Why codes matter
Every defect or departure from BS 7671 recorded on an EICR is given a classification code. The codes decide whether the overall report is satisfactory or unsatisfactory, and for landlords they determine what must be fixed within 28 days.
C1 — Danger present
A C1 means there is a risk of injury right now and immediate action is required. The inspector should make the situation safe before leaving, usually by isolating the circuit or removing the damaged item, and tell the person responsible straight away.
Typical examples: exposed live conductors from a broken socket or missing consumer unit cover; a live conductor accessible through a damaged enclosure; incorrect polarity that makes a lampholder shell live.
C2 — Potentially dangerous
A C2 means the defect is not immediately dangerous but could become so if a fault or another event occurred. Urgent remedial action is required.
Typical examples: no RCD protection for socket outlets likely to supply equipment used outdoors; no main protective bonding to incoming gas or water pipes; signs of overheating at accessories or the consumer unit; a combustible consumer unit under a staircase used as an escape route in certain circumstances; an earth fault loop impedance too high for the protective device to disconnect in time.
C3 — Improvement recommended
A C3 records something that does not meet the current edition of BS 7671 but is not dangerous. It does not make the report unsatisfactory, and there is no legal duty for landlords to act on it, although many choose to.
Typical examples: no RCD protection on lighting circuits in an older installation; no surge protection; older-style accessories that were compliant when installed.
FI — Further investigation required without delay
FI is used where the inspector has found something that may indicate a danger but could not be fully assessed during the inspection — for example, a circuit that cannot be traced, unexplained test results, or a cable route that cannot be verified. An FI makes the report unsatisfactory until the investigation has been completed and any resulting defect resolved.
Satisfactory or unsatisfactory?
- Any C1, C2 or FI = unsatisfactory.
- Only C3s, or no observations = satisfactory.
Can a code be disputed?
Coding involves professional judgement, and inspectors do sometimes disagree, particularly on C2 versus C3. If an observation looks wrong, ask the inspector to explain the regulation it relates to and the risk involved. A good report describes the location and the reason for each code in plain English. Our reports include photographs of every C1, C2 and FI so you can see exactly what was found.
What happens after a C1 or C2?
Read our guide on what to do after an unsatisfactory EICR. In short: get the remedials quoted item by item, complete them within the deadline and obtain written confirmation — usually an Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Works Certificate — for your records.