The Renovation Was Finished.
The Electrical Story Wasn't.

The homeowner needed to establish the condition of the electrical installation and understand how to move forward with the outstanding Building Control position. That is when we were called in.

We Were Called to Carry Out an EICR

The homeowner wasn't asking us to carry out another rewire. We were called to undertake an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — an independent inspection and test of the existing electrical installation.

Our first job was simple: establish what was actually there. At that point, the full story behind the previous electrical work wasn't yet clear. First, we inspected and tested. And that changed the picture completely.

The first reveal

The Paperwork Brought Us In. The EICR Revealed Something More.

A replacement consumer unit can make an electrical installation appear recently upgraded. But electrical safety cannot be determined by appearance alone. The EICR uncovered serious safety issues.

C1

Danger Present: Consumer Unit Openings

The consumer unit had openings larger than permitted. This was recorded as a C1 — Danger Present observation. Immediate remedial action was required.

C2

Potentially Dangerous: Missing Protective Bonding

Main protective bonding to the gas and water services was absent.

C2

Loose Connections & Signs of Arcing

Inspection within the consumer unit revealed loose electrical connections with evidence of arcing.

The result was an unsatisfactory EICR. Remedial action was required.

The renovation looked finished

BUT THE FLOORS WERE ALREADY TILED.

Electrical issues were being identified after finishes were already in place.

Then the Backstory Became Clear

As the job progressed, we learned more about the work that had taken place before we arrived. The property had undergone substantial renovation, including electrical work and the installation of a replacement consumer unit.

When the homeowner later needed the associated electrical documentation, the required documentation could not be provided. By then, the renovation had already progressed to completion.

Although We Were Registered for Third Party Certification...

By the time we were called in, it was too late to use that route. The electrical work was already complete, the renovation was finished and the floors were tiled.

Third Party Certification requires involvement during the installation process — it isn't a retrospective sign-off service.

Our role therefore wasn't to simply arrive after completion and certify somebody else's finished work. We could inspect, test, establish the condition of the existing installation and identify what needed to happen next.

Putting It Right

Electrical issues are generally less disruptive to investigate and rectify when they are identified at the appropriate stages of a renovation, before finishes restrict access. Once kitchens are fitted, walls are decorated and floors are tiled, the options can become more disruptive.

Once inspection and testing had established the condition of the installation, the remedial work could be based on evidence rather than assumptions.

• Addressing the consumer-unit openings.
• Installing the required protective bonding to the gas service.
• Installing the required protective bonding to the water service.
• Addressing the loose connections and associated issues within the consumer unit.