PAT Testing vs EICR: Which One Do You Actually Need?
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PAT testing and EICR are two of the most common electrical safety inspections in the UK — and they're regularly confused, conflated or assumed to overlap. They don't. They test fundamentally different things, are required at different intervals, and need different qualifications to carry out.
This post explains exactly what each one is, where the line between them sits, and when you need one, the other, or both.
The one-sentence summary
PAT testing checks individual appliances that plug in. An EICR checks the building's fixed electrical wiring.
Everything else is detail.
What PAT testing actually checks
PAT testing — Portable Appliance Testing — examines plug-in electrical appliances:
- Kettles, microwaves, toasters
- PCs, laptops chargers, monitors, printers
- Vacuum cleaners, fans, lamps
- Power tools and workshop equipment
- Extension leads and IEC leads
- Fridges, freezers, dishwashers
- Anything else with a plug
The test combines a visual inspection with electrical tests:
- Earth continuity (Class 1 appliances)
- Insulation resistance
- Polarity check
- Functional check
For a complete breakdown of how PAT testing works, see our main PAT testing guide.
What an EICR actually checks
An EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report — examines the fixed electrical installation of a building:
- The wiring throughout the building
- The consumer unit (fuse box) and protective devices
- Sockets and switches (the fixed bits, not what's plugged into them)
- Lighting circuits (the fixed wiring, not the lamps)
- Earth bonding and earthing systems
- Fixed appliances connected directly into the wiring
An EICR needs a person competent in electrical-installation inspection and testing, using suitable specialist equipment. Appliance-testing training alone does not establish that competence.
The output is a comprehensive report classifying the installation:
- C1 (Code 1) — Danger present. Immediate remedial work required.
- C2 (Code 2) — Potentially dangerous. Remedial work required.
- C3 (Code 3) — Improvement recommended (but not unsafe).
- FI (Further Investigation) — Issue identified that needs more detailed examination.
A "satisfactory" EICR has no C1 or C2 findings.
The key practical differences
| Feature | Appliance inspection and testing | EICR |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Electrical equipment, including relevant leads and supplies | Electrical installation, within the agreed inspection scope |
| Competence | Knowledge and practical ability for the equipment and checks | Competence in installation inspection and testing |
| Frequency | Risk, manufacturer advice and applicable statutory or licence requirements | Applicable legal requirements, installation condition and inspector recommendations |
| Records | Inventory, findings, test results where applicable and actions | Installation condition report, schedules and remedial records |
| Price and duration | Quote for the actual equipment, access and reports | Quote for the actual installation, access and inspection scope |
| Disruption | Plan equipment disconnection or operating tests as required | Plan access and any circuit isolation with the inspector |
Where the boundary actually sits
The line between PAT testing and EICR scope:
PAT testing covers:
- Anything that plugs into a socket
- IEC leads and detachable leads
- Some "fixed" appliances that are connected via a fused spur (hand dryers, wall heaters)
EICR covers:
- The wiring carrying electricity through the building
- Sockets and switch fittings (the building-side electrical hardware)
- Consumer unit and circuit breakers
- Earthing system
- Hard-wired fixed appliances (where they're directly wired in, not via a fused spur)
The grey area: fixed appliances
Permanently connected equipment needs suitable maintenance. The installation report and equipment-maintenance scope can meet at its connection, so agree explicitly what each contractor will inspect. Do not assume an EICR automatically provides a complete safety assessment of every appliance.
When you need PAT testing
Select appliance inspection and testing according to risk and any specific legal, licence or contract requirement. Offices, schools, HMOs and holiday lets do not each have one universal instrument-test interval.
See our frequency guide and landlord guide for the relevant distinctions.
When you need an EICR
Installation inspection requirements depend on the property, use and jurisdiction. A commercial or domestic installation should be assessed by a person competent in that work; follow the applicable duties and recommendations in the report.
The rules depend on the nation, tenancy and licence. In Scotland, Repairing Standard guidance D.56 includes appliance inspection/testing before first letting and at intervals no greater than five years; a new tenancy alone does not require a repeat when the inspection remains current. Shorter intervals may be needed. Scottish Repairing Standard guidance.
In England, distinguish private renting from social housing: the regulations require fixed-installation inspections, and the 2025 extension also requires social landlords to arrange checks of supplied electrical equipment at least every five years. Private-landlord appliance duties and any licence conditions must still be met. Current England guidance and transitional dates.
For Wales and Northern Ireland, check the applicable national housing rules and the property's licence rather than applying the England or Scotland rules automatically. Across all nations, record the agreed maintenance plan and act on damage as soon as it is reported.
HMOs (UK-wide)
Check the national housing or workplace rules, the premises licence and any specific insurance conditions. Use a competent installation inspector to establish the appropriate scope and interval, including any statutory maximum.
Holiday lets
Check the national short-term-let rules and the property’s licence. Scotland has specific electrical inspection and appliance-report conditions; elsewhere, confirm the applicable rules and any insurer or platform conditions. See the holiday-let guide.
Commercial premises
Plan installation maintenance around the workplace, installation condition, use and consequences of faults. A competent installation inspector can advise on the inspection scope and interval; appliance checks remain a separate part of the maintenance plan.
Sale of property
Increasingly, EICR is requested as part of property due diligence at sale. Mortgage lenders and conveyancers may flag absence as a concern.
When you need both
Many premises need a maintenance plan for both the electrical installation and connected equipment. Each has a different scope, so one report should not be treated as evidence that the other has been checked.
Set the inspection schedules separately from the applicable housing or workplace rules, licence conditions, risk assessment and competent recommendations. A premises label such as school, HMO or holiday let does not establish one universal annual PAT interval.
Common confusions
- A satisfactory EICR does not establish the condition of every connected appliance. Confirm the exact scope of the inspection.
- An appliance-test record does not replace an inspection of the electrical installation.
- Neither report guarantees safety until a stated date. Damage, altered use or other concerns require action between scheduled inspections.
- A contractor offering a combined service should identify both scopes, the person competent for each and the reports you will receive.
Cost comparison
Get separate or itemised quotes for the installation inspection and the appliance-maintenance work. Compare the property and equipment scope, access, shutdowns, reporting, remedial work and VAT.
An annual budget can spread periodic inspection costs over time, but the budgeting period does not determine the legally required or risk-based inspection interval.
Who carries out each?
Appliance testing and electrical-installation inspection require competence for their respective tasks. A PAT course does not qualify someone to produce an EICR, and holding an 18th Edition certificate alone does not prove every practical inspection skill.
HSE advises using people competent in the relevant installation or specialist equipment.
Practical considerations
Should you use the same contractor for both?
Often convenient. Some contractors offer bundled services. Pros: convenience, consistency, possible cost saving. Cons: may not get specialist expertise on either.
Should they be done at the same time?
Possible but disruptive — EICR involves switching off circuits, which interrupts PAT testing of equipment running on those circuits. Typically scheduled separately.
What documents should you keep?
- The current installation inspection report, its schedules and evidence of remedial work.
- Equipment inventory, inspection/test records and records of faults, repairs or disposal.
- Any documents required by the property’s licence, housing rules, insurer or customer contract.
Keep accessible records and backups for the period required by those duties and your documented retention policy. There is no single six-year PAT-record rule that applies to every premises.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between PAT testing and EICR?
PAT testing checks individual plug-in appliances (kettles, PCs, microwaves). EICR checks the building's fixed electrical wiring (sockets, switches, consumer unit, circuits). They test different things and aren't interchangeable.
Do landlords need both PAT testing and EICR?
The rules depend on the nation, tenancy and licence. In Scotland, Repairing Standard guidance D.56 includes appliance inspection/testing before first letting and at intervals no greater than five years; a new tenancy alone does not require a repeat when the inspection remains current. Shorter intervals may be needed. Scottish Repairing Standard guidance.
In England, distinguish private renting from social housing: the regulations require fixed-installation inspections, and the 2025 extension also requires social landlords to arrange checks of supplied electrical equipment at least every five years. Private-landlord appliance duties and any licence conditions must still be met. Current England guidance and transitional dates.
For Wales and Northern Ireland, check the applicable national housing rules and the property's licence rather than applying the England or Scotland rules automatically. Across all nations, record the agreed maintenance plan and act on damage as soon as it is reported.
Installation and appliance checks cover different equipment. Agree both scopes where needed.
Can a PAT tester do an EICR?
A PAT course can help develop inspection and testing skills. Competence also depends on practical ability, experience, the equipment involved and understanding the results. Successful learners on our classroom course receive a Skills Training Group certificate within one working day. Check the course scope and arrange additional training or specialist assistance for work outside it. See the course details and available locations.
Is an EICR a legal requirement for businesses?
Workplace duties require electrical systems to be maintained safely. The inspection method, scope and interval should be determined by the installation, risks and applicable requirements. A competent installation inspector can advise; do not assume every business has a universal five-year legal interval.
How long does an EICR last?
Follow any statutory maximum interval and the inspecting person’s recommendation, which can call for an earlier inspection. A report records findings at the time; it does not guarantee that later damage or alterations are safe until the next scheduled visit.
Can the EICR identify problems with appliances?
Generally no. The EICR examines the fixed installation, including the protective devices (RCDs, MCBs) that would respond to appliance faults — but doesn't examine individual appliances themselves.
What happens if I have an EICR with C1 or C2 findings?
C1 findings require immediate action (typically isolating the circuit until remedial work is done). C2 findings require remedial work to make the installation satisfactory. Neither is the end of the world, but both need addressing — and rental properties with C1/C2 findings can't be legally let until remedied.
The takeaway
An EICR concerns the electrical installation; appliance inspection and testing concerns equipment. Confirm both scopes and the competence needed, arrange the checks appropriate to the premises, and act on defects promptly.
