I agree with
@SUNRAY I would not want to be defending a test case. I do see an all RCBO unit is shorter, I have one my self, but I got caught out at wholesalers, I looked at the RCBO boxes all marked up type B and thought only really wanted type A that was better then expected, son fitted it all for me, then looked as icon
ups, it was type AC not even type A. So decided just to swap the ones on main house rings, been waiting 7 weeks now, so not so sure on all RCBO any longer, my fault should have checked.
I see your point about added safety of having the consumer unit by the door, so easy to isolate all as leaving in the case of a fire, the kitchen in my mothers house had its own mini CU right by the door and I always felt that was the right place so all can be turned off as exiting in the case of a fire. The people who did the kitchen put the hob isolator behind the hob, so with a fire on the hob there was no access to isolator, but was not really worried about it as RCBO's right at the door.
The main CU was under the stairs, it had been there since 1954, and even if moved the DNO head would remain, and since DNO stuff plastic there was really no point having a metal CU, it was changed to metal during the rewire, but not due to fire risk. The glory hole as it was always called was always full of junk, the CU being made of metal was to stop damage from other things shoved under the stairs.
The gas meter was placed on the porch, seemed a really odd place, but it was an after thought, did not have gas at first. But it was at the entrance and must be far more dangerous than the electric meter. House sold now so not my worry.
This house the electric meter and CU are in the flat under the house, real pain if anything trips having to get dressed to reset, the oil boiler does trip also in the flat, yes linked smoke alarms, but only linked to rest of flat, so we may not hear in in house above.
But if we consider fire risk assessment, where do you put an electric car on charge in an integral garage? If we compare the risk after seeing the fire with Richard Hammond, I would say plastic CU is well down on the list. Personally I would not park an electric car on charge inside the house, but it is permitted, and it makes one ask why bother about the rest of the fire precautions.