EICR codes C1, C2, C3 and FI explained
C1 describes present danger, C2 a potentially dangerous condition and C3 a recommended improvement. FI needs particular care in 2026: on the BS 7671 Amendment 4 model form it advises further investigation and does not by itself make the overall result unsatisfactory. Read the edition and wording of your actual report, and address any required investigation rather than relying on the result box alone.
Loyal Plumbers · Updated
Discuss an EICR enquiryRead the observation as well as its classification
A classification indicates how an observation is treated, but the accompanying description identifies the location and condition found. A code without that context cannot tell a customer which circuit is affected or which repair is necessary. Obtain the complete report, including inspection and test schedules, rather than asking for a quotation from a cropped result page.
If a description is unclear, ask the inspector to explain it in ordinary language and identify the relevant area. Do not remove socket fronts or inspect live equipment to verify the statement yourself. The customer’s task is to understand the finding and arrange the appropriate response, not to recreate electrical tests.
C1 and C2 require different urgency from an improvement
C1 identifies danger present with a risk of injury and requires immediate remedial action. C2 identifies a potentially dangerous condition requiring urgent remedial attention. Both lead to an unsatisfactory overall assessment under the current A4 model. Follow the inspector’s specific safety instructions, including any restriction on circuits or equipment.
An administrative deadline is not permission to leave an immediate danger in use. If an item has been isolated or made safe, do not restore it yourself. Arrange the appropriate qualified work and make sure anyone occupying or managing the property understands the restriction. A code is a prompt for an appropriate response, not simply a label to remove from paperwork.
C3 recommends an improvement without alone failing the report
C3 is used for an improvement recommendation. It does not by itself make the report unsatisfactory. That distinction helps customers separate work necessary to address danger from improvements worth considering in a maintenance or refurbishment plan. It does not mean the recommendation is meaningless or should disappear from the property records.
Ask what benefit the suggested improvement provides and how it relates to other planned work. Keep it separate in a quotation from required remedial items. A contractor should not describe every C3 as compulsory merely to obtain a satisfactory result, nor should a customer use one C3 observation to discount unrelated C1 or C2 findings elsewhere in the report.
Understand the Amendment 4 change to FI
The IET’s July 2026 explanation states that Amendment 4 separates FI and C3 from the classifications determining an unsatisfactory outcome. On that form, FI means further investigation is advised. Earlier model-form wording treated FI differently, so a blanket statement that every FI always fails every EICR is no longer accurate.
Check the edition used and request the inspector’s explanation of the potential issue and appropriate next step. Do not retrospectively rewrite an older report yourself or use the newer wording to ignore its instructions. The aim is to resolve the identified uncertainty with competent advice, not to win a terminology argument while the underlying question remains open.
| Code | Meaning in plain language | Overall assessment effect |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger is present; immediate action needed | Unsatisfactory |
| C2 | Potential danger; urgent remedial attention | Unsatisfactory |
| C3 | Improvement recommended | Does not alone make it unsatisfactory |
| FI | Further investigation advised | Does not alone make it unsatisfactory |
Keep rented-sector legal duties separate from form wording
Current GOV.UK guidance for qualifying private and social rented homes in England requires landlords to complete necessary remedial or further investigative work within 28 days, or sooner where the report specifies a shorter period. It also addresses completion evidence. That legal context is separate from the A4 model form’s overall-assessment rules.
Do not interpret an A4 satisfactory result as automatic permission to ignore investigation that the qualified person identifies as necessary under the applicable duties. Confirm what work is required, its urgency and the evidence needed. Check the actual tenure and jurisdiction; the England guidance has scope and exceptions and should not be presented as a universal deadline for every property owner.
Do not turn a code into a predetermined parts order
The same classification can apply to very different observations. An unsatisfactory result does not automatically require a complete rewire, and a single observation may need investigation before the repair can be specified. Ask for a proposal connected to the actual findings and distinguish diagnosis, necessary work and optional improvements.
If you dispute a classification, begin with clarification and, where appropriate, an independent competent assessment using the complete report and relevant history. Do not seek only someone willing to change the result. Immediate safety action should not be delayed while an unrelated improvement or price question is discussed.
Keep a clear record of the response to each observation
Use the report’s observation references when arranging further work so completion evidence can be matched to the findings. Record any remaining recommendation or limitation separately. This is particularly useful for landlords and agents managing several properties, where a generic electrical repairs invoice can otherwise be mistaken for resolution of every item.
Contact Loyal Plumbers with the report edition, overall result and relevant observations. Mention the full document so sharing by email can be arranged. Say whether equipment is currently isolated or an urgent instruction was issued. The next appointment can then be scoped around the actual condition and necessary work rather than an assumed meaning of one code.
Common questions
- Does FI always make an EICR unsatisfactory?
- No. On the A4:2026 model form it does not alone determine an unsatisfactory result. Older wording differs; read the actual edition and follow qualified advice on the investigation.
- Can I ignore FI on a satisfactory A4 report?
- Do not assume that. Clarify the identified issue and necessary action, including any applicable England rented-sector duty to carry out required investigation.
- Does C3 have to be repaired to make the report satisfactory?
- C3 alone does not prevent a satisfactory assessment. It recommends improvement and should be considered separately from C1 or C2 remedial work.
- Does C2 mean the whole installation needs replacing?
- No. The repair depends on the specific observation and findings. The classification alone does not specify a rewire or particular replacement.
Sources and further reading
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