6 Signs You Need a New Consumer Unit
How to tell if your fuse board needs replacing — from rewirable fuses and tripping circuits to age, damage, and failed EICR inspections.
Does your consumer unit need replacing?
Your consumer unit (fuse board) is the heart of your home's electrical system. If it's outdated or faulty, it can't protect you properly against electric shock or electrical fires. Here are six signs it's time for an upgrade.
1. Your board has rewirable fuses
If your fuse board has rewirable fuses (with fuse wire rather than switches), it's at least 30 years old and does not meet current safety standards. Modern consumer units use MCBs (miniature circuit breakers) that trip instantly when they detect a fault.
2. There's no RCD protection
RCDs (residual current devices) detect earth faults and disconnect the supply in milliseconds, preventing electric shock. Since the 17th Edition of BS 7671, all new consumer units must include RCD protection on every circuit. If yours doesn't have RCDs, you're missing a critical safety feature.
3. Circuits keep tripping
Occasional tripping can be caused by faulty appliances, but frequent or random tripping often indicates a problem with the consumer unit itself — worn MCBs, loose connections, or inadequate capacity.
4. Your board is more than 15 years old
Even if your board appears to be working fine, boards older than 15 years may not meet current regulations and could have degraded components that don't offer the protection they once did.
5. There's visible damage, scorch marks, or a burning smell
Any sign of heat damage, discolouration, or burning smell from your consumer unit is a serious warning sign. Switch off the main isolator and call an electrician immediately.
6. Your EICR has flagged it
If an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) has identified C1 or C2 codes relating to your consumer unit, upgrading is not optional — it's a safety requirement.
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