--- title: "Fixed wire testing and commercial EICR — MCI Electrical" description: "Fixed wire testing and commercial EICR by MCI Electrical in Eastleigh, Southampton, Whiteley, Chandler's Ford, and Hedge End." canonical: "https://mci-electrical.co.uk/services/fixed-wire-testing" last_updated: "2026-08-11T12:10:56.913Z" --- # Fixed wire testing and commercial EICR — MCI Electrical > Fixed wire testing and commercial EICR by MCI Electrical in Eastleigh, Southampton, Whiteley, Chandler's Ford, and Hedge End. Need fixed wire testing for a commercial property? MCI Electrical inspects circuits, distribution boards, earthing and fixed electrical equipment, then provides a clear EICR showing any defects that need attention. The service covers offices, shops, warehouses and industrial premises across Eastleigh, Southampton and the surrounding business areas. ## How this is priced The price follows the number of circuits on site and how much of the building needs testing, so I quote once I know the board and circuit count. Quotes are free and there is no callout fee. - Fixed wire testing (commercial EICR): £195 for up to 10 circuits, then £12 per additional circuit. - Access to all distribution boards and isolation points must be unhindered during the inspection. - Out of hours testing must be scheduled in advance to ensure site access. - Reports are delivered electronically following completion of physical testing and administration. ## What fixed wire testing actually is Fixed wire testing looks at the electrics that are part of the building rather than anything you plug in. Offices usually run on a five year cycle and industrial units nearer three, so the first thing I check is when yours was last done. - **Ageing distribution equipment:** Industrial units on Peacock Trading Estate and School Close often retain original three phase boards with no spare ways. Testing identifies hidden deterioration, overloaded circuits, and loose terminals. - **Coastal and salt air corrosion:** Premises next to the docks near Millbrook Trading Estate and Western Docks experience airborne salt and dust. Inspections detect corrosion at containment joints, glands, and switchgear enclosures. - **Altered and shared layouts:** Converted town centre units in Eastleigh and office suites in Chandler's Ford often have shared or modified supplies. Testing verifies circuit paths and uncovers incorrectly labelled boards. ## What is and is not included It covers everything wired into the building, from the incoming supply through to the sockets and the lights. Repairs are priced separately, once you have the report in front of you. ### Included - Visual inspection of distribution boards, switches, sockets, and containment. - Electrical testing of protective conductors, ring final circuits, and insulation resistance. - Verification of polarity and automatic disconnection times for protective devices. - Issue of a formal Electrical Installation Condition Report with schedule of items tested. ### Not included - Portable appliance testing (PAT) of plug in appliances and extension leads. - Repair or remedial work required to rectify identified defects. - Testing of fire alarm systems, emergency lighting batteries, or security alarms. ## Before I arrive I need clear access to every distribution board and isolation point on the day, including any in locked stores or plant rooms. If testing needs to happen outside your trading hours, we agree that when the job is booked. 1. **Clear access to boards:** Ensure all distribution boards, consumer units, and switch rooms are unlocked and clear of stock, pallets, or furniture. 2. **Notify site staff:** Inform staff that short power interruptions will occur while individual circuits are isolated for testing. 3. **Provide existing records:** Locate previous EICR reports, circuit schedules, and building plans to assist with circuit identification. ## Reading the report You get the report with a schedule of every circuit tested, the same day the testing finishes, and I write the summary so you can see at a glance what needs attention and what is simply noted. You also get a reminder when the next test falls due. - **C1, danger present:** Risk of injury exists. Immediate action is required to eliminate the hazard before the installation can be considered safe. - **C2, potentially dangerous:** Urgent remedial action is required to remove potential danger to people or property. - **C3, improvement recommended:** An observation points out something that does not meet current safety standards that is not immediately dangerous. - **FI, further investigation:** A potential safety issue was observed that could not be fully checked during the inspection without further access. - **Satisfactory or unsatisfactory:** The overall report result is satisfactory if no C1, C2, or FI codes are present. Any C1, C2, or FI code produces an unsatisfactory result. ## Questions I get asked The questions business owners ask me most about fixed wire testing. ### How often should commercial fixed wire testing take place? I recommend testing commercial premises every five years, or every three years for industrial sites and marine environments around Southampton docks. Landlords must also test between tenancies or as specified by licensing authorities. ### Will testing cause power outages during my working day? I isolate individual circuits briefly to perform dead testing safely. I work through distribution boards methodically and can arrange testing outside your core trading hours to avoid disrupting business activities. ### What happens if my report comes back unsatisfactory? An unsatisfactory report lists the specific observations causing the failure. Remedial work must be carried out to rectify all C1, C2, and FI items before a compliant status is achieved. ### Is fixed wire testing required by law for businesses? The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require commercial property owners and employers to maintain electrical systems safely. An EICR provides written evidence of compliance. ## Where the rules come from The official rules behind this work, straight from the source. - [Electricity at Work Regulations 1989](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/635/contents/made): Legislation setting out duties for employers and landlords regarding electrical safety. - [HSE, electrical safety at work](https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/): Health and Safety Executive advice on maintaining electrical equipment and fixed wiring. - [Electrical Safety First](https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/): UK charity guidance on inspection intervals, safety standards, and commercial property obligations. ## Business facts - Based: 1 The Drove, Horton Heath, Eastleigh, SO50 7NX - Service area: Eastleigh, Whiteley and Segensworth, Chandler's Ford, Hedge End and Botley, Southampton and the docks - Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri 09:00–17:00 - Phone: +447366896562 - Email: team@mci-electrical.co.uk - Years of experience: 17 - Pricing rules: Fixed wire testing is priced on the number of boards and circuits, not by the hour.; Emergency lighting is priced per light, and the three hour test is priced separately.; Repairs are priced item by item off the report, so you choose what to do and when.; Work outside your trading hours costs a different rate, and I tell you what it is before I set off.; Quotes are free, rescheduling is free, and there is no callout fee. ## Request a quote - [Start a request](https://mci-electrical.co.uk/#chat): Send the job details and postcode to MCI Electrical. ## Related pages - [Distribution board replacement](https://mci-electrical.co.uk/services/distribution-board-replacement): Distribution board replacement. - [Emergency lighting testing](https://mci-electrical.co.uk/services/emergency-lighting-testing): Emergency lighting testing and certificates. - [Full sitemap](https://mci-electrical.co.uk/sitemap.md): Complete machine-readable page directory.