What Do EICR C1, C2 and C3 Codes Mean? And What to Do Next

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) uses a standard coding system to classify any issues identified during the inspection. The codes are C1, C2, C3, and FI. They look like jargon at first glance but each code has a precise meaning that determines what the property owner must do next. Understanding the codes is the difference between an EICR that feels like an emergency and an EICR that gives you a clear, manageable action list. This guide explains each code, gives examples of issues that produce each code, and sets out the practical action required.

The four EICR codes at a glance

• C1: Danger present. Risk of injury. Immediate action required.
• C2: Potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial action required.
• C3: Improvement recommended. Advisory; not required to bring the report to satisfactory.
• FI: Further investigation required. The inspecting electrician cannot reach a final conclusion without additional access or testing.

An EICR is classified as satisfactory if no C1 or C2 codes are recorded. Any C1 or C2 code makes the EICR unsatisfactory, and remedial work is required to bring the installation to a safe state. C3 codes are advisory and do not affect the satisfactory or unsatisfactory verdict.

C1: Danger present, immediate action required

A C1 code means there is a real and immediate risk of injury or fire. The installation, or the affected part of it, is not safe to continue using as it is. The inspecting electrician will normally take immediate action at the time of the inspection: isolating the affected circuit, turning off the supply, or making the situation safe enough for the property to remain in use until repairs are completed.

Examples of C1 issues

• Exposed live conductors that anyone could touch.
• A consumer unit with damaged or missing covers showing live components.
• A socket or switch with broken plastic exposing live terminals.
• Severely damaged cables with conductors visible.
• Earthing arrangements that have been disconnected, leaving metal accessories without an earth path.
• Evidence of recent overheating or scorching at a connection point.

What to do with a C1

Action immediately. The inspecting electrician will usually offer to isolate the affected circuit on the day and provide a quote for the remedial work. Faithful Spark provides same day or next day attendance for any C1 issue identified during one of our inspections. Continuing to use the affected installation without remedying a C1 is a serious safety risk.

C2: Potentially dangerous, urgent remedial action required

A C2 code means there is a potential risk of injury or fire. The installation can continue in use in the short term, but remedial work is required to bring the installation to a safe state and to make the EICR satisfactory. C2 codes are the most common reason an EICR comes back unsatisfactory and are the focus of most remedial work after a routine inspection.

Examples of C2 issues

• Lack of RCD protection on circuits supplying socket outlets.
• Circuits without RCD protection feeding outdoor sockets or bathroom equipment.
• Inadequate earthing on a circuit that requires it.
• Missing supplementary bonding in a bathroom.
• Damaged cable insulation at a junction box or accessory.
• An older consumer unit type known to have specific safety concerns.
• Circuit breakers that do not match the cable rating they protect.
• Worn or loose connections at sockets or switches.
• Mains powered smoke alarms wired to lighting circuits without correct support.

What to do with a C2

Plan remedial work within a reasonable timeframe. For Scottish private rentals, the C2 must be addressed before the property meets the Repairing Standard, so prompt action is needed. For owner occupiers, prompt action is recommended but not legally compelled. Faithful Spark provides a fixed price quote for any C2 remedial work alongside the EICR report and a follow up satisfactory certificate once the work is complete.

C3: Improvement recommended, advisory only

A C3 code means the inspecting electrician has identified an aspect of the installation that does not match current best practice but that does not present a direct safety risk. C3 items are advisory. They do not require action to bring the report to satisfactory. Many homeowners address C3 items gradually as part of normal maintenance or when other electrical work is being done.

Examples of C3 issues

• An older but still functional consumer unit that does not include features required by current standards but that was compliant at the time of installation.
• Circuits without RCD protection in locations where current standards recommend but the older standards did not require.
• Plastic consumer unit enclosures (older units that have been superseded by metal clad consumer units in current standards).
• Cable colours from the older red and black scheme rather than the current brown and blue.
• Older accessory designs that are functional but no longer the current style.
• Outdated labelling or circuit identification on the consumer unit.
• Lack of additional protective measures that current standards recommend but older installations did not require.

What to do with a C3

No required action. Keep the C3 list for reference and consider addressing items when other work is being done. For example, if a kitchen refurbishment is planned, addressing the C3 items in the kitchen circuits at the same time is efficient. For landlords, C3 items are not enforceable under the Repairing Standard but addressing them is good practice and improves the property’s electrical condition over time.

FI: Further investigation required

An FI code means the inspecting electrician was unable to reach a definitive verdict on a particular item without additional access, testing, or information. FI is not a satisfactory or unsatisfactory verdict in itself; it is a flag that more work is needed before the item can be coded as C1, C2, or C3.

Examples of FI items

• A circuit that could not be fully tested because of access restrictions (boxed in, behind built in furniture, in a locked outbuilding).
• An accessory or junction that could not be opened to verify its internal condition.
• A circuit terminating at an unidentified point that needs tracing.
• A previous installation that has unusual configuration requiring additional investigation.

What to do with an FI

Arrange the further investigation. The result of the further work will determine the final coding (C1, C2, C3, or no issue). For Scottish private rentals, an EICR with unresolved FI items is generally not regarded as a final satisfactory report. Faithful Spark schedules the additional inspection time required and updates the report with the final verdict once the FI items are resolved.

My EICR is unsatisfactory: what now?

An unsatisfactory EICR is not a disaster. Most C2 issues are routine remedial items that can be addressed at modest cost within 1 to 2 weeks. The standard process:

1. Read the EICR report carefully. Each coded item is described with the location and the nature of the issue.
2. Receive the remedial work quote. Faithful Spark provides a fixed price quote for any C1 or C2 remedial work alongside the EICR report.
3. Approve the work. For C1 issues, immediate action is required. For C2 issues, plan the work within the next 1 to 2 weeks (or sooner for landlord properties where Repairing Standard compliance is critical).
4. Receive the follow up satisfactory certificate. Once the remedial work is complete, Faithful Spark issues a follow up certificate that confirms the EICR is now satisfactory. This is the document you keep alongside the original report.

Typical remedial costs for C1 and C2 issues

The cost depends entirely on what is identified, but the most common remedial items and their typical Aberdeenshire pricing in 2026:

• Replacing a damaged accessory (socket, switch): £50 to £100 per accessory + VAT.
• Adding RCD protection to a circuit lacking it: £80 to £180 per circuit + VAT.
• Repairing minor cable damage at an accessible location: £80 to £150 + VAT.
• Replacing the consumer unit (where the existing unit cannot be made compliant): £550 to £800 + VAT depending on circuit count.
• Adding earthing or bonding to outbuildings or extensions: £80 to £200 + VAT.
• Repairing a damaged junction or connection: £80 to £150 + VAT.
• Partial rewire of a single circuit: £180 to £350 + VAT.

Most EICR remedial works fall in the £100 to £500 + VAT range for typical issues. A full consumer unit upgrade or partial rewire is the larger end of the spectrum and is recommended only where it is genuinely needed.

Frequently asked questions

Are C1 codes common in Scottish residential EICRs?

No. C1 codes are unusual on regularly maintained residential installations. They tend to occur on properties that have been neglected for many years or where DIY work has been done badly. Most Aberdeenshire EICRs come back with no C1 codes.

My EICR has multiple C2 codes. Is that bad?

Multiple C2 codes are common, particularly on older properties where the consumer unit lacks modern RCD protection (which can produce a C2 against multiple circuits). The total number of items is less important than the underlying issue. A single consumer unit upgrade can resolve C2 codes on every circuit at once, which is often more efficient than addressing each circuit separately.

Can I challenge an EICR coding?

An EICR coding is a professional judgement based on BS 7671 and the IET Code of Practice. If you disagree with a specific coding, you can request clarification from the inspector or commission a second opinion from another NICEIC or SELECT registered firm. Codes are usually consistent between inspectors when applied to the same finding.

Do landlords have to address C3 items?

No. C3 items are advisory and do not affect Repairing Standard compliance. Landlords often address C3 items as part of broader maintenance or at the next time other electrical work is being done in the property. For more on landlord obligations under the Repairing Standard, see our guide to EICR for Scottish landlords.

How quickly should C1 issues be addressed?

Same day where possible. Faithful Spark provides same day or next day attendance for any C1 issue identified during our inspections. Where same day is not feasible, we make the affected circuit safe (typically by isolation) until the work can be completed.

Will my insurance be affected by an unsatisfactory EICR?

Most home and landlord insurance policies include compliance with statutory obligations as a policy condition. An unsatisfactory EICR by itself does not invalidate insurance, but ongoing failure to address C1 or C2 issues that the EICR has identified can affect cover in the event of a claim. Address remedial work promptly and keep documentation of the satisfactory follow up certificate.

Book your EICR or remedial work with Faithful Spark

Faithful Spark provides NICEIC registered EICRs and remedial work across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Fixed price quotes for the inspection and any remedial work, fast turnaround, and full follow up certification on completion of any remedial work. See our pillar guide on EICR services in Aberdeen for the full picture.

Get My EICR Quote

Faithful Spark Electricians. NICEIC approved. Local Aberdeen team. EICR inspections, electrical safety certificates, and remedial work for Aberdeen, Peterhead, Ellon, Fraserburgh and across Aberdeenshire.