Electronic Testing in West Sussex: What a Safety Check Involves

What an electrical safety check actually is

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal inspection and test of the fixed electrics in a property: the consumer unit (fuse board), the cables in the walls and ceilings, sockets, switches, light fittings and earthing. It does not cover plug-in appliances such as kettles and televisions. Those are checked separately through portable appliance testing, often called PAT testing.

The aim is simple. Wiring deteriorates out of sight, and an EICR tells you whether yours is still safe to use, and what needs attention if it is not.

What the electrician checks

A proper check is part visual inspection and part testing with calibrated instruments. Expect the electrician to open the consumer unit, remove a sample of sockets and switches, and test each circuit in turn.

• Consumer unit: condition, correct fuse or breaker ratings, and whether RCD protection is present and trips within the required time
• Earthing and bonding: the main earth, plus bonding to gas and water pipes
• Insulation resistance: whether cable insulation has broken down, which is common in older rubber or early PVC wiring
• Polarity and continuity: that every circuit is connected correctly and has no breaks
• Earth fault loop impedance: whether a fault would cut the power quickly enough to prevent a shock or fire
• Visible damage: scorched sockets, cracked fittings, overloaded circuits and unsafe DIY additions

How long it takes and how disruptive it is

For a typical three bedroom house, allow three to four hours. A one or two bedroom flat can take around two hours, while a large or much extended property may need most of a day. The power has to go off for parts of the test, usually circuit by circuit, so plan around working from home, and expect to reset clocks and the router afterwards.

It helps to clear access to the consumer unit and as many sockets as you can. Tell the electrician about any outbuildings, garden offices, EV chargers or solar panels, because these add circuits and time.

Understanding the result codes

The report comes back as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory, with each issue given a code. Any C1, C2 or FI makes the overall result unsatisfactory. C3 items alone do not.

• C1: danger present, needing immediate action. The electrician will usually make it safe before leaving
• C2: potentially dangerous and needs urgent repair
• C3: improvement recommended, but not a failure
• FI: further investigation needed

Typical costs and how often to test in West Sussex

Prices depend on the size of the property, the number of circuits and how easy the wiring is to access. As a realistic guide locally, a one or two bedroom flat is often around £120 to £180, a three bedroom house £150 to £250, and larger or older homes £250 to £350 or more. Any repairs are quoted separately.

Local housing stock makes a difference. Victorian terraces in Worthing and Chichester, 1930s bungalows along the coast and 1950s homes in Crawley frequently still have old fuse boards or no RCD protection. In seafront areas such as Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and Shoreham, salt air speeds up corrosion on outdoor fittings and meter cupboards.

Homeowners are advised to test every ten years, or when buying or selling. Landlords must have rented properties tested at least every five years and give tenants a copy of the report. Whoever you use, check they are registered with a recognised scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT.

Published 13 October 2026