When it comes to electrical safety in your home or rental property, few documents carry more weight than an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). These reports use a coding system that might seem mysterious at first glance—C1, C2, C3, and FI—but knowing what these classifications mean could quite literally save lives and properties.
At DH Electrical Services, we’ve conducted thousands of EICRs across the North West, and we’ve noticed that many property owners struggle to interpret the results. Let’s break down these codes and explain exactly what they mean for your property’s safety and compliance.
What Exactly Is an EICR?
An EICR serves as a health check for your property’s electrical system. Similar to how you’d get your car MOT’d, your electrical installation needs regular inspection to ensure it remains safe and compliant with current regulations.
Since July 2020, UK landlords must have valid EICRs for all their rental properties, with inspections required every five years at minimum. Even for homeowners, regular electrical testing provides peace of mind and helps prevent dangerous faults from developing.
During an EICR, a qualified electrician examines your property’s entire electrical system—from the consumer unit (fuseboard) to sockets, light fittings, and wiring. They’ll check for wear and tear, damage, defects, and anything that doesn’t comply with current regulations.
The findings get recorded using a classification system: C1, C2, C3, and FI. These codes indicate how urgent any issues are and what actions you need to take.
C1 Code: Danger Present – Act Immediately
A C1 code represents the most serious classification on an EICR report. Put simply, it means there’s an immediate danger present in your electrical installation that poses a risk of injury or even death.
Examples of C1 defects include:
- Exposed live wiring where someone could touch it
- Serious electric shock risks from damaged equipment
- Incorrect polarity (where live and neutral connections are reversed)
- Missing or inadequate earthing
- Severe overheating of electrical components
When our electricians discover a C1 defect during testing, we’ll inform you immediately—both verbally and in writing. In most cases, we’ll need to make the dangerous element safe on the spot, which might mean disconnecting the affected circuit or component.
The implications of a C1 code are straightforward: you must fix these issues immediately. Delaying repairs isn’t just dangerous—it could invalidate your insurance or lead to legal problems, especially for landlords.
If you’re a landlord, you have 28 days from the inspection to complete all remedial work, though C1 defects should really be addressed the same day they’re discovered. Failure to fix C1 issues could result in fines or prosecution if someone gets hurt.
C2 Code: Potentially Dangerous – Urgent Action Required
A C2 classification identifies defects that don’t present an immediate danger but could become hazardous in the future. Think of C2 codes as ticking time bombs in your electrical system—they might not be causing problems now, but they could fail dangerously later.
Common C2 defects we spot include:
- Damaged sockets or switches where no live parts are yet exposed
- Inadequate IP ratings for electrical equipment in bathrooms or outside
- Signs of overheating at connections
- Outdated consumer units without RCD protection
- Improperly secured cables or equipment
While C2 defects don’t demand the same immediate response as C1 issues, they still require urgent attention. The term “potentially dangerous” shouldn’t be taken lightly—these problems have real potential to cause harm.
For landlords, the same 28-day remediation requirement applies to C2 codes. Homeowners should also prioritise fixing these issues promptly. Many C2 defects can deteriorate over time, eventually becoming C1 hazards if left unaddressed.
When we find C2 defects during an EICR, we’ll clearly document them and explain the risks they pose. Our detailed reports help you understand exactly what needs fixing and why. We can also provide competitive quotes for electrical fault finding and remedial work to address these issues quickly.
C3 Code: Improvement Recommended
Unlike C1 and C2 classifications, a C3 code doesn’t indicate a safety risk. Instead, it highlights aspects of your electrical installation that, while safe, don’t meet the latest wiring regulations or could benefit from upgrading.
A C3 code is best understood as professional advice rather than a mandatory fix. Common examples include:
- Older but still functional consumer units that lack the latest safety features
- Minor deviations from current best practices
- Dated wiring that’s safe but not ideal by modern standards
- Lack of supplementary bonding in specific locations
- Opportunities to improve energy efficiency or convenience
Many property owners wonder if they need to act on C3 recommendations. While they won’t fail your EICR on their own, addressing C3 issues often makes good sense financially and safety-wise. Upgrading older components improves both safety margins and energy efficiency, potentially saving money in the long run.
For landlords, C3 codes don’t trigger the mandatory 28-day remediation period. However, proactive landlords often choose to address these improvements during void periods or as part of planned maintenance.
At DH Electrical, we find that combining C3 improvements with essential C1 and C2 repairs often proves most cost-effective. For example, if we’re already replacing a few outdated sockets (C3), it makes sense to upgrade the entire property to modern fittings in one go.
FI Code: Further Investigation Required
The FI code stands somewhat apart from the others. Rather than indicating a specific problem, it highlights areas where the electrician couldn’t complete a full assessment and believes more investigation is needed.
An FI code might appear when:
- Access was restricted to certain areas during inspection
- Unusual symptoms suggest a hidden problem
- Testing equipment gave inconsistent readings
- Partial failures occurred that need more detailed analysis
- Historical modifications raise questions about the installation
The presence of FI codes doesn’t automatically mean your installation is unsafe. However, they do indicate areas of uncertainty that should be resolved promptly.
Multiple FI codes on an EICR can result in an overall “unsatisfactory” classification, even without C1 or C2 defects. This happens because the electrician cannot confidently declare the installation safe with so many unanswered questions.
When our team assigns FI codes, we’ll explain exactly what further checks we recommend and why they’re necessary. In many cases, we can schedule these additional investigations immediately after completing the initial EICR.
What Makes an EICR Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory?
After completing an EICR, the electrician must make an overall judgment: is the installation satisfactory or unsatisfactory?
The criteria are straightforward:
- Any C1 or C2 codes result in an unsatisfactory EICR
- Multiple FI codes can also lead to an unsatisfactory outcome
- C3 codes alone won’t fail an EICR
An unsatisfactory EICR doesn’t mean your entire electrical system is dangerous—it simply indicates that specific issues need addressing before the installation can be deemed safe.
For landlords, an unsatisfactory EICR triggers legal obligations. You must complete all necessary remedial work within 28 days, then obtain written confirmation that the work meets required standards. This documentation must be shared with tenants and local authorities upon request.
Homeowners aren’t under the same legal pressure, but insurance policies often require a satisfactory EICR. Moreover, when selling your property, mortgage lenders increasingly request EICR documentation, and an unsatisfactory report could complicate or delay your sale.
After Receiving Your EICR: Next Steps
If you receive an unsatisfactory EICR with C1 or C2 codes, don’t panic—but do take prompt action. Here’s what we recommend:
- Review the report thoroughly and ask your electrician to explain anything you don’t understand.
- Prioritise repairs based on classification (C1 first, then C2).
- Get quotes for remedial work—ideally from the same company that conducted the EICR, as they’re already familiar with your installation.
- Schedule repairs promptly, especially for C1 defects which need immediate attention.
- Once repairs are complete, ensure you receive the proper certification (an Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Works Certificate).
- Keep all documentation safe for future reference.
At DH Electrical, we specialise in both testing and remedial work. Our approach focuses on clear communication—we’ll explain exactly what needs fixing and why, without unnecessary technical jargon. We also pride ourselves on finding cost-effective solutions that restore safety without breaking your budget.
For fuseboard upgrades identified during EICRs, we offer competitive rates and can often complete the work within days of the initial inspection. Similarly, our expertise in electrical inspection and testing ensures thorough, reliable assessments of your property’s electrical health.