EICR codes explained (C1, C2, C3, FI)
All the EICR codes decoded in plain English: what C1, C2, C3 and FI actually mean, which ones fail the report, and what happens next. Tap a code below and see for yourself.
Pick a code
Tap a classification code to see what it means, what it triggers and whether the report can still pass.
Coding is always the inspector's judgement on the day. Electrical Safety First's Best Practice Guide 4 is the industry yardstick for consistent coding.
- MeaningDanger present. Risk of injury exists right now.
- ActionImmediate remedial action required. The person ordering the report should be told straight away, and the danger made safe on the spot where possible.
- Report outcomeReport is UNSATISFACTORY.
Guidance only. Classification is the inspector's call based on what's found on the day. This decoder reflects standard industry practice under BS 7671 and Best Practice Guide 4.
EICR codes explained properly
An EICR, the Electrical Installation Condition Report, is a formal inspection of an installation's condition measured against BS 7671. Everything the inspector finds gets a classification code, and those codes decide the only line most clients ever read: Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
The four codes, one line each
C1 means danger present, someone could be injured right now. It demands immediate remedial action and the report is Unsatisfactory. C2 means potentially dangerous, the risk isn't live this second but a fault or a bit of bad luck makes it so. Urgent remedial action required, and again the report is Unsatisfactory. C3 means improvement recommended, the installation doesn't meet the current standard but nobody is at risk, and the report can still be Satisfactory. FI means further investigation required without delay, something couldn't be verified, and until it's resolved the report sits at Unsatisfactory.
So the pass/fail rule is dead simple: any C1, C2 or FI makes the report Unsatisfactory. C3s alone still pass. That single sentence settles about ninety percent of the arguments I see between landlords, agents and electricians. Here it is as a table you can screenshot:
| Code | Meaning | Action | Report outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present, risk of injury right now | Immediate remedial action, make safe on the day | Unsatisfactory |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous | Urgent remedial action | Unsatisfactory |
| C3 | Improvement recommended, not dangerous | None required, improvement advised | Can still be Satisfactory |
| FI | Further investigation required | Investigate without delay | Unsatisfactory |
What common defects usually get coded
The word "usually" is doing real work here. The same defect can earn different codes depending on its condition, location and who it could hurt, which is why Best Practice Guide 4 exists. But as a rough map:
| Defect | Typical code |
|---|---|
| Exposed live parts | C1 |
| No earth to a lighting circuit | C2 |
| No RCD on sockets liable to be used outdoors | C2 |
| No RCD on general socket circuits in an older install | C3 (judgement) |
| Old wiring colours, no notice fitted | C3 |
| Inaccessible connections that couldn't be inspected, feeding suspect circuits | FI |
| Cracked socket front, live parts still protected | C3 |
| Cracked socket front, live parts accessible | C1/C2 |
Notice the cracked socket appears twice. Same defect, two very different outcomes, because condition decides the code, not the defect's name. If you're checking earth fault loop readings against the tables while you test, my maximum Zs calculator does it in seconds, and the UK wiring colours guide covers exactly when old colours are a C3 and when they're just a labelling job.
Landlords: the legal bit
In England, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations 2020 require an EICR at least every 5 years. If the report comes back with C1, C2 or FI items, the remedial work must be done within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so, with written confirmation of completion supplied to tenants and, if the local authority asks, to them too. Miss that window and local authorities can issue financial penalties of up to £30,000 per breach, so a fast, clearly priced remedial quote is a gift to a landlord on the clock.
Unsatisfactory report? Here's the play
If the outcome line says Unsatisfactory, don't panic and don't shelve it. Work through it in order:
- Read the observations, not just the outcome. The report lists every coded item and where it is. That list is your job sheet.
- Deal with any C1 immediately. A decent inspector will have flagged it on the day and made it safe where possible, with your permission. If they haven't, get an electrician out now, not next week.
- Book the C2 and FI work within the deadline. For English rentals that's 28 days from the report, or sooner if the report specifies. FI means paying for investigation, not just repairs.
- Get written confirmation the work is done. The electrician confirms the remedials in writing, usually with certification for the work carried out.
- Pass the paperwork on. Landlords supply that confirmation to tenants, and to the local authority if they request it. Keep copies with the EICR for the next inspection cycle.
When two electricians disagree on a code
It happens constantly, because coding is judgement, not a lookup table. If a client thinks a C2 is harsh, the honest route is asking the inspector to justify it against Best Practice Guide 4, or paying for a second opinion. As the inspector, your defence is simple: a photo of the defect, a one-line reason, and a code you'd happily repeat in front of another electrician. If you can't do that for every code on the report, the report isn't finished.
Coding well is a business skill
- Code what you see, not what you assume. If you can't verify it, that's what FI is for.
- Photograph everything you code. It protects you when the client questions it, and it sells the remedial work honestly.
- A C3-heavy report with a Satisfactory outcome plus a priced improvement list converts brilliantly into follow-on work. The client passed, they trust you, and they've got a menu.
- Never use codes to scare clients into work. It wrecks trust, wrecks reputations, and the electrician who recodes your C2s to C3s gets the customer for life.
One more thing while you're here: EICRs in bathrooms trip plenty of people up on zones and RCD requirements, so I've written up the bathroom electrical zones as well. Bookmark the lot, they're all free.
EICR code FAQs
What fails an EICR?
Any C1, C2 or FI. One single C2 on a forty-page report is enough to make the whole thing Unsatisfactory. C3 observations, however many there are, don't fail a report on their own.
Is a C3 a fail on an EICR?
No. C3 is improvement recommended, nothing more. It means the installation doesn't meet the current edition of BS 7671 but isn't dangerous, which is completely normal on older properties. A report carrying only C3s can still be Satisfactory, and usually is.
What's the difference between a C1 and a C2?
C1 means the danger already exists, someone could be injured right now, think exposed live parts. C2 means the danger is one step away, it needs a fault or a bit of bad luck to become live. Both make the report Unsatisfactory. The difference is urgency: a C1 gets made safe on the day, a C2 gets urgent remedial work booked in.
Does an old fuse board or missing RCD automatically fail an EICR?
No. Age alone is not a code, and an old but sound installation with no RCDs is commonly a C3, which still passes. It shifts to a C2 where the missing protection leaves a real risk, sockets likely to feed equipment outdoors being the classic example. That call is the inspector's judgement, made against Best Practice Guide 4, not a blanket rule.
How long do landlords have to fix C1 and C2 defects?
In England's private rented sector, 28 days from the report date, or sooner if the report specifies it, under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations 2020. The landlord then needs written confirmation of the completed work, supplied to the tenants and to the local authority if they request it.
Who can carry out an EICR?
A skilled person competent in inspection and testing. In the real world that means a qualified, registered electrician with proper test kit and genuine condition-reporting experience, not just anyone with a multimeter and a printer.
How much does an EICR cost?
Typically £150 to £300 for a domestic property, depending on the size of the installation, the number of circuits and where in the country you are. Cheap EICRs exist, but a proper inspection takes hours, so be suspicious of anyone quoting lunch money.
How often is an EICR needed?
Rented properties in England need one at least every 5 years. For owner-occupied homes the guidance is every 10 years or at change of occupancy, and sooner if there are signs of damage, DIY interference or a house purchase in the works.
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