Consumer unit upgrades

Does yours need replacing?

Not necessarily. An older board isn't automatically unsafe — what matters is the condition of the whole installation. Boards with rewirable fuses, or without RCD protection, offer less protection than a modern unit, and some insurers and mortgage lenders ask about them. Damage, signs of overheating, or plans to add circuits can also mean it's time for a change.

We test the installation before recommending a replacement, so you only replace the board if there's a good reason to.

What a modern unit provides

• RCD or RCBO protection, which disconnects the supply quickly if current leaks to earth — reducing the risk of electric shock and fire.
• Circuits arranged so that a fault on one doesn't take out the whole property.
• A non-combustible enclosure, as the wiring regulations require in homes.
• Surge protection, where the regulations call for it.

On the day

The power is off for most of the work. Before connecting the new unit we test the circuits, because faults that an old board tolerated can cause a new RCD to trip. If earthing or bonding needs upgrading to meet current standards, we'll explain why and include it in your quote. In most homes the job is completed in a single day.

Certification

Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable work under the Building Regulations. We notify it through our NAPIT registration, and you receive an Electrical Installation Certificate and a Building Regulations compliance certificate.