Last updated 7 October 2026
In short: every business in Aberdeen has to keep its electrical installation maintained so that it does not cause danger, under regulation 4(2) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. In practice that means five things on file: a current periodic inspection report for the fixed wiring, a record of checks on portable equipment, a tested emergency lighting system with a logbook, a fire risk assessment, and certificates for any work done since the last inspection. No law sets one fixed interval for business premises, so the inspector, your insurer and your lease decide how often.
This guide is for owners, office and facilities managers, and anyone taking on a commercial lease. It sets out what you need, where each duty comes from, and who is responsible when the building is shared.
The checklist: what a business must have in place
| What to have | Where the duty comes from | How often |
|---|---|---|
| A periodic inspection report (EICR, also called fixed wire testing) on the fixed installation | Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, regulation 4(2): systems maintained so as to prevent danger, so far as reasonably practicable | Set by the inspector on the report, often 5 years for offices and shops and 3 for industrial units |
| Checks on portable equipment you provide (PAT, or in service inspection and testing) | The same regulations, applied through HSE guidance on maintaining electrical equipment | Decided by risk and written down. Harsh environments more often |
| Emergency lighting on escape routes that need it, tested to BS 5266 with a logbook | Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, regulation 13 (escape routes) and regulation 16 (maintenance) | A monthly function test and an annual full duration test |
| A fire risk assessment of the workplace | Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, section 53 | Kept under review, and revisited when the premises or its use changes |
| Certificates for every alteration since the last inspection | BS 7671 certification for new and altered work | Issued on completion of each job |
| Competent people doing the work | Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, regulation 16 | Every job |
The wording of regulation 4 is short, and it does not mention an EICR by name. A periodic inspection and test is simply the accepted way of showing that you have maintained the system, and it is the first document an insurer asks for after a fire or an electrical incident.
How often does a commercial building need an electrical inspection?
As often as the installation needs. HSE’s position is that equipment should be checked often enough that there is little chance it becomes dangerous between checks, and that the interval should be written down and changed if faults are found. For the fixed installation, the inspector puts a recommended date for the next inspection on the front of the report, based on IET guidance for the type of premises and the condition found.
| Type of premises | Typical maximum interval | What shortens it |
|---|---|---|
| Offices | 5 years | Frequent layout changes, heavy use of extension leads |
| Shops and retail units | 5 years | Tenant changes, display lighting alterations |
| Restaurants, cafes and hotels | Set on the report | Steam, grease, washdown cleaning and kitchen loads |
| Workshops and industrial units | 3 years | Dust, damp, vibration, machinery and three phase plant |
Bring the date forward if the occupier changes, the use of the building changes, the installation is altered or damaged, or your insurer or lease asks for a shorter cycle. That wording, not the general guidance, is often the deadline that binds first. Our page on commercial EICR and fixed wire testing explains what the inspection covers, how it is priced and how isolations are planned around trading.
Emergency lighting: the duty most often missed
Regulation 13 of the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 says that emergency routes and exits which need illumination must have emergency lighting of adequate intensity if the normal lighting fails. Regulation 16 then requires those facilities to be kept in efficient working order and good repair. The fire risk assessment, required of every employer by section 53 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, is where you decide which routes need it.
For the lighting itself, BS 5266 sets the routine: a short function test every month, a full duration test once a year, and a logbook showing both were done. A periodic inspection records the emergency lighting circuits, but it does not replace these tests. An empty logbook is easy to miss until a fire officer or insurer asks to see it.
Landlord or tenant: who is responsible?
In a building with one occupier, the business in occupation carries the duty for the installation it controls. In a shared building the lease decides, and it usually splits like this.
- The landlord normally keeps the landlord’s supply, the common parts (stairs, corridors, shared plant rooms) and any emergency lighting serving shared escape routes.
- The tenant normally keeps the installation inside their own unit, from their distribution board onwards, and the portable equipment they bring in.
- Grey areas are sub mains running through another tenant’s space, shared emergency lighting circuits, and plant left behind by a previous tenant. Agree these in writing.
Residential lets are different. Private landlords in Scotland have a fixed five year EICR duty under the Repairing Standard, which does not apply to commercial premises. If you also let flats or houses, see our landlord electrician service in Aberdeen.
Before you sign a commercial lease
- Ask for the latest EICR and the date of the next one. If there is none, ask who will pay for one.
- Ask for the emergency lighting logbook and the most recent annual test.
- Check the board is labelled and the circuit chart matches what is there.
- Find out whether any C1 or C2 observations on the last report were put right, and ask for the certificate for that work.
- Agree in writing who maintains which parts of the installation.
Reading the report: what an unsatisfactory result means
Under BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, only C1 (danger present) and C2 (potentially dangerous) make a report unsatisfactory. C3 means improvement recommended. FI means further investigation is advised: it is advisory, but it should still be looked at promptly because it can reveal a real problem. Older reports were issued under the previous edition, so check which edition your report states.
An unsatisfactory report rarely means closing the doors. A C1 needs immediate action to make it safe. C2 items should be put right promptly, and the remedial work certified. Keep the report, the remedial certificate and a note of the dates together, because that is the trail an insurer will ask for.
Keeping it all on one schedule
The simplest way to stay compliant is a single calendar: the EICR date from the front of the report, the monthly and annual emergency lighting tests, and the PAT interval you have decided on. Across several units, staggering the reports stops them all falling due in the same month. Our planned electrical maintenance service puts inspections, remedials and emergency lighting tests on one programme.
Testing needs circuits switched off, so it is planned around trading. We work Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm, and isolate one section at a time so the rest of the building keeps running. A commercial EICR from us starts at £300 + VAT for a small unit, with larger premises priced after a free survey on the number of boards and circuits.
Choosing who does the work
Regulation 16 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires anyone doing electrical work to have the knowledge or experience to prevent danger, or to be suitably supervised. There is no separate licence for commercial electricians, so check the evidence instead: a business on the NICEIC or NAPIT register under the same name as the quote, City and Guilds 2391-52 or an accepted equivalent for inspection and testing, insurance you can see before work starts, and the certificates named in the quote. Our guide on checking an electrician’s qualifications goes through each check.
Faithful Spark Electricians is a NICEIC Approved Contractor, enrolment 620239, and Steven Watt, who leads our team with Callum alongside him, holds City and Guilds 2391-52. NICEIC also lists us for portable appliance testing, and we install, test and certify emergency lighting to BS 5266. You can read reviews from our customers, and when you are ready for a price, our commercial electrical services in Aberdeen page has the details.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EICR a legal requirement for a business in Scotland?
No law names the EICR or sets a fixed interval for business premises. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 do require every electrical system to be maintained so as to prevent danger, and a periodic inspection is the accepted way to show you have done that. Insurers and leases often make a current report a condition.
How often does an office need fixed wire testing?
Offices are commonly inspected every five years, but the inspector sets the date on the report and it can be shorter if the installation is heavily used, in poor condition, or your insurer asks for less.
Who is responsible for electrical testing in a rented commercial unit?
The lease decides. Landlords usually keep the landlord’s supply and the common parts, and tenants keep the installation inside their unit and their own equipment. If the lease is silent, agree it in writing before an insurer asks.
How often should emergency lighting be tested?
BS 5266 sets a short function test every month and a full duration test once a year, with both recorded in a logbook.
Does a commercial EICR include PAT testing and emergency lighting tests?
No. An EICR covers the fixed installation. PAT testing and the emergency lighting duration test are separate checks, although they can be done on the same visit.
Does Part P apply to commercial premises in Scotland?
No. Part P is a building regulation for England and Wales only. Where commercial electrical work in Scotland needs a building warrant, it comes from Aberdeen City Council in the city or Aberdeenshire Council in the shire.
Not sure where your premises stands? Call 07304 027013 and tell us when your last report was done, or send us the address for a free survey.
