HOW OLD AND SAFE IS YOUR FUSE BOARD?
How Do I Know?
The general rule of thumb is if your fuse board is from the 80's or earlier it will need to be upgraded.
- An old style fusebox with a wooden back board or cast iron switches are a safety issue and should be replaced as soon as possible.
- You don't have any RCDs (residual current devices) for wiring buried in walls, sockets circuits and outlets that might be used to plug in outdoor electrical equipment
- You are renovating, such as a new electric shower, a home extension or a loft conversion. All additional wiring and new circuits will require additional breakers installation and protection.
What Dangers Are There If I Don't Replace My Fuse board?
The most common issue with an old fuse board is that it lacks RCD protection. RCD's are at the forefront of modern installations for additional protection and one of the main things to prevent life threatening situations.
Newer tech has been rolled out called an AFDD, this device is designed to notice if any wires are loose and are arcing over to the terminal they are supposed to be in, arcing is one of the main causes of house fires.
- There are around 70 deaths and 1.2 million injuries as a result of electrical accidents in UK homes every year
- Over half of all fires in UK homes are caused by electrical faults, amounting to around 21,000 every year
- Almost all electrocutions that occur in the home and around 20% of fires with an electrical origin could have been prevented by having RCD protection.
How Often Should They Be Checked?
For a domestic property the standard check of a full electrical installation condition report or EICR is every 10 years. However you can have visual inspections undertaken before this or you may require one upon buying or selling a home.
Tenant inhabited properties must be checked every 5 years or every change in occupancy.
The same as you get an MOT to check everything is still safe on your car after constant use, as electricians we will essentially be carrying out something similar on the entire electrical installation of your home.
What Are The New Regulations For Fuse boards?
Protection from spread of fire, from 2016 all consumer units in domestic properties had to be made from metal to contain any potential fires and reduce the risk of harmful toxins from plastics. This is especially important in fire exits.
Protection from surges Surges in electricity from the grid can damage degrade or destroy sensitive electrical equipment such as solar systems, EV chargers, smoke detectors, medical equipment etc.
Protection from electric shock this is in the form of an RCD. An RCD is thousands of times more sensitive than your average circuit breaker and therefore gives a much safer outcome in the event of a fault.
What Are My Responsibilities As A Landlord?
In accordance with the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985, and several other statutory regulations, all electrical systems must be safe at the start of every tenancy and kept in a safe condition throughout the duration of that tenancy.
Failure to comply with the relevant regulations is a criminal offence and can result in prosecution leading to:
- A £5,000 fine for each item that does not comply with regulations
- Your property insurance could be invalidated
- You could be sued by tenants for civil damages
- You could be sentenced to up to six months in prison for serious cases
- In the worst case scenario, you could face manslaughter charges if your negligence leads to a tenants death.