Will this old consumer unit pose any issues with an upcoming EICR?

Neptune · Mar 22, 2021

I've had invaluable advice from this forum in relation to EICR's and clarifying my understanding that just because the consumer unit is "old", it does not need to be replaced. Since then, I had the EICR carried out at my rental property. This went to plan.

I am now scheduling my next EICR on a separate property and this has an even older Consumer Unit but everything works and seems safe e.g. no cracked fittings or exposed cables from my pre-inspection checks.

My question: will this type of Consumer Unit be okay to produce a satisfactory EICR?

Thanks in advance.

Risteard · Mar 22, 2021

It's unlikely. Unless there's an external RCD in an enclosure that will be a few issues. Also main protective bonding might be undersized; supplementary bonding may not be present etc. The report will detail any issues.

telectrix · Mar 22, 2021

as above. a few C3's and a couple of C2's will arise as there's no RCD protection.

Neptune · Mar 22, 2021

telectrix said:
as above. a few C3's and a couple of C2's will arise as there's no RCD protection.

Thanks. Any reason for C1's? That's what I equate to a fail in my mind. Please correct me if I am wrong.

telectrix · Mar 22, 2021

No C1's but C2's constitute an unsatisfactory installation, usually for sockets that can be used outside and bathroom circuits without supplementary bonding. there may be other C2's regarding earthing and bonding.

Ned Gibbons · Mar 22, 2021

I would give some serious thought about weather of not you want to be renting out a property with rewirwable fuses. There's a good chance whoever you rent it to won't know what to do if one blows.

You'll either end up having to go out and change it or get an electrician into do it.

At the other end of the scale your tenant might replace it with wrong rating or worse stick a nail in there.

Neptune · Mar 22, 2021

Thanks for the helpful responses. What is an average cost to replace such a consumer unit please?

newfutile · Mar 22, 2021

If any sockets are likely to supply outside equipment ie a house or ground floor flat (3rd floor stated by NICEIC) this would attract a C2 code and gain an UNSATISFACTORY report

telectrix · Mar 22, 2021

C1 codes are generally given to immediate rectification needed. e.g. exposed live parts. C2 is for urgent rectification, potetial danger. e.g. where garden tools can suffer cut cables resulting in danger to persons. either of these codes result in an unsatisfactory EICR, like a MOT fail, whereas C3's may just be akin to a MOT advisorynote.

telectrix · Mar 22, 2021

Neptune said:
Thanks for the helpful responses. What is an average cost to replace such a consumer unit please?

dual RCD CU around £350. all RCBO about £500+. if SPD and/or AFD included, could be looking at £800+. and depends on where theCU is fitted, access to work, area of UK. cheaper north of watford.

whaereabouts are you located?

pc1966 · Mar 22, 2021

What that lot said ^^^

One its own, a rewirable board is not automatically unsatisfactory (C2 or C1) but unless various other criteria are met it would fail on the lack of RCD support.

Rewirable fuses are not good for most folk. The folk who visit here probably can manage, but if you have ever had to rewire the light circuits fuse in the dark then you realise how much of a pain it is. Not to mention the very real risk of incorrect wire being used and a further fault potentially starting a fire.

You can get plug-in MCBs for such boards but really you are throwing money away that would be best spent on a modern board with RCD, or preferable RCBO, protection. RCD boards are slightly cheaper, but a fault on one circuit can take out several, where as RCBOs allow faults to be limited in the trouble they cause.

pc1966 · Mar 22, 2021

See if anyone on this forum is close enough (just post town or post code, not any personal details).

Neptune · Mar 22, 2021

pc1966 said:
What that lot said ^^^

One its own, a rewirable board is not automatically unsatisfactory (C2 or C1) but unless various other criteria are met it would fail on the lack of RCD support.

Rewirable fuses are not good for most folk. The folk who visit here probably can manage, but if you have ever had to rewire the light circuits fuse in the dark then you realise how much of a pain it is. Not to mention the very real risk of incorrect wire being used and a further fault potentially starting a fire.

You can get plug-in MCBs for such boards but really you are throwing money away that would be best spent on a modern board with RCD, or preferable RCBO, protection. RCD boards are slightly cheaper, but a fault on one circuit can take out several, where as RCBOs allow faults to be limited in the trouble they cause.

That's really helpful. If the electrician does not deem this unsatisfactory as part of the EICR then the plug in replacements sound like a god idea. I could have some spares in case there are any issues rather than dicking around with the wires. It's worth stating that in 8 years, these fuses have never needed replacing.

pc1966 · Mar 22, 2021

Neptune said:
That's really helpful. If the electrician does not deem this unsatisfactory as part of the EICR then the plug in replacements sound like a god idea. I could have some spares in case there are any issues rather than dicking around with the wires. It's worth stating that in 8 years, these fuses have never needed replacing.

See what the EICR comes back with, you can post it here with personal details redacted (you name, location, who did the report) for comments if you want.

It used to be filament bulbs going 'pop' that commonly took out the 5A light fuses, but on inspection you should really check every one has the correct wire fitted. If folk follow the instructions and switch off before changing fuses they are OK, but plugging in a re-wired fuse to a live hard fault can end badly with burns to the hand.

The Wylex MCB replacements can be found in the likes of Screwfix, etc, but I suspect a new board is you best long-term option, not least as if anything needs adding later you can't add more to that board or get alternative fuse ratings.

pc1966 · Mar 22, 2021

The Best Practice Guide #4 available from here has a lot of useful material on EICR coding:

https://www.----------------------------/professional-resources/best-practice-guides/

Will this old consumer unit pose any issues with an upcoming EICR?

Neptune

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