Facilities manager resource
Commercial EICR Pre-Inspection Checklist
A practical scope, access and shutdown checklist for commercial landlords, facilities managers and managing agents preparing for fixed wire testing.
Reviewed 26 July 2026 · Use for one site or adapt it for a portfolio
This checklist helps a property team prepare a scope; it is not a substitute for a site-specific risk assessment or advice from the competent person carrying out the inspection. Inspection extent, sampling, limitations and safe-isolation arrangements must be agreed for the actual installation.
1. Define the site and inspection scope
Give the contractor enough information to identify the installation, estimate the work and state any limits before testing begins.
- Confirm the full site address, building use and the responsible site contact.
- List the distribution boards and approximate circuit count, if known.
- Identify tenant areas, landlord supplies, plant rooms, external services and any separately managed installations.
- Share the previous EICR, including schedules of test results and observations.
- Provide current board schedules, single-line diagrams and completion certificates where available.
- Record recent alterations, known faults and outstanding remedial work.
- Agree the proposed inspection extent, any sampling approach and how limitations will be recorded.
2. Plan access and site safety
Testing is easier to programme when access restrictions and site controls are known before the engineer arrives.
- Confirm induction, permit-to-work, sign-in and escort requirements.
- Arrange keys or access permissions for switch rooms, risers, roof plant and tenant spaces.
- Identify high-level equipment or areas needing specialist access equipment.
- Provide the asbestos register where work could disturb or access the building fabric.
- Confirm parking, loading, security and out-of-hours access arrangements.
- Identify restricted, hazardous or process-controlled areas.
- Name the person authorised to approve isolations and changes to the agreed programme.
3. Protect critical operations
Some electrical tests require temporary isolation. Map critical loads and agree a controlled shutdown and reinstatement process.
- List servers, communications equipment, security systems and access control that cannot be interrupted without a plan.
- Identify refrigeration, production equipment, pumps, controls and other business-critical plant.
- Confirm how fire alarms, emergency lighting, lifts and building-management systems will be handled.
- Check whether UPS, generator or alternative-supply arrangements affect safe isolation.
- Agree acceptable testing windows with tenants, operations and IT teams.
- Record the isolation authorisation, notification and reinstatement process.
- Plan how any circuit that cannot be isolated will be reported as a limitation or deferred item.
4. Agree the report and urgent-action route
Decide who receives the report, how urgent findings are communicated and what evidence is needed to close remedial actions.
- Name the report recipient and any landlord, insurer or client reference that must appear on the documentation.
- Agree how C1 danger-present observations will be escalated while the engineer is on site.
- Agree the route for C2, C3 and FI observations and any supporting photographs.
- Confirm the required report format and the desired issue date before work is booked.
- Request a separately itemised remedial proposal if that is part of the procurement scope.
- Define what completion evidence is needed after remedials or further investigation.
- Update the site compliance register with the report date, recommended review date and open actions.
5. Prepare a quote-ready information pack
For a faster, more comparable quote, send the same basic scope information to every competent contractor.
- Site list and addresses for single-site or portfolio work.
- Building use, operating hours and preferred testing windows.
- Distribution-board and circuit counts, or clear photos if schedules are unavailable.
- Previous reports, board schedules and known defect information.
- Access constraints, induction requirements and specialist access needs.
- Critical-load and shutdown restrictions.
- Target programme, reporting needs and whether remedial pricing is required.
Check the underlying duties and technical requirements
The inspection should be planned around the actual installation, risks and operating constraints—not a generic interval or one-size-fits-all scope.
Continue planning
Ready to scope your commercial EICR?
Send the site, board count, access window and previous report. Wire Now will confirm the inspection scope and price.