EICR codes explained: C1, C2, C3 and FI

The coded observations

An Electrical Installation Condition Report records observations against standard codes:

• C1 — Danger present. Risk of injury; immediate action required.
• C2 — Potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial action required.
• FI — Further investigation required without delay.
• C3 — Improvement recommended. Not a failure; no statutory deadline.

A report with any C1, C2 or FI is recorded as unsatisfactory — the installation needs work to be made safe.

The landlord's deadline

For rented property in England, where the report shows remedial or further-investigation work is required, the landlord must complete it within 28 days — or sooner if the report specifies — and obtain written confirmation that the installation is now safe. That confirmation, with the original EICR, is the evidence the work was done.

Why a tracker beats a filed PDF

An EICR is a list of coded observations, not a tidy task list. Each C1/C2/FI needs to be pulled out, assigned, chased against its 28-day clock, and closed with a completion certificate. Tracking each observation from raised → assigned → evidenced → confirmed safe is what proves compliance if anyone asks.

PropertyActions is an admin and recordkeeping tool. This guide explains the duty and the records involved; it is not legal advice and does not replace a competent person carrying out the statutory assessment.