Can an EICR be satisfactory with C3 codes?

Yes. C3 means improvement recommended, so a report with only C3 observations is still satisfactory. Only C1, C2 and FI codes make a report unsatisfactory.

Who can carry out an EICR?

An EICR must be carried out by a qualified and competent person, such as an electrician registered with a scheme like NAPIT. Landlords should check the inspector is competent and insured.

Does a C2 mean my home is unsafe to live in?

Not necessarily. C2 means potentially dangerous, so the fault could become dangerous and needs urgent repair, but the electrician will make anything immediately dangerous safe before leaving.

Can a different electrician do the remedial work?

Yes. Any qualified electrician can carry out the remedial work. They will issue a certificate for the repair, which you keep with the original report.

Do I get a new EICR after remedial work?

Not usually. You receive an Electrical Installation Certificate or a Minor Works Certificate for the repairs, which shows the coded faults have been put right. The original EICR stays valid until its next due date.

EICR Codes: C1, C2, C3 and FI in Plain English

EICR codes rate each problem found during an electrical inspection. C1 means danger is present and needs immediate action, C2 means potentially dangerous and needs urgent repair, C3 means improvement is recommended, and FI means further investigation is needed without delay. Any C1, C2 or FI makes the whole report unsatisfactory.

Sam Ward Electrical, NAPIT registered (membership 63406). Last reviewed: 12 October 2026

At a glance

C1: Danger present: immediate action required
C2: Potentially dangerous: urgent remedial action required
C3: Improvement recommended
FI: Further investigation required without delay
Unsatisfactory: Any C1, C2 or FI on the report

What do EICR codes mean?

EICR codes tell you how serious each observation on an electrical installation condition report is. The inspector decides each code based on the installation in front of them; the examples below are typical, not automatic.

EICR observation codes and what they mean for you
Code	Meaning	What to do	Typical examples
C1	Danger present	Make safe immediately, usually before the electrician leaves	Exposed live parts, a badly damaged accessory with live parts accessible
C2	Potentially dangerous	Urgent remedial work	Missing earthing to a circuit, signs of overheating, no main protective bonding
C3	Improvement recommended	Not required for a satisfactory report, but worth planning	No RCD protection on some circuits where it is not otherwise dangerous
FI	Further investigation needed	Investigate without delay	A circuit that could not be traced, or unexpected test results

Three-phase distribution board of the type assessed with EICR codes during an inspection — Inspectors check boards like this for damage, labelling and protection.

Which codes make an EICR unsatisfactory?

Any C1, C2 or FI observation makes an EICR unsatisfactory. A report with only C3 observations, or none at all, is satisfactory. The overall result is shown on the front of the report, so check it first.

What should I do about a C1 or C2?

Treat a C1 as an emergency: the electrician will normally make it safe straight away, for example by isolating the circuit. A C2 needs urgent remedial work. Once the work is done you receive a certificate for the repair, which together with the report shows the installation is now safe.

Do I have to fix C3 observations?

No. C3 observations do not make a report unsatisfactory and there is no legal duty to fix them. They are still worth planning for, because many relate to older equipment that will need upgrading eventually, such as a consumer unit without RCD protection.

What does FI mean on an EICR?

FI means the inspector found something that could not be fully assessed during the inspection, such as a circuit that could not be traced or a reading that needs explaining. It must be investigated without delay, and the result may turn into a C1, a C2 or no issue at all.

How quickly must landlords fix EICR faults?

Private landlords in England must complete remedial work or further investigation within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so, and give written confirmation to the tenant and the local council within 28 days of completing it. Our landlord electrical safety guide covers every deadline under the 2020 regulations.