Does my home need a new fuseboard?
This depends on several things, not just the age! As time goes on and new technologies become commonplace inside our homes, the level of circuit protection needs to be updated to ensure maximum protections against electric shock and fire risks
It has never been more important to get into the habit of testing your RCD's once every six months and here's why:
RCD's have been at the forefront of providing protection against electric shocks in the home for years and years. Traditional methods of providing protection have been substituted and shelved in favour of installing these devices instead
I have recently had a number of existing customers from both the Cambridge and Huntingdon areas contact me, chasing copies of old certification on their properties because they have mislaid the documents and require them urgently for reasons such as selling/letting a property etc
It seems to me that people are keen to keep a FSH on a car, but not as much as on an electrical installation of their property, which is a bit of a head scratcher for me
The consumer unit, commonly known as the fuse board, is the brain of the whole installation. So, it’s important to get the correct type for the nature of your electrical installation. To do this effectively requires seeking the assistance of a specialist.
Regulation 132.16 of BS7671:2018-Requirements for electrical installations states: No addition or alteration, temporary or permanent, shall be made to an existing installation, unless it has been ascertained that the rating and the condition of any existing equipment, including that of the distributor, will be adequate for the altered circumstances. Furthermore, the earthing and bonding arrangements, if necessary for the protective measure applied for the safety of the addition or alteration, shall be adequate
Id like to pick out a part of this regulation
The NICEIC is the UK’s leading regulatory body for the electrical contracting industry and have been operational for some 60 years. All of their contractors are assessed regularly to make sure that they are competent in their field and adhere to stringent technical and safety standards.
Under their platinum promise, any workmanship is protected for six years, meaning if you are unhappy with any work carried out, you can contact them and they will send an independent tradesman to check the quality of the work and redo if necessary.
Not only does this give you peace of mind from the financial viewpoint, but it promises that the craftsmanship you are paying for is of impeccable standard.