EICR Inspections for Old Buildings

EICR inspections can be challenging for older houses due to their special difficulties & often the age of their electrical installation. In this post, we'll examine some of the typical difficulties encountered while conducting EICR testing on older homes and discuss the safety measures that must be taken.

Thatched Roofs

 Due to the use of traditional building materials, there is a larger risk of fire in thatched houses. This means extra protection is required, including protecting cables in roof spaces with steel conduit or other suitable protection.

This extra protection is largely due to the risk of rodents chewing through cables, then creating a fire risk when cables begin arcing in an already extremely flammable area. 

Electricians must make sure that the cables are properly insulated and that the installation complies with all relevant regulations.

Listed Buildings

Listed structures are an important component of our heritage and should be treated carefully during EICR testing. When resolving any defects following an EICR it's essential you do not do anything to destroy the building's historic fabric or in breach of any rules for the building. Listed structures contain distinctive characteristics and conventional building materials.

Outdated Electrics

Older homes could have obsolete electrical systems that don't adhere to modern safety requirements. Checking things like BS numbers & breaking capacity of fuses & other devices are essential when inspecting older buildings.