Modern RCBO consumer unit after a satisfactory EICR

For developers active in West Malling, the distinction between an EIC and an EICR matters. New circuits — whether on a greenfield site or in a refurbishment — get an Electrical Installation Certificate at the point they’re commissioned. An EICR comes in later, on existing installations, as periodic inspection evidence. Knowing which document applies at which stage of a development is half the compliance work; CJA Electrical handles both sides.

What an EICR involves for Developer

Developer EICR scope is most often one of three things. Refurbishment of an existing installation: where the existing wiring is being kept and adapted rather than ripped out, an EICR confirms its current condition before the refurb goes live. Change-of-use conversion: a building being converted from commercial or single-dwelling to multiple dwellings, with the existing wiring carried forward in part. Phased completion handover: a development delivered in stages, where earlier phases have entered service and need periodic inspection. All three follow BS 7671:2018+A2:2022. C1, C2, C3, FI codes apply per the standard. New circuits added as part of the works get an EIC separately at the point they’re commissioned.

When you need this in West Malling

Common developer scenarios for an EICR in West Malling: - Acquisition due diligence on a property being purchased for refurbishment - Pre-refurb baseline EICR documenting the existing installation’s condition - Post-refurb EICR confirming the kept-and-adapted wiring is still satisfactory - Change-of-use conversion EICR — house to flats, commercial to residential, etc. - Periodic inspection on completed phases of a development already in service - EICR alongside an EIC on a project mixing new circuits and retained existing wiring

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

What the report contains

The deliverable is a standard three-part EICR PDF — form, schedule of inspection, schedule of test results — plus, where relevant, a project cover note explaining how the EICR relates to the wider build documentation. On a refurbishment with both retained and new wiring, the EICR covers the retained sections and an EIC (or set of EICs) covers the new circuits. Findings are coded C1/C2/C3/FI. Unsatisfactory results need remedying within 28 days under BS 7671 best practice; on developer work we typically coordinate the remedials with the wider project programme.

Why book CJA Electrical for your West Malling EICR

What developers usually want from an EICR partner is precision and timing. Precision because the EIC vs EICR distinction matters and gets it wrong on BC sign-off. Timing because the inspection slot has to fit a wider project programme, often with multiple trades on site. City & Guilds 2391 qualified for the inspection and testing, ten years on Tonbridge and Malling domestic projects, comfortable working alongside other trades on a live site. Same-week turnaround typical for West Malling projects.

Inside a fully wired domestic consumer unit
Inside a fully wired domestic consumer unit

How the inspection runs

What it looks like on a typical West Malling refurb: Site visit to scope the existing installation. Pre-refurb EICR if the developer wants the starting condition on file. Refurb proceeds. New circuits (where any are added) get an EIC at commissioning. Post-refurb EICR confirms the kept-and-adapted installation is still satisfactory. Final paperwork pack handed over with the project sign-off.

What affects the price

Developer EICR work is priced per inspection scope. Refurbishment baseline EICR on a single dwelling is priced like a domestic EICR. Phased-development work is priced per plot or per block depending on what’s being inspected. EIC work for new circuits is priced separately by circuit count. Get in touch with the project scope and we’ll come back with a fixed quote.

FAQs

Can you work alongside other trades on a live site in West Malling?

Yes. Most of our developer work happens on live sites with other trades present. We coordinate with the site manager or principal contractor to fit the inspection slot into the wider programme, and we work to the site’s H&S and access protocols. West Malling sites are reached from our Rochester base in around 30 minutes.

Do you supply documentation in a format Building Control accepts?

Yes. EICs and EICRs follow the standard BS 7671 formats that Building Control bodies accept across England. Standard three-part EICR PDF — form, schedule of inspection, schedule of test results — and standard EIC for new circuits with the matching schedule of test results.

How quickly can you turn EICR work round on a developer project?

Same-week appointments are typical for West Malling projects, with the report PDF in the project inbox within 48 hours of the visit. For phased developments where multiple plots need inspecting, we batch the visits to keep the cost down and the turnaround tight. Tighter timelines are possible where the project programme demands it.

Do I need an EICR on a property I’ve just bought to refurbish?

Not strictly required by law, but it’s standard due diligence. A pre-refurb EICR documents the condition of the existing installation before any work starts, which protects you if findings emerge later. Where the refurb plan involves keeping significant parts of the existing wiring, the EICR is also useful evidence that what’s being retained is still satisfactory.

What about Building Regulations notification on new circuits?

New circuits in dwellings are notifiable work under Building Regulations in England. We issue the appropriate Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) at commissioning and the developer’s Building Control body takes the notification through standard channels. We don’t act as a self-certification scheme but the EIC documentation is what the BC body needs to sign off the work.

Can you inspect occupied phases of a phased development?

Yes. Where earlier phases have entered service and tenants or buyers are in residence, we coordinate access through the site management team or directly with residents. The inspection itself is the standard EICR — same scope, same format. Periodic inspection on occupied phases is the most common scenario.

Do new builds in West Malling need an EICR or an EIC?

New builds need an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), not an EICR. The EIC is issued by the installing electrician at the point the new installation is commissioned and forms part of the Building Control sign-off documentation. An EICR is a periodic inspection document that applies to existing installations after they’ve entered service — typically five years or more after the EIC was issued.

Developer EICR in nearby towns

EICR for other audiences in West Malling

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