The short answer is every five years for most commercial premises.
But the full picture is more nuanced, and getting it wrong as a commercial property owner or landlord creates real risk, both legal and financial.
I am David Moore, M&E Installations Manager at M&E Contrax, and I hold City and Guilds 2391-52 Electrical Inspection and Testing. Our team carries out commercial EICRs for businesses, landlords and facilities managers across Devon. The question of inspection frequency comes up constantly, so this is my complete answer to it.
Most commercial premises
For most commercial properties, an EICR is recommended every five years.
Higher-risk environments
Industrial, agricultural, catering, laundry and water-heavy environments often need testing every three years.
After major changes
Significant electrical alterations, faults or change of occupation may bring inspection forward.
The standard commercial EICR frequency: every five years
For most commercial premises, the recommended frequency for an Electrical Installation Condition Report is every five years. This follows the guidance set out in BS 7671, the IET Wiring Regulations, and aligns with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, which require electrical systems to be maintained in a safe condition.
The five-year interval is a maximum, not a target. If your installation is older, has had significant modifications, or operates in a demanding environment, the right answer may be more frequent than five years. The EICR report itself will recommend the next inspection date based on what the engineer finds, and that recommendation should be followed, not ignored.
When commercial EICRs should be carried out more frequently
Some commercial environments place much greater demand on electrical infrastructure. In these cases, waiting five years between inspections may not be appropriate.
Every three years
Commercial premises with higher electrical risk should be inspected more often. This includes industrial and manufacturing facilities with heavy electrical loads, commercial kitchens, laundries, carwashes and agricultural premises.
After significant changes
If your premises has had a new distribution board, additional circuits, extended office space or new machinery connected, the affected circuits should be inspected and tested as part of the works completion.
After a fault or incident
A tripped main breaker, burn mark on a socket, repeated equipment failure or visible fault should be investigated. Waiting until the next scheduled inspection is not appropriate where there is a clear safety concern.
At change of tenancy
When a commercial property changes tenants, an EICR gives the incoming tenant and landlord a clear baseline of the installation’s condition at the point of handover.
What the Electricity at Work Regulations actually say
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 do not specify a fixed inspection interval for commercial premises. They impose a general duty to maintain electrical systems in a safe condition. The recognised method for demonstrating compliance is a periodic inspection and test, which is what we call an EICR.
The practical implication is simple. If something goes wrong and you have not had the installation inspected for seven years, you cannot demonstrate that you maintained it safely. For an employer, that creates potential Health and Safety Executive exposure. For a commercial landlord, it creates contractual and insurance liability.
The five-year recommendation is not just industry convention. It is the defensible position if you are ever asked to demonstrate compliance.
What do commercial landlords need to know?
If you let commercial premises to a tenant, your lease will typically allocate responsibility for electrical maintenance between landlord and tenant. In most commercial leases, the tenant is responsible for maintaining electrical equipment they bring in and use, while the landlord is responsible for the fixed electrical installation.
The fixed installation includes the wiring, consumer units and distribution boards that form part of the building. As the party responsible for that installation, the landlord should ensure an EICR is carried out at the appropriate interval.
Insurers increasingly require evidence of current electrical certification as a condition of commercial property insurance, and a lapse in certification can affect the validity of a claim.
The position is not as prescriptive as the residential landlord EICR regulations, which legally mandate five-year inspections for all private residential tenancies. Commercial property operates under the more general duty framework of the Electricity at Work Regulations. But the practical risk for a commercial landlord without a current EICR is significant enough that treating the five-year interval as a firm obligation is the right approach.
Fixed wire testing, periodic inspection and EICR: are they the same thing?
Yes, in practice. Fixed wire testing, periodic inspection and testing, electrical periodic inspection and Electrical Installation Condition Report all refer to the same activity.
They describe a comprehensive inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation in a building, carried out by a qualified engineer. The term EICR is the standard term under BS 7671 and is the most widely used in compliance documentation. Some insurers and managing agents still refer to it as fixed wire testing or periodic inspection. These are the same report by a different name.
From October 2026: who can carry out your commercial EICR?
From 1 October 2026, engineers carrying out EICRs must hold the City and Guilds 2391-52 Electrical Inspection and Testing qualification or equivalent, with at least two years of documented practical experience. This applies to commercial as well as domestic inspections.
I hold C&G 2391-52, NVQ Level 3 in Electrotechnical Services, and BS 7671 18th Edition certification, with 20 years of electrical inspection experience. Before booking a commercial EICR from October onwards, whether with M&E Contrax or another contractor, confirm that the engineer carrying out the inspection holds this qualification. The right answer to that question should take them no time at all.
How long does a commercial EICR take?
It depends entirely on the size and complexity of the installation. A small office of ten circuits might take two to three hours. A distribution facility or industrial premises with 200 circuits, like the 198-circuit inspection we carried out for International Dance Supplies in Newton Abbot, takes considerably longer and needs to be planned around operational requirements to avoid disruption.
We plan every commercial EICR inspection around your operational schedule before we start. For businesses where any interruption to circuits has an operational impact, we identify which circuits can be tested during normal hours and which need to be scheduled for early morning or outside working hours.
Commercial EICR checklist
Before booking a commercial EICR, it is worth checking a few practical details so the inspection can be completed smoothly and with minimal disruption.
- When was your last EICR carried out?
- Has your electrical installation changed since the last report?
- Do you have current distribution board schedules and circuit labels?
- Will any circuits need to be tested outside normal working hours?
- Does your insurer or managing agent require specific documentation?
- From October 2026, can the engineer confirm C&G 2391-52 or equivalent competence?
Frequently asked questions
How often does a commercial property need an EICR?
Every five years for most commercial premises. Higher-risk environments including industrial facilities, commercial kitchens, laundries and agricultural premises should be inspected every three years. The EICR report itself will specify when the next inspection is due.
What is the recommended frequency for fixed wire testing in a commercial building?
Fixed wire testing, also called periodic inspection and testing or EICR, is recommended every five years for standard commercial premises. The interval shortens to three years for high-risk environments and may be shorter if the installation is old, has been significantly modified or if the previous report identified issues requiring monitoring.
Does the EICR frequency change for high-risk commercial premises?
Yes. Commercial kitchens, industrial manufacturing environments, laundries, carwashes and premises with heavy or specialist electrical loads typically require inspection every three years rather than five. Agricultural premises and locations where the installation is exposed to unusual environmental conditions should also be inspected more frequently.
What happens if a commercial EICR is overdue?
There is no automatic legal penalty for a lapsed EICR in a commercial property in the same way there is for a residential landlord. However, a lapsed EICR can affect your commercial property insurance, create a contractual issue with your tenant or managing agent, and leave you unable to demonstrate compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 if an incident occurs.
Can a commercial landlord use the same EICR contractor from October 2026?
Only if that contractor’s engineer holds C&G 2391-52 Electrical Inspection and Testing or an approved equivalent. From 1 October 2026, engineers who do not hold this qualification cannot certify EICR work. Ask the contractor directly before booking. A qualified engineer will answer immediately and clearly.
Do you carry out commercial EICRs across Devon?
Yes. M&E Contrax carries out commercial EICR testing across Newton Abbot, Exeter, Torbay, Plymouth, South Hams and the wider Devon area. Same-day available for urgent requirements. Call 01364 654271.
Book a commercial EICR in Devon
M&E Contrax is a NICEIC-approved electrical contractor based in Newton Abbot. We carry out commercial EICRs for offices, retail premises, industrial facilities, hospitality venues and commercial landlords across Devon.
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