Modyx Toolbox

Straight answers on inspection & testing.

Free guides on EICRs, observation coding and the judgement calls that split group chats. Written for apprentices, the newly qualified, and anyone who wants the reg behind the opinion.

4 min readToolbox talk

How much should you charge for an EICR?

Typical UK EICR prices, what moves the number, and the hidden cost most sparks forget to quote for — the write-up.

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5 min readToolbox talk

EICR rules for landlords in England: the 5-year law explained

What the Electrical Safety Standards 2020 require: an EICR every 5 years, a copy to the tenant, C1/C2/FI fixed in 28 days, and fines up to £30,000.

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4 min readToolbox talk

What makes an EICR unsatisfactory?

Any C1, C2 or FI makes an EICR unsatisfactory; C3s alone leave it satisfactory. The one-line rule, and where sparks get the coding wrong.

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4 min readToolbox talk

EIC vs EICR vs Minor Works: which certificate do you need?

EIC certifies new work with a new circuit, Minor Works covers alterations without one, and an EICR is a condition report on an existing installation.

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3 min readToolbox talk

How often do you need an EICR?

Rented homes every 5 years (law in England), owner-occupied at least every 10, commercial every 5 — plus the shorter intervals and what pulls them forward.

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4 min readToolbox talk

Who can carry out an EICR? Do you need to be registered?

An EICR must be done by a skilled, competent person qualified to BS 7671. Scheme registration isn't legally required to inspect, but it's how competence is proven.

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4 min readToolbox talk

Why did my EICR fail? What unsatisfactory means

An EICR comes back unsatisfactory when the inspector finds a C1, C2 or FI. The common reasons — no RCD, missing bonding, damaged accessories — and what happens next.

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4 min readToolbox talk

RCD vs RCBO vs MCB: what's the difference?

An MCB protects the cable, an RCD protects against shock, and an RCBO does both per circuit. Why missing RCD protection is a common EICR failure.

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4 min readToolbox talk

Do I need surge protection (an SPD)?

Under the 18th Edition as amended, an SPD is now required for most new work unless a risk assessment says otherwise. On existing installs, absence is usually a C3.

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4 min readToolbox talk

Consumer unit replacement: the regs explained

A consumer unit change must use a metal enclosure, is notifiable under Part P, and is certified with an EIC — not a Minor Works Certificate.

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4 min readToolbox talk

What is Part P? Notifiable electrical work explained

Part P covers electrical safety in homes (England & Wales). Which work is notifiable, the two routes to compliance, and why the certificates matter when you sell.

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3 min readToolbox talk

How to prepare for an EICR

Clear access to the board and every socket, dig out past certificates, flag known quirks, and expect the power off in spells. An hour of prep saves a return visit.

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5 min readToolbox talk

EICR observation codes explained: C1, C2, C3 and FI

What C1, C2, C3 and FI mean on an EICR, which codes make the report unsatisfactory, and how inspectors decide between them.

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4 min readToolbox talk

C2 or C3? The one question that decides it

The C2/C3 boundary decided with one question: is it potentially dangerous now, or just not how we'd do it today? Worked examples included.

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4 min readToolbox talk

How long does an EICR take?

Typical on-site time for a domestic EICR, what makes it longer, and where the hidden hours really go — the write-up.

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7 min readToolbox talk

Your first EICR: a walkthrough for newly qualified electricians

The sequence of a first solo EICR — scope, visual inspection, dead and live testing, coding observations, and the report itself.

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Certs that write themselves.

The Toolbox covers the judgement. Modyx handles the typing — talk the inspection and sign the finished cert.

Try it — say a fault, watch it code →