Further Investigation
By: Michael Peace CEng MIET
BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 has published and there has been a change to the classification codes for electrical installation condition reports (EICRs). This article looks at what has changed and the implications.
What is the purpose of an EICR?
The purpose of carrying out inspection and testing and compiling an EICR is to determine if the installation is suitable for continued use.
Part of the process involves identifying any damage, deterioration, defects or dangerous conditions, as well as any non-compliances which might give rise to danger, and recording it as an observation and attributing an appropriate classification code. Information regarding classification codes can be found in the Electrical Safety First (ESF) Best Practice Guide 4.
ESF Best Practice Guides are contributed to by many industry organizations, such as the IET. They are free of charge and can be downloaded from their website.
What is the history of the further investigation (FI) classification code?
The periodic inspection report was first introduced into BS 7671:1992+A1:1994 and the FI classification code was included.
The name of the report changed from “periodic inspection report” to “electrical installation condition report” in BS 7671:2008+A1:2011. It was at this time that a change was made to include a separate column to record the FI classification code, along with another code (see Figure 1). At this time, only a C1 or C2 classification code resulted in an unsatisfactory outcome (see Figure 2).
It is clear that there was confusion regarding the FI classification code at that time, because “note 9” of the notes for the person producing the report was amended.
The purpose was to clarify that only those observations attributed an FI classification code because the inspection had revealed an apparent deficiency which could not, owing to the extent or limitations of the inspection, be fully identified, and further investigation may reveal a C1 or C2 observation (see Figure 3).
Figure 1: Section K of EICR in BS 7671:2008+A1:2011
Figure 2: Notes for the person producing the report in BS 7671:2008+A1:2011
Figure 3: Notes for the person producing the report in BS 7671:2008+A3:2015
What is appropriate use of the FI classification code?
Where inspection or testing reveals a potential safety issue, which due to the extent or limitations could not be fully determined, the person ordering the report should be advised that further investigation is required. As described above, the purpose of periodic inspection and testing is to determine if the installation is suitable for continued use. It is not a fault-finding exercise. This is made clear in ESF Best Practice Guide 4. It also states that in a domestic or similar installation, it should generally be possible to attribute a classification code to each observation without the need for further investigation. IET Guidance Note 3: Inspection & Testing states that generally, it is possible to assign many issues found under the extent and/or limitations of the EICR.
Where is the FI classification code inappropriately used?
It is evident that the FI classification code is often used inappropriately. A common example is where a circuit is not identified. Regulation 514.8.1 of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 requires that a protective device shall be arranged and identified so that the circuit protected may be easily recognized. Therefore, this is a non-compliance with BS 7671 which might give rise to danger, and the observation should be recorded and an appropriate classification code attributed. Whilst it is accepted that further investigation may be needed to identify the circuit, this is considered remedial work and is not part of the inspection and testing process.
Another example of inappropriate use of the FI classification code is where an insulation resistance test has been carried out, and the value measured is less than 1 MΩ. This clearly does not meet the requirements of Table 64 of Regulation 643.3.2 of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 and should be attributed with an appropriate classification code. To find the reason for such a low value, further investigation will be required, however, this is considered fault-finding and is not part of the inspection and testing process.
What are the changes to the FI classification code in BS 7671:2018+A4:2026?
To make it clear that a C3 or FI classification code does not result in an unsatisfactory outcome, they have been decoupled from the C1 and C2 classifications codes, and a note has been added to explain this (see Figure 4). Previously, for an FI classification code, further investigation was required without delay. This has been changed to “further investigation is advised”.
This makes clear to the person(s) responsible for the installation, those observations which result in an unsatisfactory outcome and require remedial work, and those which are recommendations and advisory.
Figure 4: Section K of EICR in BS 7671:2018+A4:2026
How does this compare to the inspection of gas installations?
The gas industry adopts a different approach to safety inspections. The Gas Safe Register is the only official gas registration body in the UK. By law, all gas businesses must be registered on the Gas Safe Register.
For inspections, Gas Safe Register uses two types of unsafe categories: “immediately dangerous” and “at risk”. The main difference being that an appliance which is “immediately dangerous” is disconnected and an item which is “at risk” is switched off. Gas engineers follow the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP).
Gas Safe Register removed the code, “not to current standards (NCS)” in 2016. The reason NCS was removed, is to reflect the fact that just because the installation is not to current standards, does not necessarily mean it is unsafe. The client can be advised that the installation is not to current standards, but this should not be recorded on any warning notices, or safety-related paperwork or documentation. This is to ensure that the key safety messages are not detracted from. A similar statement is shown in the note by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 (see Figure 5).
Figure 5: Note by the HSE in BS 7671:2018+A4:2026
Summary
Periodic inspection and testing is carried out to determine if an installation is in satisfactory condition for continued use. It is not a fault-finding exercise.
It should not be necessary to attribute an FI classification code in the majority of circumstances. Where it is considered necessary, it does not result in an unsatisfactory outcome.
Acknowledgments
- Calum Mansell
- Joe Cannon