EICR codes C1, C2, C3 and FI explained
On an EICR, C1 means danger present: there's a risk of injury and immediate remedial action is necessary. C2 means potentially dangerous, and urgent remedial action is necessary. C3 means improvement recommended. FI means further investigation is advised. Under BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, only C1 and C2 make the report unsatisfactory. C3 and FI are advisory and don't affect the overall assessment, and the A4:2026 model form lists them in a separate part of Section K.
The four codes at a glance
| Code | What the A4:2026 form says | Makes the EICR unsatisfactory? | Where it goes in Section K |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present. Risk of injury. Immediate remedial action is necessary | Yes | C1 and C2 observations |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial action is necessary | Yes | C1 and C2 observations |
| C3 | Improvement recommended | No, it's advisory | C3 and FI observations |
| FI | Further investigation is advised | No, it's advisory | C3 and FI observations |
The overall assessment in Section E is satisfactory or unsatisfactory for continued service. One C1 or C2 anywhere makes it unsatisfactory. Any number of C3s and FIs on their own doesn't.
What changed with Amendment 4
Amendment 4 (BS 7671:2018+A4:2026) changed how FI works:
- FI used to mean further investigation was required without delay, and an FI made the report unsatisfactory.
- Now FI means further investigation is advised. It's advisory, like C3, and doesn't change the overall assessment.
- Section K is split in two. C1 and C2 observations, which affect the overall assessment, go in the first part. C3 and FI observations, which don't, go in the second.
The IET's guidance on the change says that in most cases you shouldn't need an FI at all, because a periodic inspection isn't a fault-finding exercise. (Source: IET Wiring Matters, July 2026, "Implications of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 on EICRs".)
The previous edition, BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024, was withdrawn on 15 October 2026, so new reports should be on the A4:2026 form.
C1: danger present
Use C1 when someone could be hurt now, for example where live parts can be touched because an accessory is broken or a cover is missing. The form's guidance for recipients says the remedial work should be done immediately. In practice, make it safe on the day if you can, with the client's agreement, and tell the person who ordered the report straight away. There's a box on the form to confirm you've told them about any dangerous or potentially dangerous situations.
C2: potentially dangerous
Use C2 when it isn't considered dangerous at the time of the inspection, but would become a danger if a fault or another foreseeable event happened. The guidance for recipients says the remedial work should be done as a matter of urgency. A C2 still makes the report unsatisfactory.
C3: improvement recommended
Use C3 when what you've found isn't a source of immediate or potential danger, but an improvement would make the installation safer. A C3 is advisory. Not every departure from the current edition of BS 7671 needs a C3. An example from our sample EICR is item 4.9, where the circuit chart at the consumer unit is out of date. You can issue a satisfactory report with C3s on it.
FI: further investigation is advised
Use FI only when you've found a possible safety issue that you couldn't classify, because of the agreed extent or the limitations of the inspection. Say what needs looking at and why. The IET gives two examples of where FI is often used when a code should be given instead:
- An unidentified circuit. Give it a code. Tracing it is remedial work, not part of the inspection.
- Insulation resistance below the minimum. Give it a code. Finding out why is fault-finding.
If you think something could turn out to be C1 or C2, code what you can see on that basis, rather than putting an FI on it.
The other outcomes on the inspection schedule
The schedule of inspection uses the same codes, plus outcomes that aren't observations:
- ✓ acceptable condition
- C1 or C2 unacceptable condition
- C3 improvement recommended
- FI further investigation
- N/V not verified
- LIM limitation
- N/A not applicable
Every coded item on the schedule (C1, C2, C3 and FI) also needs an observation in Section K, with the schedule reference. In the intake equipment section, which is a visual inspection only, the form says that an outcome there, other than access to live parts, shouldn't decide the overall outcome.
Who decides the code?
You do, as the inspector. The code is a judgement about risk, based on what you found and the installation in front of you. Electrical Safety First's Best Practice Guide 4 gives worked examples for common findings, and it's worth having to hand. No app should choose a code for you.
Coding observations on your phone in ZipCert
- Every inspection item starts blank. You give each one its outcome: ✓, C1, C2, C3, FI, N/V, LIM or N/A.
- Write observations with talk to text instead of typing, then pick the code.
- The PDF puts C1 and C2 observations, and C3 and FI observations, in their own parts of Section K, the same as the A4:2026 model form.
- Point 5 checks catch incomplete items before you issue.
- The codes, the overall outcome and the sign-off are yours. ZipCert doesn't pick any of them.
See how a coded EICR looks · How to fill in an EICR on your phone · The EICR app for no-signal jobs
FAQ
What do C1, C2, C3 and FI mean on an EICR?
C1 means danger present: there's a risk of injury and immediate remedial action is necessary. C2 means potentially dangerous, and urgent remedial action is necessary. C3 means improvement recommended. FI means further investigation is advised.
Is C3 a fail on an EICR?
No. A C3 is advisory and doesn't affect the overall assessment. An EICR with only C3 observations can be satisfactory.
Does an FI code fail an EICR?
Not under BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. FI now means further investigation is advised. It's advisory and doesn't affect the overall assessment. On reports before Amendment 4, an FI made the report unsatisfactory.
What does C2 mean on an EICR?
C2 means potentially dangerous, and urgent remedial action is necessary. Any C2 makes the overall assessment unsatisfactory.
Can an EICR be satisfactory with observations on it?
Yes, if there are no C1 or C2 observations. C3 and FI observations are advisory and don't make the report unsatisfactory.
Does ZipCert choose the codes for me?
No. Every inspection item starts blank, and you give each one its outcome and code. ZipCert lays the observations out in Section K the same way as the A4:2026 model form, but the codes and the overall outcome are your judgement.
Code it on your phone, on site. 14-day free trial, no card.
Written by ZipCert, which makes an electrical certificate app. Check BS 7671 and your scheme's guidance for anything you're unsure of.