Modern RCBO consumer unit after a satisfactory EICR

Commercial EICR work for offices, retail premises, and small workshops in Bearsted. Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the duty-holder (employer or building owner) is legally required to ensure the installation is maintained in a safe condition; the EICR is the standard documentary evidence of that ongoing duty. CJA Electrical handles commercial inspections across Bearsted and the wider Maidstone area.

What an EICR involves for Commercial

Commercial EICRs cover the same fundamentals as domestic — BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 inspection and circuit-level testing — but the scope typically extends further. Distribution boards (often more than one in a commercial premises), socket circuits with significant equipment loading, lighting circuits for shop floors or office spaces, dedicated circuits for plant and machinery, emergency lighting feeds, fire alarm interface circuits. Findings coded per the standard. Unsatisfactory results need remedying promptly to maintain compliance under the Electricity at Work Regulations.

When you need this in Bearsted

Beyond the routine cycle, commercial EICR demand spikes around two events: insurance renewal (where insurers increasingly ask for current EICR evidence) and lease changeover (where incoming tenants or landlords want clean baseline documentation). Both are predictable and worth scheduling proactively rather than scrambling for a slot when the renewal date is two weeks away.

Smaller domestic consumer unit with each circuit clearly labelled
Smaller domestic consumer unit with each circuit clearly labelled

What the report contains

Commercial EICRs come back as the standard three-part PDF — form, schedule of inspection, schedule of test results. For larger premises with multiple distribution boards, the schedule of test results is typically tabulated per board so it’s clear which circuits sit where. Unsatisfactory reports come with a remedial-work quote attached. Under EaWR 1989, remedial works on commercial property need to be carried out promptly to maintain the duty-holder’s compliance — there’s no fixed 28-day timeline like the PRS regs, but “reasonably practicable” is the standard.

Why book CJA Electrical for your Bearsted EICR

Commercial EICR work needs an inspector who’s comfortable working around live business operations and producing documentation that holds up under H&S scrutiny. CJA Electrical brings a City & Guilds 2391 qualified inspector, ten years on commercial and domestic property across Maidstone, and same-week appointments for Bearsted. Inspection scheduled around your operating hours where possible, written report inside 48 hours, fully insured.

Multi-occupancy meter cupboard with separate consumer units and smart meters
Multi-occupancy meter cupboard with separate consumer units and smart meters

How the inspection runs

  1. Initial conversation — premises type, size, distribution board count, operating hours 2. Same-day fixed quote 3. Booking arranged around your operating hours where possible 4. On-site inspection — usually in a single visit, sometimes split for larger premises 5. Report PDF supplied within 48 hours 6. Remedial work quoted alongside any unsatisfactory findings; expedited where business-critical

What affects the price

Pricing depends on the premises. Variables: number of distribution boards, total circuit count, accessibility of distribution and accessory locations, and any constraints around operating hours. Larger premises with multiple boards take longer than a single-board high-street unit. Same-day fixed quote, no deposit, fixed price agreed before the visit.

FAQs

Can the inspection happen outside business hours?

Where the business operating hours allow, yes — early morning, evening, or weekend slots are often the easiest answer. Where the business operates continuously, we’ll work with the duty-holder on a phased inspection that tests circuits in turn outside their peak-load periods. Quote reflects whichever timing works.

What happens if my commercial premises fails the EICR?

An unsatisfactory commercial EICR identifies remedial work needed under EaWR 1989 to maintain the installation safely. The duty-holder is legally required to address the findings within a reasonably practicable timeframe — typically faster than the standard 28-day window for PRS landlord work because of the operational implications. We quote the remedials alongside the report and expedite where the findings are business-critical.

Do I need separate EICR work on emergency lighting and fire alarms?

The EICR covers the supply circuits feeding emergency lighting and fire alarm systems but not the systems themselves. Fire alarm certification under BS 5839-1 (for larger systems) and emergency lighting testing under BS 5266 are separate specialist regimes. We can do the emergency lighting installation and testing — see the emergency lighting page — but BS 5839-1 fire alarm work for larger commercial systems is typically a specialist’s job.

Will the inspection cause much disruption to my business?

Power is off briefly on each circuit during testing — typically 15-30 minutes per circuit — but the rest of the premises stays live throughout. Scheduling the inspection during a quieter trading period or outside peak hours minimises the impact. For premises that genuinely can’t lose any power during business hours, we’ll arrange the inspection out of hours.

Do you cover Bearsted and the wider Maidstone for commercial work?

Yes. Our commercial coverage spans Bearsted and the surrounding Maidstone towns, with the Rochester base reaching Bearsted in around 32 minutes. We work with small-business owners, office managers, and commercial landlords on routine EICR cycles, lease-changeover documentation, and remedial work.

Commercial EICR in nearby towns

EICR for other audiences in Bearsted

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EICR detail (helps with the quote)

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