CONSUMER UNIT UPGRADES
If your fuse box or consumer unit in your property is over 20 years old and no longer complies with electrical regulations, it may be time to replace it with a more modern consumer unit. There are a large number of properties that are still equipped with the old style fuse box or very early edition consumer units.
We strongly recommend that you upgrade your fuse box or early model consumer unit to the latest recommended consumer unit. This will provide better electrical safety to your property and massively reduce the risk of personal injury to your family, friends and visitors to your property. A consumer unit will also ensure your home is up to the current standards of the electrical regulations.
The consumer unit (traditionally known as the Fuse Board) is the most critical part of your domestic electrical system. It sits at the heart of it all. That’s why it’s crucial to invest in a modern consumer unit that can handle the demands of a modern home. ‘Consumer Unit’ is the technical name for the box that contains the circuit breakers, fuses and incoming mains power in the home.
From 2001 onwards, all British electrical installations were required to incorporate residual current device (RCD) protection. The main purpose is to make the unit safe when electricity is supplied outdoors. If a fault occurs, the RCD device trips and cuts power. Even if you don’t have any outdoor sockets, legislation states that your consumer unit must feature RCD protection for all cables that are embedded into the wall of the property with the exception of alarm circuits. Professional installation is essential to ensure your consumer unit meets the most recent 18th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations.
We can supply a fully compliant, brand new 18th Edition Consumer Unit. Once the new consumer unit is fitted, the homeowner will need to notify their local authority of the upgrade or we can submit this notification on your behalf to save you time and hassle. There is no additional charge for this service as it falls as part of our standard service.
The installer will also test the consumer unit and give you a safety certificate, known as the BS7671. Please ensure you keep this certificate in a safe place for future reference. The costs of replacing a fuse box or upgrading a consumer unit to a more recent once can vary greatly as it will depend on many factors such as which type of consumer unit is needed, the number of circuits required and how old the exiting installation is. We cover Essex, London and the surrounding areas.
For further information regarding our consumer unit upgrade services and to discuss your requirements with us, please contact us for free advice, a free home inspection and quotation on 01702 600350 or 07889 004 903. Alternatively, you can contact us by way of email to: info@jandccontractors.co.uk or by using our contact form on our contact page.
