EICR Limitations Explained

Limitations on an EICR record the parts of an installation that were not fully inspected or tested, together with the reason. They are a normal and important part of an honest report — they tell the duty holder precisely what was assessed and what was not.

Why limitations exist

An installation cannot always be tested in full. Common, legitimate reasons include:

• Operational constraints — circuits serving critical equipment that cannot be switched off during the visit.
• Access — accessories or cabling concealed behind fixed structures or stored goods.
• Agreed sampling — on large installations, testing a representative sample rather than every circuit.

Two types of limitation

• Agreed limitations are those the client and inspector decide before work begins (for example "no isolation of the server room supply").
• Operational limitations are those the inspector encounters on site and records as found.

Both are noted on the report, with the extent and reasons stated.

Why they must be recorded

A report that hides its gaps is misleading. By recording limitations, the EICR:

• keeps the overall result meaningful — a "Satisfactory" outcome only covers what was actually assessed;
• lets the duty holder arrange a follow-up to close the gaps; and
• protects everyone by making the scope of the inspection explicit.

When comparing quotes, be wary of an unusually cheap EICR — it may rely on excessive limitations that leave much of the installation unassessed.