How Long Does an EICR Take?

For most houses and flats, an EICR takes between two and four hours. A one or two-bedroom flat is typically two hours. A four or five-bedroom house with a complex installation can run to a full day.

What the electrician is doing

An EICR is not a visual walkthrough. Every circuit in the property is tested against the requirements of BS 7671, the current IET Wiring Regulations. The inspection covers three stages.

Visual inspection: The electrician checks the consumer unit, earthing and bonding, and the general condition of accessible wiring and accessories. Visible deterioration, missing protection, or incorrect installations are recorded at this stage.

Dead testing: With each circuit isolated, the electrician measures insulation resistance, continuity of protective conductors, and ring final circuit continuity. These tests confirm that the wiring is in good condition and that the earth path is intact throughout.

Live testing: With the supply restored, the electrician verifies that RCDs (residual current devices) trip within the required time and that earth fault loop impedance values are within limits for each circuit.

Each circuit is recorded and assessed against current requirements. The result for each observation is assigned a code: satisfactory, C1, C2, C3, or FI.

What you need to do to prepare

Provide access to the consumer unit and all rooms. The electrician needs to reach every socket, switch, and light fitting. Blocked access or furniture in front of panels slows the inspection.

Expect brief power cuts during the dead testing phase. Individual circuits are isolated one at a time. The electrician will let you know before isolating anything.

If you have a previous EICR or Electrical Installation Certificate from earlier work, have it ready. It provides useful background on the installation history.

What you receive at the end

The completed EICR lists every circuit tested, the test results, and any observations with their assigned codes. The overall result is either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. The report includes the date of the next recommended inspection.

For rental properties, you will need the signed original to provide to tenants and, on request, the local authority.

What happens if the inspection overruns

Occasionally an inspection takes longer than estimated. This happens when circuits are harder to access than expected, when wiring in poor condition requires more detailed assessment, or when FI items are identified that need additional investigation. On a fixed-price inspection, additional time is normally absorbed within the agreed fee.