Why is my EICR showing a Code 1 and what should I do immediately?

Finding a Code 1 on your EICR report can feel alarming, and it should be taken seriously, but understanding what it means will help you act quickly and calmly. What a C1 code actually means A C1, or Code 1, is defined in BS 7671 and the IET's guidance as meaning danger exists. It is the highest severity code an electrician can apply during an EICR inspection. It means that a hazard has been found that poses a real and immediate risk of electric shock, burns, or fire to anyone using or living in the property. Common reasons for a C1 being raised The inspecting electrician may have found one or more of the following situations. Live wires that are exposed or accessible without any tools. An earth connection that is missing on a circuit that relies on one for safety. Electrical equipment or accessories that are so badly damaged that live parts are touchable. An RCD that is missing entirely from a circuit where one is required for protection. Severely overloaded wiring that presents an immediate fire risk. What you should do right now Read the observations section of your EICR carefully. Your report should describe exactly what was found and on which circuit or location. Contact a registered electrician as soon as possible, today if you can. Ask whether the affected circuit needs to be switched off at the consumer unit until it is repaired. Do not attempt to inspect the wiring yourself, even if you feel confident doing so. Can you stay in the property? In most cases, yes. Your electrician may advise you to turn off a specific circuit at the consumer unit and simply not use it until the work is completed. If the C1 relates to the main incoming supply or a widespread fault, they may recommend the installation be isolated entirely. Follow their advice. What happens after the repair? Once the remedial work is done, the electrician should carry out the relevant tests on the repaired circuit and issue you with a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate or an updated EICR if appropriate. Keep this certificate with the original EICR. If you are a landlord, resolving a C1 is a legal requirement under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 and must be completed within 28 days, or sooner if stated.