Receiving an Unsatisfactory Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) can be unsettling, but it's the first step towards a safer home. For this property in Newquay, the report highlighted a couple of key issues, including the absence of main protective bonding for the water supply. We attended to carry out the necessary remedial work, which involved installing a new 10mm² bonding conductor and replacing a damaged socket, before re-testing the installation and issuing a new, Satisfactory certificate.
An Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR, provides a thorough health check of a property’s fixed wiring. When a report comes back as ‘Unsatisfactory’, it means there are issues that require attention to keep the installation safe for continued use. That was the situation for this client in Newquay, whose recent EICR had flagged a couple of problems needing remedial action.
One of the primary tasks was to install main protective bonding to the incoming water service. This is a fundamental safety requirement of all electrical installations. Protective bonding involves running a thick earthing cable – in this case, a 10mm² conductor – from the property’s main earthing terminal to any incoming metallic services, such as water or gas pipes. You might see these green and yellow cables clamped to pipework near your stopcock or meter, and they perform a vital function.
Should a fault occur somewhere in the property that causes the metal pipework to become live with electricity, this bonding conductor provides a safe path for the electrical current to flow to earth. This sudden rush of current will be detected by the fuse or circuit breaker, which then disconnects the supply almost instantly. Without this connection, the pipework, and anything connected to it like radiators or taps, could remain live, presenting a very serious risk of electric shock. We ran the new cable from the consumer unit to the point where the water pipe enters the property, clipping it neatly along the skirting board and fitting a compliant bonding clamp to make a secure connection.
The other issue noted on the report was a damaged double socket outlet. Sockets can get damaged through everyday wear and tear or accidental impact, but cracks or breaks in the casing can expose live parts. We isolated the circuit, removed the old fitting, and replaced it with a new 2-gang socket, carefully checking the condition of the wiring and making sure all connections were tight and secure.
With the remedial work complete, the final step was to perform the necessary tests on the affected circuits to verify that our work was completed to the correct standard and the previous faults were rectified. Once we confirmed the readings were correct and everything was in order, we were able to issue a new Electrical Installation Condition Report with a ‘Satisfactory’ outcome, giving the homeowner documented proof that their electrical system is safe.
