I always used to struggle with the summary as well. It would take an age to get it to sound right and found myself repeating lots of things from part 5. It was especially worse when i was hand writing my certs.  I now have a copy and paste template that i follow and tweak or add to or delete as needed, it's more a statement of facts as it is a summary of all the info in a report that most people don't read or understand. I'll copy and paste it below . Happy for it to be picked apart or commented on.  

Gary

As its title indicates, this is a report and not a certificate. It provides an assessment of the in-service condition of the electrical installation against the requirements of the wiring regulations current at the time of inspection irrespective of the installations age. We are currently on the 18th edition.

Part 5 of this report should be read alongside this summary and is reserved for observations and recommendations for actions to be taken.  These observations will be given 1 of 4 codes. C3 where improvement is recommended due to something not complying with the current regulations, it may have done in the past and  be safe to use, however technologies move on and the regulations move with them with things such as rcd’s, surge protection and metal consumer units, all which give an added degree of protection . C2 and C1 codes are more serious with action being required.  There is also a further investigation option if something in the wiring is not obvious.

The property is a 3 bed house.

The electrical installation is approximately 20 years old.

The consumer unit is a 10 way 17th edition dual rcd board.

The rcd’s are type A/C.

There is no surge protection at the consumer unit. This is currently not a requirement but is a recommendation.

The main earth to the property is supplied by the supply company, in this case it is PME.

The main fuse is 100amps with standard 25mm meter tails and a 16mm earth cable.

The bonding to the gas and water are both done in 10mm cable which complies with the current regulations.  (Location)**************

The general wiring is PVC/PVC insulated cable with an integral earth core.

All equipment/accessories inspected are in good order and suitable for the environment that they have been installed. There are no obvious signs of wear and tear or corrosion.

The installation appears to have been wired to a good standard. All insulation resistance readings and earth continuity readings are satisfactory as are the end to end ring continuity readings.

The earth fault loop impedance readings are within spec and the rcds all operate correctly on their test button and through my rcd tester.

From inspection, all terminals that i inspected were tight with no signs of over heating.

All down lights that i inspected have been correctly installed and have the correct lamps installed.

The smoke detectors are mains linked and operate correctly. They have a recommended replacement date of ***************

There are several items in part 5 of this report that are non-compliant with todays regulations and could be improved, but on the whole the installation is safe for continued use as it is. I recommend it be inspected and tested again in no more than 5 years.

That is pretty comprehensive.

Have you had any feedback from customers - in other words, do they appreciate the effort?

I suspect that all people really want is a pass. If it is anything like an MOT, nobody will read the advisories and fix them only if they are likely to become a fail next year.

That is pretty comprehensive.

Have you had any feedback from customers - in other words, do they appreciate the effort?

I suspect that all people really want is a pass. If it is anything like an MOT, nobody will read the advisories and fix them only if they are likely to become a fail next year.

No. i think all that most are interested in is to get it passed. The only thing that has really been commented on is the photo's i attach . I do a fair few for a local estate agent, it gives them something to show their landlords.

Gary

Surely this is the problem with a tick box report? If the installation meets the regs and is satisfactory, why is anything further required? This description is of zero use to anyone isn't it? It is customer fluff to enhance your reputation. The descriptions are needed when there is an unsatisfactory installation, particularly if another contractor is doing the reparations, which should become mandatory.

The detail is in the report though isn't it. This is just a basic summary of the installation be it satisfactory or not.  Are you saying there shouldn't be a summary ? 

Probably is fluff to an electrician, but Jo bloggs doesn't read through pages of tick boxes and info that most of them don't understand. 

The summary in the most part is in normal speak so that anyone can understand to a degree. i Speak to people that don't even know what an rcd is or what it does so providing a report without some sort of summary would be pointless. 

I haven't read anything anywhere that says only highlight the bad bits, it says report on the installation. 

I completely agree aligarjon. Keep it simple, The condition report states the installation AS PER THE SCOPE/AGREED LIMITATIONS is either satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. With the latter the C2 and FI defects will explain why. A Satisfactory report on an ageing installation will have a few C3s worth keeping an an eye on between EICR tests or on any future EICs.