CareHomeDeskCareHomeDeskBS 7671 (18th Edition) recommends periodic visual inspection of electrical installations between formal EICRs. In care homes, where electrical equipment is subject to heavy and continuous use, HSE recommends visual checks are carried out at intervals not exceeding three months.
An EICR provides a snapshot of the installation's condition at the point of testing, typically every five years in a care home context. BS 7671 recognises that installations subject to heavy or continuous use can deteriorate meaningfully within that interval, and recommends that periodic visual inspection be carried out between formal EICRs to catch developing faults -- such as damaged sockets, exposed conductors or overheating signs -- before they become serious.
HSE guidance for premises with high electrical usage, including care homes, points to visual checks being carried out at intervals not exceeding three months. This is shorter than would be expected in a low-use office environment because care home electrical equipment -- hoists, bed controls, call systems, kitchen equipment -- is in near-continuous service and handled by multiple staff members across shifts, increasing wear and the chance of accidental damage.
A visual inspection does not require testing equipment or specialist qualification in the way an EICR does -- it is a structured visual check for damaged socket outlets and switches, signs of scorching or overheating, exposed or damaged cabling, overloaded extension leads and multi-way adaptors, and accessories that are cracked, loose or contaminated with liquid ingress, particularly around bathing and kitchen areas. Any defect found should be reported immediately and taken out of use if it presents an immediate risk.
Unlike an EICR, a periodic visual inspection between formal tests does not need to be carried out by a qualified electrician -- a trained member of maintenance or facilities staff can perform it, provided they understand what to look for and are briefed on when to escalate to a competent electrician. Some operators combine this check with routine PAT testing rounds or fire safety walk checks to reduce duplication of effort.
Each visual inspection should be logged with the date, the areas covered, the name of the person carrying it out, and any defects found together with the action taken. A consistent, dated log across multiple quarters is what demonstrates to CQC, insurers or a fire risk assessor that electrical risk is being actively monitored between formal tests, rather than the installation being left unchecked for up to five years at a time.
CareHomeDesk gives you compliance checklists, maintenance logs, and contractor management tools built around exactly this kind of knowledge.