Electrical installation certificate (EIC)
Plain English. Practical detail. UK context.
An Electrical Installation Certificate records responsibility for the design, construction and inspection and testing of specified electrical installation work. It belongs to the work described on the certificate. It is not an assessment of every unrelated circuit in a property, nor is it the same document as building control notification evidence.
Safety: use a registered electrician, for example one registered with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT, for electrical installation work. Do not remove covers or open electrical equipment yourself.
Last reviewed: (editorial review against the public sources listed below).
When this document is used
An EIC is normally relevant to a new installation or a new circuit, and to other work for which this form of certification is appropriate. A rewire or consumer unit replacement should have its certification planned as part of the job, not negotiated after payment. The IET provides model forms, including the schedules which make the certificate useful. An installation certificate without its associated circuit details and results may not tell the recipient what was actually verified.
What the homeowner should read
Check the property address, description and extent of work before filing the document. If the quotation included a garage supply but the certificate describes only the house lighting, ask for clarification. Identify any recorded departures or limitations and request an explanation in plain English. Keep the complete electronic file or paper set, not a cropped image of the signature page. The records can help with future alterations and fault investigation, although they do not remove the need to inspect later changes.
Responsibilities and existing wiring
The people signing for design, construction and verification need to be identified appropriately. One person may undertake several roles, but a signature should reflect real responsibility rather than an administrative shortcut. When new work connects to an existing installation, the installer must assess the relevant retained arrangements. The certificate should make the boundary intelligible. A new circuit certificate does not automatically certify old circuits which were outside that work, and a different contractor cannot simply sign as if they performed unseen work.
The standard and the separate legal route
The IET publishes model EIC forms for BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. Use the edition and form applicable to the installation rather than assuming an old downloaded template remains current. Approved Document P describes England's domestic electrical safety and notification framework. Building control compliance paperwork serves that separate process; an EIC does not remove a notification requirement. Other UK nations have their own arrangements. For a missing certificate, establish what work was performed and by whom before deciding the remedy: commissioning an EICR later does not turn it into the original installation certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EIC a lifetime guarantee?
No. It records the specified work and its verification at completion. Damage, alterations and deterioration afterwards can change the installation.
Can an EICR replace an EIC for my new circuit?
They have different purposes. Ask the installer to provide the correct completion documentation and resolve any missing notification separately.
Sources and further reading
Public sources and further reading. Sources checked: 8 November 2026. Consult the original for details and later changes.