NICEIC, a certification body for the UK’s electrical contracting industry, has released new research raising awareness of the importance of electrical installation condition reports (EICRs) amongst homeowners.
The findings highlight a significant gap in understanding of electrical safety, underlining the need for continued, industry-wide efforts to improve awareness and encourage regular inspection and testing.
A poll of 2,000 UK homeowners, carried out by OnePoll, found one in seven have ignored potentially dangerous electrical faults such as constant tripping, broken switches, and flickering lights. More than one in five (22%) admit they take an “I’ll worry about it tomorrow” approach to these issues.
The research also points to low levels of engagement with electrical checks (EICRs). More than a fifth (22%) have not had their electrics inspected and tested in over a decade, if at all, while 16% are unsure whether their property has ever been assessed by a qualified electrician.
Crucially, the findings highlight widespread low awareness of EICRs. Nearly seven in 10 (69%) homeowners do not know what an EICR is, and almost half (48%) of those who are aware do not realise inspections are recommended at least every 10 years in owner-occupied homes.
For the industry, the findings reinforce the importance of ongoing efforts to raise awareness of electrical safety and the role regular inspection plays in maintaining safe installations.
Efforts to improve public knowledge
NICEIC says it is promoting the findings to national consumer media outlets as part of a wider effort to help improve understanding of electrical safety.
As part of this activity, NICEIC is signposting homeowners to clear, consumer-friendly guidance on EICRs, while also highlighting its ‘Find a Trusted Tradesperson’ tool, which, the company explains, enables homeowners to locate NICEIC-certified businesses in their area.
Paul Collins, NICEIC Technical Director, says, “These findings highlight a clear gap in awareness when it comes to electrical installation condition reports and their role in maintaining safe electrical installations.
“As electrification accelerates, regular inspection and testing is becoming increasingly important, and improving understanding of EICRs is vital.”
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