A Guide To Electrical Remedial Work
Keeping your office, retail unit or commercial building safe, compliant and fully operational is a must. All electrical systems need maintenance, repairs, upgrades or replacements. Without them, you increase your risks of fire, people suffering electric shocks and electrical faults causing outages.
Issues are often picked up during electrical testing, especially the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) process. If you’ve had an unsatisfactory EICR report, or have been alerted to faults during an electrical inspection, it’s time to book electrical remedial repairs. But what does that mean and how do you choose the right electrical contractors to undertake effective remedial work on your commercial property?
Here’s everything you need to know about electrical remedial services.
What is electrical remedial work?
Electrical remedial work means carrying out repairs, upgrades or replacements to an electrical installation. That’s usually after fixed wire testing (an EICR) shows faults, defects or areas that no longer meet current safety standards. These can range from minor works — like replacing a faulty plug socket — to more substantial fixes such as consumer‑unit upgrades, rewiring or earthing and bonding improvements.
Generally, remedial work fixes problems identified during an electrical inspection. It’s how you ensure your building’s electrics are safe, compliant and up to scratch. For facilities managers, that means peace of mind as you know you’ve taken steps to ensure the safety of your commercial property and the people within it.
What are common issues that require electrical remedial work?
On commercial properties, some of the most frequent remedial work includes:
- Replacing worn, broken or outdated sockets, switches or light fittings
- Fixing damaged cables or wiring faults
- Upgrading consumer units, distribution boards or circuit breakers to meet current safety standards
- Installing or upgrading residual‑current device (RCD) or RCBO protection for safety
- Improving earthing and bonding to ensure safe dissipation of electrical faults
- Rectification of insulation resistance issues, earth faults or wiring errors especially in ring circuits or older installations.
These fixes ensure that your electrical system no longer presents a hazard. In turn, that protects your staff, visitors, building and equipment.
What are common issues identified during an EICR that require remedial work?
An EICR certificate may be marked unsatisfactory for several reasons. Each observation is coded to show its severity, helping you prioritise remedial work efficiently. You’ll see which is an immediate danger and which requires minor work to get it up to standard.
Issues typically flagged in an EICR and requiring attention include:
- Code C1: Danger present – immediate remedial action is required. Issues include exposed wiring, faulty earthing and severely damaged components.
- Code C2: Potentially dangerous – urgent remedial work needed. That could be down to old sockets, degraded wiring or insufficient protective devices, for example.
- Code C3: Improvement recommended – non-urgent remedial action needed. This items aren’t compulsory from a legal perspective. However, fixing them can significantly increase safety and reduce future risk.
- Code FI: Further investigation – required without delay. With these issues, the inspector can’t fully judge safety or stability without deeper testing. Often, remedial work is needed once further investigation has been undertaken.
How long do you have to do EICR remedial works?
If you’ve had a failed or unsatisfactory EICR, it’s advisable to complete all required works within 28 days (unless the EICR report states otherwise). This isn’t a mandatory legal requirement for commercial buildings. But, we highly recommend it as it’s best practice and regulatory guidance.
Do I need a new EICR after remedial work?
No, not in most cases. Once remedial work’s carried out and certified (with a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate or similar), your original EICR certificate remains valid.
That said, it’s good practice to keep your original EICR and the remedial certificate together, in case you need it for auditing and compliance.
What are the current regulations for electrical maintenance and remedial work?
There are numerous health and safety standards and regulations in place to ensure electrical safety in the workplace. As a property or facilities manager, it’s vital you ensure that electrical maintenance, installations and repairs are carried out to a high standard within your commercial building. Regular inspections and electrical testing are important too.
Key legal safety regulations include:
- The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
- 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations
- Building Regulations (part B – electrical safety)
- The Health and Safety At Work Act.
Find out more on safety regulations for commercial electrical work
Commercial electrical work must be tested and certified to confirm that it meets regulatory and safety standards. Non-compliance can result in serious consequences such as prosecution, invalid insurance and fire safety risks. Key electrical certification includes:
- Electrical Installation Certificate
- Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) – also known as Fixed Wire Testing Certificate
- Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC).
Why choose us for EICR remedial work?
When your commercial building’s electrical safety is at stake, you need trusted, experienced electricians to work with you. Prolec’s fully qualified team has NICEIC accreditation and is well aware of the relevant regulations and safety standards. We’ll ensure that your electrical systems and equipment are safe to use, fully functioning and compliant with statutory duties.
We specialise in commercial properties — offices, retail, data centres and public buildings. We understand how disruption impacts your business, so we work efficiently and cleanly.
We work collaboratively with you every step of the way. From fault-finding and conducting the EICR, to quoting on remedial work and delivering exceptional remedial services. Together, we’ll eliminate immediate risks (such as electric shock or fire safety issues) and ensure the health and efficiency of your electrical systems.
Let us help you keep your workplace safe, compliant and fully operational. Contact us today to discuss your electrical needs. From electrical testing and remedial work to energy efficiency and safety solutions, we’re here to help.