Electrician fined for EICR.

The question has to be “How is a correctly Earthed installation now potentially dangerous?”.  I suggest that it is not, the only danger available is from improper use or faulty appliances. The correct way to overcome the alleged potential problem is to discuss it with the customer, and suggest 3 outcomes:

Do nothing

Add an RCD in the Tails

Replace the CU, with potentially RCBOs or split board

Obviously, the cost of each is part of their decision, as is potential disruption of their life which for an old person can be very stressful. The use of a C2 is very debatable because the danger is not from the fixed wiring installation itself, but due to external problems and thus is out of scope for an EICR. I agree that an RCD may improve overall household safety, although nothing like as much as some would claim, but this is up to the householder, not the electrician. In my view, it should remain as a C3, you have done your job to inspect and C3 advises an improvement. You also need to realise that if you change the CU it should be part of your job to decide if the rest of the installation will last a reasonable period, say 30 years, and whether BS7671 changes in that period will invalidate the change you have made, perhaps with amendment 2?

The open-circuit Earth conductor on the ring is interesting, did you locate the fault with your Earth loop test at every point? 

The question has to be “How is a correctly Earthed installation now potentially dangerous?”.  I suggest that it is not, the only danger available is from improper use or faulty appliances. The correct way to overcome the alleged potential problem is to discuss it with the customer, and suggest 3 outcomes:

Do nothing

Add an RCD in the Tails

Replace the CU, with potentially RCBOs or split board

Obviously, the cost of each is part of their decision, as is potential disruption of their life which for an old person can be very stressful. The use of a C2 is very debatable because the danger is not from the fixed wiring installation itself, but due to external problems and thus is out of scope for an EICR. I agree that an RCD may improve overall household safety, although nothing like as much as some would claim, but this is up to the householder, not the electrician. In my view, it should remain as a C3, you have done your job to inspect and C3 advises an improvement. You also need to realise that if you change the CU it should be part of your job to decide if the rest of the installation will last a reasonable period, say 30 years, and whether BS7671 changes in that period will invalidate the change you have made, perhaps with amendment 2?

The open-circuit Earth conductor on the ring is interesting, did you locate the fault with your Earth loop test at every point?