Why upgrade your consumer unit?
Your consumer unit, often still called a fuse box, is the control centre of your electrical installation. Older boards with rewireable fuses or a single main switch offer little protection against electric shock or fire. A modern metal-clad unit with RCBOs and surge protection disconnects a faulty circuit in milliseconds, without plunging the whole house into darkness.
Who benefits
Upgrades are popular with homeowners adding an EV charger or new kitchen, landlords responding to an EICR observation, and buyers who want peace of mind after moving in. They are also the natural next step when a property has good wiring but outdated protection.
What's involved on the day
Most consumer unit replacements are completed in a single day. We isolate the supply, test the existing circuits for faults before we connect them, install the new board, label every way clearly and carry out a full set of tests. If we find a fault on an existing circuit we explain it in plain English before going further.
Pre-installation checks
Modern protective devices are sensitive. A circuit with a hidden earth leakage fault may have gone unnoticed with an old fuse but will trip an RCBO immediately. That is why we insulation-test every circuit first, so you are not left with a board that keeps tripping.
Compliance
Consumer unit replacement is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. As NAPIT members we design to BS 7671 Amendment 2, fit non-combustible enclosures as required, and register the job so you receive your certificate.
