Here are the four EICR codes explained in one line each: C1 means danger present, C2 means potentially dangerous, C3 means improvement recommended, and FI means further investigation required. Any C1, C2 or FI makes the whole report unsatisfactory, while C3 items are advisory only and never cause a fail.
If you are holding an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) with a list of codes on the observations page, this guide covers the typical faults behind each code and what happens next. We carry out EICRs across Bristol regularly, so the examples below are faults we genuinely find.
Had an EICR come back unsatisfactory, or need one booked? Get a fixed-price EICR quote or call Mark on 07973 782 821 — based in Downend, covering Bristol and surrounding areas. No call-out charge for quotes, and no obligation.
The four EICR codes explained at a glance
Every observation on the report gets one of the EICR C1, C2, C3 or FI classification codes, grading how serious each finding is. Together they decide the overall result.
| Code | What it means | Fails the report? | What has to happen |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present, risk of injury | Yes | Immediate action; should be made safe on the day |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous | Yes | Urgent remedial work |
| C3 | Improvement recommended | No | Optional upgrade, worth doing but not required |
| FI | Further investigation required | Yes | Investigate without delay |
The overall result sits in the summary box near the front, with coded items listed under observations. Not had the inspection yet? See what happens during an EICR.
C1: danger present
A C1 means the inspector found something dangerous right now, with a real risk of injury. It is the most serious code, and rare in a well-kept home.
Typical C1 findings include:
- A socket or switch hanging off the wall with live terminals exposed
- A missing cover or blanking piece on the fuse board (consumer unit), leaving live parts within reach
- A charred or burnt connection still live and in service
- Metalwork that has become live because of a fault
A C1 should not simply be written down and left. Good practice is to make it safe there and then, with your permission, even if that means isolating the circuit until it can be repaired. You should hear about it on the day, not discover it in the paperwork.
C2: potentially dangerous
A C2 means the defect was not dangerous at the moment of inspection but realistically could become so, often when a second fault occurs. So what does a C2 mean on an EICR in practice? Urgent remedial work is required, and the report is unsatisfactory until it is done.
C2 is the code we write most often. Typical examples from Bristol homes:
- No earth wire at lighting points that have metal fittings or metal switches
- Missing main protective bonding (the earth connection) to the gas or water pipework
- Scorching or heat damage around a socket, switch or fuse board connection
- Bathroom or shower circuits with no RCD (residual current device) protection — the safety switch that trips when current leaks to earth
- Damaged cable with the coloured insulation exposed
- DIY additions joined in unenclosed connector blocks under floors or in lofts
None of these will necessarily hurt anyone today. That is the point of the code: the danger is one fault, one wet hand or one loose strand away, so the work is urgent, not optional.
One C2 on its own makes the report unsatisfactory. If that has just happened, our guide to what to do after a failed EICR walks through the next steps.
C3: improvement recommended, and no, it is not a fail
This is the code that causes the most confusion. A C3 means the installation falls short of BS 7671 (the current Wiring Regulations) in some respect, but is not dangerous. C3 items do not make the report unsatisfactory. A report with only C3 observations is a pass.
Common C3 examples:
- A plastic fuse board that is otherwise in good condition
- No RCD protection on lighting circuits
- No supplementary bonding in a bathroom where the circuits are RCD protected
- Older but serviceable sockets, switches and accessories
The regulations improve with every edition, so almost every house more than a few years old picks up a C3 or two. That is normal. The improvements are worth considering next time you have electrical work done, but nobody can insist on them.
This matters most in rented property, where landlords are sometimes told they must fix every code listed. They do not. Our guide to C2 vs C3 for landlords covers what the law requires and what is merely advice.
FI: further investigation required
An FI means the inspection turned up something that looks wrong but could not be fully diagnosed within its scope. Further investigation may uncover a C1 or C2 hiding behind it, so an FI makes the report unsatisfactory until the investigation is done.
Typical FI examples:
- A test reading, such as low insulation resistance, worse than expected with no visible cause
- A cable or circuit that cannot be identified or traced
- Signs of an alteration where the inspector cannot see how, or whether, it was safely connected
An FI is not the electrician being vague; it is an honest flag that something needs tracing before the installation can be called safe. The investigation is often quick, and the cause either gets fixed or proves harmless.
Satisfactory or unsatisfactory: how the overall result works
The rule is simple. If the report contains any C1, C2 or FI, the overall assessment is unsatisfactory. If it contains only C3 observations, or no observations at all, it is satisfactory.
For homeowners, an unsatisfactory report carries no legal deadline. C1 and C2 items are genuine safety issues though, so get them quoted and fixed promptly rather than filing the report away.
For landlords in England the rules are stricter. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, remedial work for C1, C2 and FI items must be completed within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so, with written confirmation supplied to the tenant and the local authority. Councils can impose civil penalties of up to £40,000 per breach. The full requirements are in the GOV.UK guide for landlords, and the coding system is set out in Electrical Safety First’s best practice guide.
Whoever does the work, ask for a fixed price covering the coded items only. You do not need a whole new EICR afterwards; a certificate for the remedial work is enough to show the defects were put right.
Frequently asked questions
What does C2 mean on an EICR?
C2 means potentially dangerous: the defect is not an immediate danger, but it could become one, often if a second fault develops. A C2 makes the report unsatisfactory, and urgent remedial work is required to put it right. Common C2s include missing earth bonding, no RCD protection on bathroom circuits, and heat damage at connections.
Is a C3 code a fail on an EICR?
No. C3 means improvement recommended, and it does not affect the overall result. A report containing only C3 observations is satisfactory. C3 items simply show where the installation falls short of the current Wiring Regulations without being dangerous, such as a plastic fuse board in good condition or lighting circuits without RCD protection.
How long do I have to fix C1 and C2 faults?
Landlords in England must have C1, C2 and FI work completed within 28 days of the report, or sooner if it says so, and confirm it in writing to the tenant and local authority. Homeowners face no legal deadline, but a C1 should be made safe on the day, and C2s are best dealt with promptly.
Can the same electrician fix the faults they found?
Yes, and it is often the simplest route because they already know the installation. But you are free to take the report to any qualified electrician for the remedial work. We regularly price remedials from other firms’ reports, and we quote the coded items as a fixed price before starting.
How much does an EICR cost in Bristol?
As a guide, an EICR on a one to three bedroom home typically costs £150 to £250, with larger homes usually £250 to £350. Remedial work is priced separately once you know the codes. Our EICR cost guide for Bristol breaks down what affects the price and what should be included.
Want the codes on your report sorted properly? Get a fixed-price EICR quote or call Mark on 07973 782 821 — based in Downend, covering Bristol and surrounding areas. Free quotes, no call-out charge, and no obligation.