Short answer: yes. If you run, own or manage a commercial building in London, its fixed wiring needs periodic inspection and testing, usually every five years for offices, shops, hotels and schools, and every three for industrial units. If you need a test booked, request a free quote or call us on 01525 582582. We test buildings across London every week, often out of hours, and work to BS 7671 Amendment 4.
If you’d like the detail first, here’s everything London building owners, landlords and facilities managers need to know.
Do London businesses legally need fixed wire testing?
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require anyone in control of a workplace to keep its electrical installation safe. The law doesn’t spell out how, but a current Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is the recognised way to prove it, and it’s what the HSE, your insurer and your fire risk assessor will expect if something goes wrong.
For residential landlords in London, it’s explicit: the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require an EICR at least every five years, with any C1 or C2 issues fixed within 28 days. London boroughs can issue penalties of up to £30,000 per breach. Read more in is fixed wire testing a legal requirement?.
How often do London buildings need testing?
- Offices, shops, restaurants and hotels: every 5 years
- Schools, colleges and universities: every 5 years
- Rented flats and HMOs: every 5 years
- Industrial units and warehouses: every 3 years
- Theatres, cinemas, gyms with pools and places of entertainment: every year
- Hospitals and medical locations: every year
In London you’ll often need a test sooner: at the start or end of a lease, after a Cat A or Cat B fit-out, after a change of use, or when a new landlord or insurer asks for an up-to-date report.
Fixed wire testing in London buildings: what’s different
Testing a detached office on a business park is straightforward. Testing a floor of a multi-let building in the City, a hotel that never closes or a university campus takes more planning. Here’s what we deal with every week:
- Landlord vs tenant responsibility. In multi-let buildings, the landlord is usually responsible for the landlord’s supplies, risers and common parts, and each tenant for their own demise. We’ll help you work out exactly what’s yours to test.
- Building management and permits. Most London buildings have strict rules on access, permits to work, RAMS and isolations. We supply the paperwork in advance and work with your building manager.
- Out-of-hours working. Evening, night and weekend testing is normal for occupied offices, retail and hospitality, so your staff and customers aren’t disrupted.
- Critical systems. Servers, comms rooms, fridges and security systems are identified and protected before anything is isolated.
- Portfolios and campuses. Landlords, FM companies and universities with multiple buildings can have them tested as one planned programme.
What happens during the test?
We agree an isolation plan, visually inspect the installation, then test each circuit, checking continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance and RCD operation. Each circuit is usually only off for a few minutes. You get a full EICR with every observation coded and explained in plain English. The complete guide to fixed wire testing covers each step in detail.
How much does fixed wire testing cost in London?
The price is driven by the number of circuits and distribution boards, access, and whether the work has to be done out of hours, which is common in London. Good records, such as existing board schedules and your last EICR, make testing quicker and cheaper. We give you a fixed price up front, so there are no surprises. See what affects the cost of a commercial EICR.
What if your installation fails?
Under Amendment 4, a report is unsatisfactory if it contains any C1 or C2 observations. C3s and FIs don’t affect the outcome on their own. We quote remedial work separately, with C2s and FIs priced individually, so you can see exactly what’s needed for a satisfactory report. See what happens if your EICR is unsatisfactory.
Who can carry out fixed wire testing?
It should be done by a competent electrician who holds an inspection and testing qualification such as City & Guilds 2391, and ideally works for a contractor registered with a scheme such as NICEIC. Be wary of very cheap “certificate only” offers. A proper test of a commercial building takes time.
Where we test in London
We carry out fixed wire testing across Greater London, from the City and the West End to North London, Canary Wharf and the outer boroughs. Find out more: Fixed Wire Testing London · Fixed Wire Testing Central London · Fixed Wire Testing North London · EICR London.
Frequently asked questions
Do you test during working hours?
We can, but most London clients prefer evenings or weekends. We’ll plan whatever suits your building.
Do we need to shut the power off?
Not all at once. Circuits are isolated one at a time, usually for a few minutes each, and critical circuits are left until a quiet time.
Can you test multiple sites or a whole portfolio?
Yes. We regularly test multi-building campuses and portfolios as one planned programme, with reports organised by building.
How quickly can you book us in?
It depends on the size of the building and access requirements. Send us the details and we’ll give you a date along with your quote.
Do you do the remedial work too?
Yes. We can carry out any remedial work and issue the certificates, or you can use your own contractor. It’s your choice.
Book fixed wire testing in London
Martin Cook Electrical Services has been carrying out fixed wire testing since 1998, for offices, hotels, schools, universities, landlords and data centres across London. We’re NICEIC approved and Safe Contractor Approved, and our engineers are BS 7858 screened and enhanced DBS checked. Request a free quote or call us on 01525 582582.
