Compliance
Fixed wire testing and EICR: what the interval really depends on
The short answer
There is no single legal interval for commercial fixed wire testing. The law requires electrical systems to be maintained so as to prevent danger; an Electrical Installation Condition Report is the recognised means of assessing that, and IET guidance suggests a maximum of five years for most commercial premises — shorter for higher-risk environments.
Most FM providers will tell you commercial EICR is "every five years". That is a guidance maximum for many premises, not a statute, and for some environments it is far too long. Getting the interval right means starting from the installation and its use, not from a number.
What is required, and where it comes from
- Legal requirement
All electrical systems must be maintained so far as reasonably practicable to prevent danger.
Source: Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Regulation 4(2)
No interval, no method, no report format is specified. The obligation is the outcome.
- Standard or approved code
Periodic inspection and testing to BS 7671, reported as an Electrical Installation Condition Report with observations classified C1, C2, C3 or FI.
Source: BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations)
- Typical practice
Commercial premises are commonly inspected at intervals of up to five years, or on change of occupancy.
Source: IET Guidance Note 3, common practice
A maximum for many premises rather than a target, and not a legal deadline.
- Risk-based
Shorter intervals apply where the environment demands it — industrial installations, wet or corrosive conditions, construction sites, swimming pools, and premises open to the public.
Source: IET Guidance Note 3, risk-based assessment
- Legal requirement
C1 (danger present) and C2 (potentially dangerous) observations require action; an EICR with unresolved C1 or C2 items is an unsatisfactory report.
Source: BS 7671 classification, read with EAWR Regulation 4(2)
What proves it was done
Compliance is demonstrated with records, not intentions. These are the documents an enforcing authority, an insurer or a purchaser’s solicitor will ask for.
- The EICR itself, with schedules of inspections and test results — not just the summary page
- A clear satisfactory or unsatisfactory outcome
- Remedial records closing out every C1 and C2 observation
- Minor works or installation certificates for subsequent alterations
- The inspector's competence and scheme registration
Where this usually goes wrong
- Treating five years as a default rather than assessing the installation and its environment
- Accepting a summary page without the schedules of test results behind it
- C2 observations recorded and then left open until the next inspection
- No certification for alterations made between periodic inspections
- Sampling percentages not stated, so nobody knows how much was actually inspected
What happens if it is missed
Breaches of the Electricity at Work Regulations are prosecuted by the HSE and can carry unlimited fines and imprisonment. Commercially, an unsatisfactory EICR left unresolved tends to surface at the worst moment — during a sale, a lease renewal or an insurance claim.
This page is general information about compliance obligations in commercial property, not legal advice. Legislation cited applies to England and Wales unless stated; Scotland and Northern Ireland differ, particularly on fire safety. Duty holders should confirm their position against current legislation and a competent assessment of their own premises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common inquiries regarding contract scopes, SLAs, compliance audits, and onboarding.
There is no fixed legal interval. IET guidance suggests a maximum of five years for many commercial installations, and shorter where the environment is harsher or the public is present. The correct interval comes from an assessment of the installation, its use and its condition.
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