Does an EICR Check Outdoor Sockets, Garages & Garden Electrics? (UK 2025 Guide)

Does an EICR Check Outdoor Sockets, Garages & Garden Electrics? (UK 2025 Guide)

🌳 Does an EICR Check Outdoor Sockets, Garages & Garden Electrics? (UK 2025 Guide)

Outdoor electrical installations are exposed to rain, damp, UV light, rodents, and weather damage. Because of this, faults in garden wiring and garage circuits are extremely common during EICRs.

Homeowners often ask:

“Does an EICR include checking outdoor electrics, garden lights, and garage wiring?”

Yes — if it forms part of your property’s fixed wiring, it is inspected. Here’s what is (and isn’t) checked during an EICR in 2025.

📚 Contents

📌 Quick Answer

Yes — an EICR checks outdoor wiring, garage circuits, garden lighting and outside sockets.

This includes:

  • garage consumer units
  • garden lighting circuits
  • pond pump wiring
  • EV charger outdoor feed (visual check)
  • outdoor sockets (weatherproof)
  • armoured cable (SWA) condition
  • conduit & junction boxes
  • earthing & bonding continuity

Portable items (strimmers, lawnmowers, patio heaters) are NOT tested — those fall under PAT testing.

🔍 What Outdoor & Garage Wiring Is Checked?

If it is permanently connected to your electrical installation, the electrician checks it.

Outdoor checks include:

  • outdoor sockets
  • IP-rated enclosures
  • junction boxes exposed to weather
  • garden lighting circuits
  • SW A (Steel Wire Armoured) cables
  • rodent damage to cables
  • rusted or water-damaged faceplates

🔌 Outdoor Sockets – What Electricians Look For

Outdoor sockets must be:

  • IP65 or higher (weatherproof)
  • free from water ingress
  • correctly sealed around the cable entry
  • supplied by an RCD-protected circuit
  • securely mounted

A missing RCD is one of the most common C2 faults.

For more on socket checks, see: Does an EICR Check Sockets?

🏚️ Garage & Shed Wiring Checks

Garages often have older wiring, exposed cables, or their own miniature consumer unit.

The electrician will check:

  • garage consumer unit condition
  • wiring for lights, sockets and heaters
  • SWA cable supply from the house
  • earthing and bonding
  • corrosion in metal-clad accessories
  • junction boxes mounted on damp walls

Many garages fail due to rodent-damaged cables or no RCD protection.

💡 Garden Lighting, Pond Pumps & Patio Electrics

Garden and patio electrics are fully inspected during an EICR.

Checks include:

  • buried SWA cables
  • LED garden lights
  • 12V transformer systems
  • pond pumps
  • junction boxes under decking
  • IP ratings of lights

Garden lighting often deteriorates because of UV exposure and moisture.

⚡ RCD Protection for Outdoor Circuits

All outdoor circuits must have RCD protection under BS 7671.

During an EICR, the electrician checks:

  • RCD presence
  • RCD trip times
  • correct MCB/RCBO rating
  • earthing continuity to outdoor accessories

Missing RCD = C2 (Unsatisfactory).

Learn more about EICR codes: EICR Codes Explained

❌ Common Outdoor Issues That Fail an EICR

  • C2: No RCD on outdoor socket or garage supply
  • C2: Water inside outdoor socket
  • C2: Damaged SWA cable
  • C2: Cracked IP-rated box
  • C2: Rodent-damaged wiring
  • FI: Wiring buried with no depth marker
  • C3: Corroded metal sockets

🏠 Outdoor Wiring Rules for Landlords (2025)

Landlords must ensure:

  • all outdoor circuits have RCD protection
  • garden wiring is weatherproof and safe
  • garage sockets and lights meet BS 7671
  • a valid EICR every 5 years
  • no DIY garden wiring

Related: Landlord EICR Rules

🔗 Related EICR Guides

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an EICR check garden lights?

Yes — fixed garden lighting circuits are fully inspected.

Are outdoor sockets tested?

Yes — and missing RCD protection will fail the EICR.

Do electricians inspect garages?

Yes — including lighting, sockets, and any garage consumer unit.

Will damaged SWA cable fail an EICR?

Yes — usually recorded as a C2.

Does an EICR test EV chargers?

Only the supply wiring and protection (visual check). The charger unit is not tested.

Outdoor wiring is one of the most vulnerable parts of a home's electrical system — which is why it forms a key part of an EICR inspection in 2025.

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