EICRs, Inspection & Testing
Electrical installation condition reports for commercial buildings across the South East
We carry out EICRs, fixed wire testing and periodic inspections for commercial buildings across the South East. We test to BS 7671 and provide a clear report showing what we have found, what needs attention and how urgently any work should be carried out.
NICEIC approved contractor. SafeContractor accredited. DBS-checked engineers. Trading since 2008.
Commercial EICR and fixed wire testing across the South East
We are based in Battle, East Sussex, and carry out commercial electrical testing across Kent, East Sussex, Surrey and the wider South East.
We work in offices and commercial buildings, schools and colleges, churches and houses of worship, and industrial premises. Our reports are clear, detailed and suitable for facilities teams, insurers, governing bodies, landlords and other people responsible for the building.
If testing identifies further work, we can also quote separately for remedial work, power distribution, main panel work or lighting upgrades alongside the rest of our services.
Why a cheap EICR ends up costing more
The quality of an EICR depends on the time spent carrying it out. If testing is rushed, problems can be missed, circuits can be left as limitations and the final report may give you very little useful information.
That can leave you with a long list of codes but no clear idea of what needs dealing with first, what the likely cost will be or whether further investigation is needed.
We have seen low-cost inspections lead to much larger remedial bills later. Our engineers take the time to test the installation properly and investigate readings that do not look right.
If there is a problem, we want the report to explain what we found rather than simply record a code against it. If something cannot be inspected, we will also explain why and what would be needed to access it in future.
The result is a report you can understand, act on and use to plan any necessary work.
Recent work
What a complete report gives you
A good EICR should make the next step clear. You should be able to see what needs immediate attention, what can be planned for later and whether any further investigation is required.
It also gives you a proper record of the condition of the electrical installation, whether you need it for insurance, compliance, maintenance planning or internal records.
What an EICR with us includes
Testing for schools, churches, estates and industrial teams
Periodic inspection and testing is often required for insurance, compliance, lease requirements or internal maintenance programmes.
We plan the work around the building wherever possible, particularly where testing requires circuits or areas to be isolated.
For audio visual work, we work alongside our sister company, OBAV.
Schools & Colleges
We can schedule testing around term dates and school holidays to reduce disruption. Where remedial work is needed, this can also be planned around the school timetable.
Churches
We regularly work in churches and other places of worship, providing clear inspection reports and separate quotations for any remedial work identified.
Industrial Sites
We plan testing around building use, production and other operational requirements to keep disruption to a minimum.
Refurbishment
For refurbishment projects, an EICR can help establish the condition of the existing installation and identify what can be retained and what needs upgrading or replacing.
Accredited and experienced on commercial inspection work
We are an NICEIC Approved Contractor and SafeContractor accredited. Our engineers are DBS checked and all inspections are carried out to BS 7671.
We have been trading since 2008 and work with commercial clients across the South East.
Why clients choose the Lake Electrical team
We are a family-run, owner-led business and we stay involved in the work. If you need to discuss a report, quotation or issue on site, you can speak directly to someone in our team who knows the job.
We have a team of experienced engineers and wherever possible you will deal with the same people throughout the work.
We focus on carrying out the inspection properly and giving you a clear, useful report that helps you decide what needs doing next.
EICR questions answered
What an EICR is and who needs one
An electrical installation condition report is a formal inspection and test of a fixed installation, carried out to BS 7671, recording its condition, coding every defect and giving an outcome of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. It covers the fixed wiring, the boards and the intake, not portable equipment. Anyone responsible for a commercial building normally needs one, including employers, tenants, academy trusts, PCCs and estates teams, usually because an insurer, a lease or a compliance duty asks for the evidence. A minor works certificate and an installation certificate both certify work just completed. An EICR reports on what is already there.
How often a commercial EICR is needed
Most commercial premises need one every five years, or when the tenancy changes. A rented property needs a current certificate, and some insurers ask for one sooner. BS 7671 sets out recommended maximum intervals, and the engineer records a date for the next inspection on the report itself, which comes sooner where an installation is in poor condition or heavily used.
What C1, C2 and C3 mean on an EICR
C1 means danger is present, with a risk of injury, and needs immediate action. C2 means potentially dangerous, where the danger would arise if something else failed, and needs urgent remedial work. C3 means improvement recommended, which needs no work. FI means further investigation is required without delay. Any C1, C2 or FI makes the outcome unsatisfactory, and a report carrying only C3s is satisfactory. We explain each code in the report, so you can see what to deal with this month and what can wait.
How much a commercial EICR costs, and whether you look at the building first
It depends on the building and how many circuits, so we price it after a look rather than guessing on the phone. You get one price for the inspection, and any remedial work quoted on its own, so you can see exactly what is what. We do not price per circuit, because a rate per circuit pays an engineer to move on rather than to work out what a reading means. Seeing the intake and the boards is also what lets us agree the extent and any sampling in advance, and plan the isolations.
Do you carry out the remedial work you identify
Yes, and it is quoted separately. We carry out commercial installation work every week, so we can put right what the inspection found, take on the remedial works and the larger panel and intake upgrades inspections often uncover, and certify the new work. If you would rather use your own contractor, the report gives them what they need.
Arrange your EICR
A few details are enough for us to come back with a price, usually the same day.
Due an inspection? Arrange an EICR. Prefer a chat first? Get in touch, or call the team on 01732 758 985, Mon to Fri, 8am to 5pm.
We work across Kent, East Sussex, Surrey and the wider South East, with commercial work reaching sites such as Chichester.