EICR codes explained: C1, C2, C3 and FI
Your Electrical Installation Condition Report has come back full of codes. Here is what each one means, whether the report has passed or failed, and what to do next.
Published 11 November 2026 · By Positive Contractors, NICEIC Approved Contractor and Gas Safe registered
What an EICR is
An EICR is a report on the condition of a property's fixed electrical installation: the consumer unit, wiring, sockets, switches and fixed lights. A qualified electrician inspects and tests it, records anything that is damaged, deteriorated or does not meet the current Wiring Regulations (BS 7671), and gives each observation a code.
The four codes
| C1: Danger present | Risk of injury now. It should be made safe straight away, before the electrician leaves wherever possible. Typical example: live parts that can be touched. |
|---|---|
| C2: Potentially dangerous | Not dangerous this minute, but it could become so if a fault or another event happens. Needs urgent remedial work. Typical examples: missing earthing or bonding, signs of overheating. |
| FI: Further investigation | The electrician found something they could not fully assess on the day, and it needs investigating without delay. It is treated as seriously as a C2 until the investigation is done. |
| C3: Improvement recommended | Does not meet the current regulations but is not dangerous. Worth planning in, but not required. |
Passed or failed?
A report is unsatisfactory if it contains any C1, C2 or FI. A report with only C3 observations, or none at all, is satisfactory. One C2 is enough to make the whole report unsatisfactory, however good the rest of the installation is.
If you are a landlord
- Arrange the remedial or investigative work within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so
- Get written confirmation from the electrician that the work is complete
- Send that confirmation and the report to the tenant, and to the council, within 28 days of the work being finished
- Keep everything: councils can fine landlords up to £40,000 for breaches
Our landlord certificates checklist covers the other checks due alongside the EICR.
If you own your home
There is no legal requirement for owner-occupiers to have an EICR, but the recommended interval for a home you live in is every 10 years, and whenever you buy a property. If yours comes back unsatisfactory, treat C1 and C2 items as urgent: they are the ones that can cause shocks or fires.
Getting the remedials done
Ask for a written quote that lists each coded item separately, so you can see exactly what is being fixed and why. Once the work is done you should get a certificate for it, and the report can then be updated or reissued as satisfactory. We quote remedials straight from our own EICRs, explain each code in plain English, and send the paperwork when the job is closed out.
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Common questions
Is a C3 a fail?
No. C3 means improvement is recommended. A report with only C3 observations is satisfactory.
Can I use a different electrician for the remedial work?
Yes. Any qualified electrician can carry out the remedials, as long as they give you written confirmation and the right certificate for the work.
How long is an EICR valid for?
The report gives a date for the next inspection. For rented homes that is a maximum of five years; for a home you live in, the usual recommendation is ten years.
Why did my EICR get an FI code?
The electrician found something they could not fully check on the day, often because a part of the installation was not accessible or needed more testing. It must be investigated before the report can be satisfactory.
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