Electrical certificate software: EICR, EIC and Part P

Which certificates do UK electricians issue?

Electrical certificate software supports the main certificates used in UK electrical work under BS 7671. The Electrical Installation Certificate, usually called an EIC, records the design, construction, inspection and testing of a new installation or a major alteration. It is issued by the competent electrician or firm responsible for that work. The Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate, or MEIWC, covers small alterations and additions that do not extend to a new circuit. It is issued by the electrician carrying out the minor work. The Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR, records the condition of an existing installation and is issued after inspection and testing by a competent electrician. Software lets electricians complete these forms on a tablet, then send and store them digitally. The EIC and MEIWC relate to new work, while the EICR relates to existing installations. A separate guide covers the EICR in more detail, including its purpose and use in domestic and rented property. The three forms sit within the BS 7671 framework and serve different purposes, so the choice of form follows the nature of the work and the certificate's defined scope.

The certificate type follows the work rather than the software. An EIC is used where a new circuit or a significant alteration is involved. A MEIWC is used for minor work such as adding a socket to an existing circuit, where the work does not amount to a new circuit. An EICR is used to report on the condition of an existing installation, and it is the form used for landlord inspection cycles in England's private rented sector, where an EICR is required at least every 5 years. Certificate software can hold the relevant BS 7671 form, the schedules and the test results in one digital record. The electrician can complete the record on a tablet, send it to the client and store it for later reference. The separate EICR guide provides a fuller account of the report, its observations and its role in rented property. The same software environment can support the EIC, MEIWC and EICR without changing the underlying certificate definitions. Customer data in certificates falls under UK GDPR, so storage and sending need appropriate handling. The software can keep a digital copy available for the electrician and the client.

How does Part P notification work?

Part P of the Building Regulations applies to electrical work in dwellings, and some of that work is notifiable. Notifiable domestic work done under a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT is generally self-certified by the scheme member. The member notifies the scheme, and the scheme generally notifies building control within 30 days of completion. The same 30 day period is the general notification point for notifiable work carried out under a competent person scheme. The notification process provides a route to demonstrate that the work meets the applicable building regulations. It is separate from the BS 7671 certificate that records the electrical installation, inspection and testing. Electrical certificate software can record the certificate details and support the digital sending and storage of the certificate, while the Part P notification sits with the competent person scheme process. The homeowner receives a building regulations compliance certificate for the notifiable work. The certificate is evidence that the notification route has been followed for the work concerned. The notification route is used for work that is within the scope of Part P and is not exempt.

The competent person scheme route is available to registered businesses that meet the scheme's requirements. Part P notifiable work is self-certified via competent person schemes such as NICEIC and NAPIT, and other schemes operate in the same field. The scheme member records the work and notifies the scheme, which then handles the building control notification. The general notification period is within 30 days of completion. The homeowner receives a building regulations compliance certificate for the notifiable work. This document is distinct from the EIC, MEIWC or EICR issued under BS 7671. Electrical certificate software can hold the BS 7671 certificate and its schedules, send the record digitally and store it for the business. Customer data in certificates falls under UK GDPR, so the handling of personal data in the certificate and notification process needs to be considered. The software and the scheme notification process serve different functions, and the certificate record remains the electrical technical record for the installation. The 30 day notification period is a general scheme requirement rather than a software function. The digital certificate can be sent to the client and stored by the electrician.

Why electricians move from paper to software

Electrical certificate software lets electricians complete EICRs, Electrical Installation Certificates and minor works certificates on a tablet, then send and store them digitally. The shift from paper begins with schedules of test results. Paper schedules require repeated handwriting of circuit details, readings and outcomes, and each amendment can affect several fields. Software presents structured fields and calculates permitted combinations where the form allows, so the same information is entered once and carried into the certificate. Legibility improves because entries are typed and consistent, which matters when a certificate is read by a client, landlord, letting agent or building control body. Digital sending reduces reliance on printing, signing and posting, and stored records can be retrieved for repeat inspections. A schedule of test results can cover many circuits, and a paper version can become difficult to read when measurements are corrected or circuits are added. Controlled fields reduce ambiguity in descriptions, ratings, readings and outcomes. The certificate can be reviewed before issue and sent as a digital file, while the source record remains available for later use. The factual scope remains BS 7671 forms: EIC, Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate and EICR.

Storage and repeat inspections form the second part of the paper to software shift. A digital certificate can be searched by site, client or date, and previous schedules can inform later inspection and testing. For landlords, an EICR is required at least every 5 years in England's private rented sector, so retrieval of earlier versions supports the inspection cycle. For notifiable domestic work under a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT, the notification to building control generally occurs within 30 days of completion; software can keep the certificate and notification details together. Customer data in certificates falls under UK GDPR, so access, retention and sharing practices form part of the record keeping. Repeat inspections benefit when the previous circuit list and outcomes are available at the point of testing, rather than in a separate filing system. A digital record can show when a certificate was created, edited and issued, provided the software records those events. The move from paper does not alter the technical requirements of BS 7671. It changes how schedules are completed, how certificates are sent and how records are stored for later use.

What features matter in certificate software?

A checklist for certificate software can cover form coverage, schedule entry, testing results, client and installation details, declarations, attachments, sending and storage. Offline mode matters because electrical work can take place where connectivity is limited. Software with offline mode allows schedules and certificates to be completed on a tablet and synchronised when a connection is available. Scheme layouts matter because EIC, MEIWC and EICR have different structures, and notifications for competent person schemes such as NICEIC and NAPIT require particular fields. Copy-forward matters for repeat inspections. Prior circuit descriptions and test results can be duplicated and then amended, which reduces retyping while preserving the need to verify every entry against the installation. A checklist table can be used to compare how a product handles each item, with columns for the form type, the data captured and the export options. The table can distinguish between core BS 7671 forms and additional documents used by a business. Part P notifiable domestic work is self-certified via competent person schemes such as NICEIC and NAPIT, so scheme specific fields form part of the checklist. The checklist can also cover the handling of customer data under UK GDPR, including access controls and retention settings.

Part P notifiable domestic work is self-certified via competent person schemes such as NICEIC and NAPIT. Scheme members generally notify building control within 30 days of completion, so the software checklist can include the fields and exports used for that notification. Landlord EICRs are required at least every 5 years in England's private rented sector, which makes retrieval of earlier certificates and schedules part of the feature set. Customer data in certificates falls under UK GDPR, so access, retention and sharing controls form part of the checklist alongside offline mode, scheme layouts and copy-forward. The checklist can be neutral: it records whether a feature exists, how it works and what evidence is produced. It does not replace the technical judgement required by BS 7671, nor does it alter the legal duties that apply to notifiable work. For repeat inspections, copy-forward can carry forward circuit descriptions, ratings and previous outcomes, with each entry checked and updated. Offline mode can affect where schedules are completed, while synchronisation affects when the issued certificate becomes available. The checklist table can also record how a product handles attachments, declarations and digital sending.

Standalone certificate apps vs full job management

Standalone certificate apps focus on producing and storing electrical certificates. They typically support the main BS 7671 forms: the Electrical Installation Certificate, the Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate and the Electrical Installation Condition Report. A certificate-only tool can let an electrician complete an EICR, an EIC or a minor works certificate on a tablet, then send and store the document digitally. The scope is narrow, so the workflow starts with the certificate rather than the wider job. A full job management platform combines certificate production with quoting, scheduling and invoicing. The certificate module sits alongside administrative functions that record the job from enquiry through to payment. For a sole trader, a certificate-only app can reduce administrative surface area and keep attention on inspection and testing. A platform with quoting, scheduling and invoicing introduces more setup and more data entry, but it can remove duplicate entry between job records and certificate records. For multi-person teams, shared scheduling, consistent job records and invoicing links can support coordination across operatives. The trade-off is between a focused certificate workflow and a broader operational workflow. A separate [job management guide](#job-management-guide) covers wider workflow topics, and an [anchor comparison](#anchor-comparison) sets out feature differences.

Teams with shared work need consistent certificate templates, user permissions and audit trails. A certificate-only tool may provide limited user roles, so coordination depends on separate systems for scheduling and invoicing. A full platform can align certificate data with job records, but it also concentrates operational data in one system. That concentration affects data protection, access control and business continuity planning. Sole traders may prefer a smaller data footprint and a simpler certificate workflow, while larger teams may need shared records and role-based access. Neither model removes the need to complete the correct BS 7671 form for the work. Part P notifiable domestic work done under a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT must generally be notified to building control within 30 days of completion. Certificate software can record that notification step where the scheme or platform supports it, but the legal and scheme obligations remain with the business. The comparison between standalone certificate apps and full job management therefore turns on workflow scope, team size, data handling and the extent to which quoting, scheduling and invoicing need to connect with certificate production. A structured [anchor comparison](#anchor-comparison) can help readers assess those differences without relying on product claims.

Records, retention and data protection

Electrical certificates contain customer data, including landlord and tenant details, property addresses and inspection results. Customer data in certificates falls under UK GDPR, so certificate software must support lawful handling of personal data. The data controller remains the business using the software, and the software provider may act as a processor depending on the contract. Records need a defined retention approach that reflects the purpose for collecting the data and the legal basis for holding it. Landlord EICRs in England's private rented sector are required at least every 5 years, which creates a recurring record cycle for rented property. Retention periods can differ between certificate types and business relationships, so a single default period may not fit all records. Access controls, user permissions and audit trails help limit access to certificate data. ICO guidance covers personal data handling, retention and individual rights, and it applies to digital certificate records in the same way as paper records. Software that supports deletion, anonymisation or export can help businesses meet their data protection obligations. The retention policy remains a business decision, documented and applied consistently.

When switching certificate software, export options affect continuity of records. A business can ask for certificate data in a usable format, confirm whether attachments and audit trails are included, and test the export before migration. The ability to retrieve landlord and tenant records supports ongoing EICR cycles and responses to data subject requests. UK GDPR includes rights of access and erasure, subject to legal exceptions, so the software's search, export and deletion functions have practical relevance. Retention schedules can be applied at record level, with deletion or anonymisation at the end of the defined period. Backup arrangements and access logs support accountability, while role-based permissions limit exposure of certificate data to staff who do not need it. Where a software provider hosts data, the contract can set out processing terms, security measures and arrangements at the end of the agreement. A certificate archive that cannot be exported creates operational risk when systems change. For that reason, export capability and data portability form part of the comparison between certificate tools and wider job management platforms. The [job management guide](#job-management-guide) covers related record-keeping topics, and the [anchor comparison](#anchor-comparison) sets out workflow differences.

How to trial certificate software before committing

Electrical certificate software lets electricians complete EICRs, Electrical Installation Certificates and minor works certificates on a tablet, then send and store them digitally. A trial can use an actual EICR, including observations, schedules and client details, so the workflow is tested from data entry to final output. Offline operation can be tested because work can take place where connectivity is limited; testing offline entry, synchronisation and return to online use shows whether the software supports the way certificates are completed on site. Exporting a PDF is a practical step: the exported file can be checked for layout, page numbering, legible schedules and whether it presents the required BS 7671 forms. The exported file can be retained as a test record. The trial can include more than one form so that fields and output are compared across the EIC, Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC) and EICR. A trial that covers only one form may not reveal how the software handles the others. Customer data in certificates falls under UK GDPR, so a trial can also show how personal data is entered, stored and exported.

Part P notifiable work can be self-certified via competent person schemes such as NICEIC and NAPIT. Scheme members generally notify building control within 30 days of completion, and notifiable domestic work done under a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT must generally be notified to building control within 30 days of completion. Before committing, a business can confirm whether the scheme accepts the software's output, including the certificate format and the data fields used for notification. This check can be made against the scheme's technical guidance or by asking the scheme directly. Cancellation terms are another practical point: the trial can establish notice periods, whether data can be exported after cancellation and how long access continues. The trial can also cover the point at which a subscription starts and what happens to certificates completed during the trial. Landlord EICRs are required at least every 5 years in England's private rented sector, so a trial can check how renewal dates are recorded. A real EICR trial, offline testing, PDF export, scheme acceptance and cancellation terms together provide evidence for a decision.

Frequently asked questions

What certificate is needed for a new consumer unit?

An Electrical Installation Certificate, and the work is usually notifiable under Part P.

How long do competent persons have to notify building control?

Generally within 30 days of completing notifiable work.

Is an EICR a certificate?

It is a condition report rather than a certificate of new work, though it is often called an EICR certificate.

Does certificate software work offline?

Many tools offer offline completion, which is worth testing in a trial.

Who owns certificates stored in software?

The contractor's records; checking export options protects access if the subscription ends.