details each visit. CertSync checks test values as you enter them, stops you marking a report Satisfactory while a C1 or C2 is recorded, works out the next-due date from the interval you choose, and carries client and property details forward between visits. You still set the outcome yourself. The steps above are the same either way.
How long should I keep a completed EICR?: Certificates and reports are generally worth retaining for the life of the installation, since a later inspection or a dispute may reference an earlier report. CertSync keeps issued certificates in secure cloud storage while your account is active, and for a 90-day read-only grace period if you cancel — export your own copies during that window, because the data is permanently deleted on day 91.

Disclaimer

This guide is general information, not professional advice, and does not replace professional judgement, training, scheme-body guidance or the current edition of BS 7671. CertSync does not verify the qualifications of the people using it. The contractor named on a certificate is responsible for what it certifies.

Sources & official guidance

IET — BS 7671:2018+A4:2026

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