Do you need an EICR before installing plug-in solar?
No, the new UK plug-in solar rules do not make a full EICR compulsory before every compliant product is plugged in. But an EICR can still be a very sensible way to remove doubt where the installation is old, altered, poorly documented or the protective devices cannot be confidently identified.
The short answer
A compliant plug-in solar product is supposed to give the householder a simple set of checks they can carry out without opening up electrical equipment or designing a PV circuit themselves.
If those checks are clear and the existing installation meets the product instructions, a full Electrical Installation Condition Report is not automatically required.
If those checks leave you unsure, however, an EICR or a more targeted electrical assessment can be very useful.
My view: do not order a full EICR just because the word “solar” appears. Order one because there is a genuine question about the condition or arrangement of the existing installation.
What an EICR actually tells you
An EICR is a structured inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation. It can identify problems with:
- earthing and bonding,
- consumer-unit condition,
- RCD and RCBO operation,
- circuit continuity and insulation resistance,
- damaged or deteriorated wiring,
- poor alterations,
- and other defects that may not be obvious from looking at a socket.
That is useful because plug-in solar does not create most of these defects; it simply relies on the installation being safe enough to have generation connected to it.
What the new product instructions are supposed to do
The final Interim Product Specification requires manufacturers to give householders guidance on checking the consumer unit and identifying the intended final circuit.
If the consumer unit does not meet the stated criteria, or the user cannot clearly identify the protective devices, the instructions should direct them towards professional advice.
So the first step is not automatically “book an EICR”. The first step is follow the checks for the exact compliant product.
When I would recommend an EICR or proper assessment
- The consumer unit is old or has no clear RCD/RCBO protection.
- The property has obviously been extended or altered many times.
- There are signs of DIY electrical work.
- The socket circuit cannot be identified confidently.
- There is nuisance tripping, burning, discolouration or damaged accessories.
- There is no recent electrical paperwork and the installation condition is genuinely unknown.
- The manufacturer specifically says professional assessment is needed.
- The connected PV module capacity is above 960W and you want to follow the government's cautious recommendation.
Does an EICR make a plug-in product legal?
No. This is an important distinction.
An EICR tells you about the condition of the fixed installation. It does not turn a non-compliant collection of solar parts into an IPS-compliant plug-in product.
You still need the correct complete product, connection lead, plug, mounting arrangement, instructions and network paperwork.
What do C1, C2, C3 and FI mean?
If you do have an EICR carried out, the coding matters.
- C1 — Danger present: immediate action required.
- C2 — Potentially dangerous: urgent remedial action required.
- C3 — Improvement recommended: not necessarily unsatisfactory on its own.
- FI — Further investigation required: more work is needed to determine whether danger exists.
I would not connect new generation to an installation with unresolved C1, C2 or relevant FI observations and pretend the solar product is the main issue.
What about earthing and bonding?
A householder is not expected to carry out a full earthing and bonding assessment before using a compliant consumer product. But where the installation is being professionally assessed, those basics still matter.
An existing electrical installation with poor earthing or bonding needs correcting regardless of whether plug-in solar is being added.
Do I need an EICR just because my board is plastic?
No. A plastic consumer unit does not automatically mean the installation is unsafe or unsuitable.
The question is the condition and protective arrangement of the installation, not whether the board looks like the newest style. Do not turn one visible feature into a pass/fail test for the whole house.
The 960W point
The final IPS allows up to 2,000W of connected modules, but says that above 960W professional assessment of the electrical installation should be considered.
That wording is deliberately softer than “must”. It is a recommendation, not a separate legal power limit.
For a larger oversized plug-in product on an older or unknown installation, I think taking that recommendation seriously is sensible.
Do landlords and rented homes need an EICR?
Rental electrical-safety requirements are a separate legal issue from plug-in solar and can vary by nation and tenancy type. A tenant should not assume that an existing landlord EICR automatically gives permission to mount or connect solar equipment.
Landlord, freeholder or managing-agent permission may still matter as well.
My practical summary
Modern, clear installation + compliant product + every manufacturer check passed: a full EICR may add little.
Old, unclear or questionable installation: get it assessed rather than using plug-in solar as the moment you discover hidden problems.
This page is general information, not an EICR or site-specific electrical assessment.