The Electrical Installation Certificate, explained

An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) is the BS 7671 model form that certifies the design, construction, and inspection and testing of a new electrical installation, or of new work that adds one or more circuits to an existing installation. It is also the form for replacing a consumer unit or distribution board. It is signed for design, construction and inspection and testing, issued to the person ordering the work, and is only valid with its schedule of inspections, schedule of circuit details and schedule of test results. It is not used for periodic inspection of an existing installation, which is an EICR.

Sources last checked 19 October 2026.

When you issue an EIC

The IET's notes for the person producing the certificate say it is to be used for:

• the initial certification of a new installation
• an addition or alteration to an existing installation where one or more new circuits have been introduced
• the replacement of a consumer unit or distribution board
• certifying multiple additions, alterations or remedial works to an existing installation that do not extend to new circuits, as an alternative to issuing multiple Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificates

EIC, Minor Works and EICR side by side

An EIC certifies new work. A Minor Works Certificate certifies a smaller addition or alteration that does not include a new circuit. An Electrical Installation Condition Report reports on the condition of an installation that is already in service. The EIC form itself says it cannot be used for the inspection and testing of an existing installation, and that an EICR is to be issued for that.

Picking the wrong one is a compliance problem in its own right. A Minor Works Certificate for a job that added a circuit is the usual way it goes wrong.

What is on it

The A4:2026 model form runs from Section A to Section J. They cover the client details, the installation address and the description and extent of the installation (new installation, addition to an existing installation, or alteration to an existing installation), departures from BS 7671 and any permitted exceptions with their risk assessments, the certification signatories, the recommended interval to the next inspection, particulars of the signatories, supply characteristics and earthing arrangements, particulars of the installation, the schedule of inspections, comments on the existing installation where the work was an addition or alteration, and the schedules.

The three declarations are for design, for construction, and for inspection and testing. A signatory authorised to certify more than one category signs in each place. Where a single-signature EIC is used, the person authorised for design, construction, inspection and testing signs it.

The certificate is only valid if the schedule of inspections has been completed and the relevant schedules of circuit details and test results are attached.

The next inspection date

Section D is the designer's recommendation that the installation is further inspected and tested after an interval of not more than a stated number of years or months. The form's notes say the proposed date should take into consideration the frequency and quality of maintenance the installation can reasonably be expected to receive during its intended life, and that the period should be agreed between the designer, installer and other relevant parties. The form does not hand you a default figure, so do not leave it blank and do not copy one from a previous job without thinking about this installation.

Part P and the compliance certificate

In England, installing a new circuit and replacing a consumer unit are both notifiable under regulation 12(6A) of the Building Regulations 2010, as set out in Approved Document P. Notifiable work is certified by a registered competent person, a registered third-party certifier or a building control body.

Approved Document P says a registered competent person should complete a BS 7671 electrical installation certificate for every job. The installer or their registration body must then, within 30 days of completing the work, give the Building Regulations compliance certificate to the occupier and give the certificate, or a copy of the information on it, to the building control body. The EIC and the compliance certificate are different documents.

The EIC also carries a note that where a project is covered by the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, a copy of the certificate with its schedules goes into the project health and safety documentation.

Common mistakes

• Issuing the certificate without the schedules, which makes it invalid on the form's own terms.
• Using an EIC for an existing installation. That needs an EICR.
• Leaving the departures section blank when there were departures, or not attaching the risk assessment for a permitted exception.
• Leaving the next inspection interval blank.
• Treating the EIC as the Building Regulations compliance certificate. The scheme or building control body issues that.
• Handing the original to the wrong person. It goes to the person ordering the work, and you keep a duplicate.