EICR Report Second Opinion/Explanation of Codes

[JamesWrite]

I have decided to move house and rent it out, I've just had an EICR report done by a local company and they've come back with a report I'd like advice on.

I'm not sure if anyone in here can help me decipher the report, or if it would be a case of getting another electrician out to re-do the test.

I've attached the full report but the major issues are:

C1 - No main earth
C2 - No bonding on gas
C2 - RCD has IP breach
C2 - Main tails undersized
C2 - DB has IP breach

I am a complete noob and have literally no idea about what any of this means, can anyone break it down in plain English and let me know if they are the correct codes and if £780 to do the repairs sounds accurate?

Many many thanks, James.
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Also just to add to this, it only took the guy about half an hour to do the report, it feels like he did it as quickly as possible and left but I might just be feeling a bit devastated about paying a grand for things I didn't even know needed doing.

Have lived here for 3 years now with no issue so it's a bit hard to take, but take it I will if it's all above board.

 

[Strima]

I would recommend you remove both yours and the electrical companies details from the report.

C1 - No main earth - But he has it listed as 10mm on page 2 of the report, I suspect he has been unable to locate the earth electrode so this should attract FI (further investigation).
C2 - No bonding on gas - Fair one.
C2 - RCD has IP breach - Without seeing it I can't comment.
C2 - Main tails undersized - Should be a minimum of 16mm for the 60 amp supply fuse listed.
C2 - DB has IP breach - Without seeing it I can't comment.

Does the quote include replacing the existing consumer unit?

 

[telectrix]

if the £780 includes a new CU (DB) with RCBOs, then it's not excessive. If not, it's a rip-off.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

He does say he can't find the electrode, but at the same time says the main earthing conductor connections and continuity are OK, and that the electrode connection is N/A. It can't be OK, not OK and not applicable at the same time.

BTW OP you might want to repost that report without the personal and company details.

 

[JamesWrite]

I would recommend you remove both yours and the electrical companies details from the report.

C1 - No main earth - But he has it listed as 10mm on page 2 of the report, I suspect he has been unable to locate the earth electrode so this should attract FI (further investigation).
C2 - No bonding on gas - Fair one.
C2 - RCD has IP breach - Without seeing it I can't comment.
C2 - Main tails undersized - Should be a minimum of 16mm for the 60 amp supply fuse listed.
C2 - DB has IP breach - Without seeing it I can't comment.

Does the quote include replacing the existing consumer unit?

Thanks for this. They haven't said, the guy who did the test finished, said okay I'm done and left and I got the report through via email with:

"Hi your report is attached , to remove the c2s which will also remove the item no. 6 and 7 also 780.00 inc vat".

It only took him about half an hour which I thought was pretty quick, I'd read online that it takes between 3 and 4 hours so was a bit shocked when he left.
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He does say he can't find the electrode, but at the same time says the main earthing conductor connections and continuity are OK, and that the electrode connection is N/A. It can't be OK, not OK and not applicable at the same time.

BTW OP you might want to repost that report without the personal and company details.

Yeah good point, that is weird. Not that I really understand any of it but that seems quite an obvious mistake.

Not much I can do though I'd imagine so I'll have to just bite the bullet and pay, I can't really afford it but will have to find a way!

Thanks for replying.
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He does say he can't find the electrode, but at the same time says the main earthing conductor connections and continuity are OK, and that the electrode connection is N/A. It can't be OK, not OK and not applicable at the same time.

BTW OP you might want to repost that report without the personal and company details.

Yeah good point, that is weird. Not that I really understand any of it but that seems quite an obvious mistake.

Not much I can do though I'd imagine so I'll have to just bite the bullet and pay, I can't really afford it but will have to find a way!

Thanks for replying.
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if the £780 includes a new CU (DB) with RCBOs, then it's not excessive. If not, it's a rip-off.

Thanks for this, gives me something to go back to them with.

If it turns out to be a rip off, would you recommend arguing the ---- with them or getting another spark in to get it sorted?

 

[telectrix]

it seems as though he's not including a new DB.if so, it's a rip off and you need to get another electrician to quote. a few respected members are in your area and would be happy to give you an honest quote.

 

[JBW175]

it screams of a lazy rushed report imo.

Can you post some photo's of your service head & consumer unit. might give us all a better idea.

 

[telectrix]

30 minutes to do a detailed EICR is scandalous. 3 hours is about right for a 6 circuit DB. how much did he charge for this rushed EICR?

 

[JamesWrite]

it screams of a lazy rushed report imo.

Can you post some photo's of your service head & consumer unit. might give us all a better idea.

This? Like I said mate, absolutely clueless over here so apologies!

 

[JBW175]

30 minutes to do a detailed EICR is scandalous. 3 hours is about right for a 6 circuit DB. how much did he charge for this rushed EICR?

Especially as they've referenced no reg numbers against any of the observations, given very little information and want to charge nearly £800 to carry out the remedial work...

Some people out there take the P**S.

I'd be calling someone else in to quote on the remedial work...

 

[JamesWrite]

Especially as they've referenced no reg numbers against any of the observations, given very little information and want to charge nearly £800 to carry out the remedial work...

Some people out there take the P**S.

I'd be calling someone else in to quote on the remedial work...

Yeah I've just checked and I messaged my girlfriend when he got here and when he left and he was here for bang on 45 mins.

Quite annoyed actually so I'm glad I posted it here.

I'll shop around for a cheaper option. Cheers for this.

 

[JBW175]

Yeah I've just checked and I messaged my girlfriend when he got here and when he left and he was here for bang on 45 mins.

Quite annoyed actually so I'm glad I posted it here.

I'll shop around for a cheaper option. Cheers for this.

Did he even bother to ask you if you knew where the earth rod was located?

 

[JamesWrite]

Did he even bother to ask you if you knew where the earth rod was located?

Nah. The only thing he asked me throughout the process was where the gas meter was.
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30 minutes to do a detailed EICR is scandalous. 3 hours is about right for a 6 circuit DB. how much did he charge for this rushed EICR?

I've just double checked and it was actually 45 minutes so my mistake there. But still.

They charged me £144 including VAT. It was the cheapest locally available but only by about £20 so I went with them, regretting it now like!
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it seems as though he's not including a new DB.if so, it's a rip off and you need to get another electrician to quote. a few respected members are in your area and would be happy to give you an honest quote.

I've asked about and have been told I'll need to do a further report before they can diagnose and fix the issues. Nightmare

if the £780 includes a new CU (DB) with RCBOs, then it's not excessive. If not, it's a rip-off.

Have just been in touch saying this is very expensive if it doesn't include a CU, and now it does include that.

Have also been in touch with other local companies who have said they'd need to re-do the test themselves before they could quote, so seems I'm stuck with this company as I can't really get out of it.

Feeling a bit better that it comes with the CU so will probably just bite the bullet and book it in.

Thanks for the replies btw, really helpful.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Nah. The only thing he asked me throughout the process was where the gas meter was.
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I've just double checked and it was actually 45 minutes so my mistake there. But still.

They charged me £144 including VAT. It was the cheapest locally available but only by about £20 so I went with them, regretting it now like!
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I've asked about and have been told I'll need to do a further report before they can diagnose and fix the issues. Nightmare


Have just been in touch saying this is very expensive if it doesn't include a CU, and now it does include that.

Have also been in touch with other local companies who have said they'd need to re-do the test themselves before they could quote, so seems I'm stuck with this company as I can't really get out of it.

Feeling a bit better that it comes with the CU so will probably just bite the bullet and book it in.

Thanks for the replies btw, really helpful.

45 minutes to carry out an EICR is absolutely appalling James. I'm a firm believer in not bad mouthing electricians when we get threads like this, but I cannot think of any possible reasons why 45 minutes could ever be acceptable. The quickest I have ever carried out a report was on a really small one bed flat, it took 2 hours. How much did the report cost?

I realise you feel 'stuck' with these electricians but you are not. Pay for another report by another company, ask them before hand roughly how long it will take, ask them exactly what they will be doing during the report. I would be completely happy explaining the procedure, in fact that is what should happen anyway as a matter of course before a report is carried out.

If you just want a bit of paper saying 'pass' and are not worried about safety then stay with the electrician you have used who will very likely do a very poor and lazy job of the remedial work whilst possibly leaving many other dangerous bits as you haven't actually had a report carried out, just a cursory glance. If you actually want the flat to be safe for your tenants then pay the £200 for another report from another electrician.

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

Mr Hippy Dad has nailed it there. I wouldn’t use them to do the remedials, 45 Minutes for a EICR is a Joke, I couldn’t even locate all circuits, functional tests and fill out the cert in that time. How many circuits? Got a pic of the board please?