An EICR is only useful if its observations become a controlled remedial programme. For a commercial property manager, that means separating immediate danger from urgent repairs, further investigation and planned improvements—then recording what was completed.
This checklist is designed for offices, managed commercial buildings, multi-site estates and other occupied premises. It does not replace the judgement of the competent person responsible for the inspection or remedial work.
Before you start: understand the EICR codes
C1 — danger present: make safe immediately.
C2 — potentially dangerous: arrange urgent remedial work.
C3 — improvement recommended: plan the improvement appropriately.
FI — further investigation required: investigate without delay so safety can be confirmed.
For a fuller explanation, read EICR Codes Explained: C1, C2, C3 and FI.
1. Confirm the report and responsibility
Before instructing work, confirm:
the correct property, areas and electrical installation are covered
the report date, inspection limitations and next recommended inspection date
who is responsible for authorising safety measures and remedial expenditure
who needs operational updates, including facilities, tenants, security and site teams
whether the report covers the whole installation or only an agreed sample or area
Do not assume an EICR covers emergency lighting, fire-alarm servicing, portable-appliance testing or every other compliance regime. Check the stated scope.
2. Build one prioritised action register
Transfer every C1, C2 and FI observation into a working register. Include:
the observation and code
building, floor, room, circuit or distribution-board reference
the immediate control already taken, if any
the proposed repair or investigation
access, isolation and operational constraints
responsible person, target date and current status
completion evidence required
Keep C3 improvements in the same register, but identify them separately so urgent items remain visible.
3. Make C1 situations safe
C1 means danger is present. The immediate priority is to remove or control the danger safely. This may require isolation or another protective measure determined by a competent electrician.
Record what was made safe, when it happened, who completed it and whether any part of the building or installation remains unavailable.
4. Scope C2 repairs and FI investigations
C2 observations require urgent remedial action. FI observations require further investigation without delay because the inspection has not established whether danger or potential danger exists.
For each item, make the contractor’s scope specific enough to price and deliver. It should identify the relevant observation, location, expected work, testing, certification and any making-good responsibility. FI work should state the question the investigation needs to answer rather than being left as an open-ended instruction.
5. Check access, isolations and business disruption
Commercial remedial work often fails at the planning stage rather than the electrical stage. Before agreeing dates, confirm:
normal and restricted access hours
tenant, security or permit requirements
circuits and equipment that cannot be isolated during trading hours
shutdown notifications and authorised decision-makers
sensitive rooms, IT systems, plant or business-critical loads
asbestos-register or building-fabric information relevant to the work area
whether temporary supplies or phased working need to be considered
These checks help the contractor propose a safe sequence without making unsupported assumptions about the building.
6. Review quotations against the report
A usable quotation should make it clear:
which EICR observations are included
which items need investigation before a final repair can be priced
what testing and certification are included
what access equipment, permits, isolations or attendance the client must provide
what is excluded
how completed items will be referenced back to the EICR
Avoid comparing totals alone when contractors have priced different scopes.
7. Plan C3 improvements sensibly
C3 observations do not, by themselves, make an EICR unsatisfactory. They can often be grouped with planned maintenance, refurbishment, distribution-board work or other compatible upgrades.
Keep them visible, assign a review point and record the decision. “Not urgent” should not become “forgotten.”
8. Verify completion
When work finishes, collect evidence that matches the original observation register. Depending on the work, this may include:
electrical certificates or test results
the contractor’s completion record
investigation findings and the resulting decision
updated circuit schedules or labels
photographs where they provide useful identification
confirmation that temporary controls or isolations have been removed appropriately
The person responsible for the property should be able to trace each completed item back to the original EICR observation.
9. Close out the remedial programme
Before marking the programme complete:
confirm every C1, C2 and FI item has a recorded outcome
record any additional defects found during investigation or repair
update the action register and compliance records
communicate residual restrictions or planned C3 work
retain the report, certificates and supporting evidence together
diarise the next inspection or relevant review date from the competent person’s recommendation
Do not describe the original report as satisfactory unless the appropriate competent person has provided the evidence or confirmation needed to support that conclusion.
EICR remedial works checklist summary
Confirm the report scope and responsible people
Register every C1, C2, C3 and FI observation
Make C1 danger safe immediately
Scope urgent C2 repairs
Define and complete FI investigations without delay
Confirm access, isolations and operational constraints
Check quotations cover the same observations and evidence
Plan and review C3 improvements
Collect certificates, findings and completion records
Close every urgent item and update the compliance file
Need help turning an EICR into a remedial plan?
Azure Electrical supports commercial electrical compliance and remedial planning from Ashford across Kent, with suitable project-led work in London. Contact Azure Electrical and provide the EICR where possible so the team can review the codes, locations and access requirements before discussing the next step.