Consumer Unit (CU) Compliance

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MasumAH

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Hi all,

We need to do a full re-wire of a 3 bed mid terrace, and are currently looking for quotes. One of the potential contractors has said our CU will need to be upgraded to make it compliant. I have attached a picture of this CU. Does it really need to be upgraded to make it compliant?

e9xhkx.jpg


The specs of the job can be seen below. Also how much do you reckon labour should cost for this job, the property is located in East London. Thanks

Ground floor
jqn69i.jpg


1st floor
2mpigdd.jpg


Loft
w8nlz8.jpg
 
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On the face of it, apart from the non matching MCB, it would be ok for a new install, however by the time you rewired changing the box will not add much and the contractor is presumably intending a better separation of circuits.
You could try asking exactly what doesn't comply. It's not compulsory to replace a cu on a rewire even if it doesn't meet current standards as long as you have the right RCD protection on new cabling and sockets.
Maybe he just prefers to replace with a metal amendment 3 CU.
 
John D v2.0 said:
You could try asking exactly what doesn't comply. It's not compulsory to replace a cu on a rewire even if it doesn't meet current standards as long as you have the right RCD protection on new cabling and sockets.
Click to expand...
That's probably debatable. We recently all agreed that adding a new circuit probably doesn't invoke the need to bring a CU up to current standards (i.e. 'non-combustible'), but I'm not sure that is meant to still hold if all the circuits are 'new' (even if they are adequately protected by the present CU).

However, as you have sort-of implied, bringing a CU up to current standards would make such a relatively trivial marginal different to the cost of the big picture of a complete re-wire that it would probably be silly not to do it.

Kind Regards, John
 
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JohnW2 said:
That's probably debatable. We recently all agreed that adding a new circuit probably doesn't invoke the need to bring a CU up to current standards (i.e. 'non-combustible'), but I'm not sure that is meant to still hold if all the circuits are 'new' (even if they are adequately protected by the present CU).
Click to expand...
Of course it does.


However, as you have sort-of implied, bringing a CU up to current standards would make such a relatively trivial marginal different to the cost of the big picture of a complete re-wire that it would probably be silly not to do it.
Click to expand...
True.
 
John D v2.0 said:
On the face of it, apart from the non matching MCB, it would be ok for a new install, however by the time you rewired changing the box will not add much and the contractor is presumably intending a better separation of circuits.
You could try asking exactly what doesn't comply. It's not compulsory to replace a cu on a rewire even if it doesn't meet current standards as long as you have the right RCD protection on new cabling and sockets.
Maybe he just prefers to replace with a metal amendment 3 CU.
Click to expand...
Makes sense thanks
 
Currently each room only has one. We're looking for a quick re-wire to bring it up to standards, hence the trunking approach. In the distant future the property will be gutted out, then the fancy installation can take place.
 
MasumAH said:
Currently each room only has one. We're looking for a quick re-wire to bring it up to standards, hence the trunking approach. In the distant future the property will be gutted out, then the fancy installation can take place.
Click to expand...
Why do you feel it necessary to have a "rewire to bring it up to standards"? There is not, in general, any requirement to bring any aspects of existing installations up to current standards - and if there are any specific issues with the existing wiring it might be possible to remedy them without needing a full re-wire. There are probably factors of which I'm not aware, but it seems slightly odd that you feel the need to bring the wiring "up to standards" but do not feel the same about the CU.

Kind Regards, John
 
If the house had a fault causing the RCD to trip on a regular basis with rubber cable having been used then yes likely only cost effective option is a rewire. But since you already have RCD protection which I assume is not tripping every day then it is likely much of the original installation can remain.

The starting point is an EICR and find what is wrong with what you have.

I would start with a new consumer unit so there are spare ways and ways which can use RCBO's OK there are some spare ways anyway, but if you think of a standard house you expect to have cable in for hob, and oven even if not used, in my house there are 8 circuits, one has failed, but due to having 8 the house is still usable while I find the fault. So yes there is no need to renew the consumer unit, but for me that would be some thing I would want to do so sockets can be supplied with a RCBO so some thing faulty plugged into a socket does not affect the lights.
 
Am I missing something?

If you are doing "a full rewire", then the board will be replaced.
 
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