It is down to the whim of the inspector doing the EICR, it does comply with regulations, they clearly state the design date one the regulations after which point each set is used for the design, so not retrospective, however the EICR no longer has a code to tell you if it was a new installation it would comply or not, it has nothing really to do with the regulations, it has 7 codes.
- C1 = Danger Present (FAIL)
- C2 = Potentially Dangerous (FAIL)
- C3 = Improvement Recommended.
- FI = Further Investigation Required (FAIL)
- N/V = Not Verified (Unable to verify)
- N/A = Not Applicable.
- LIM = Limitation (Not tested or inspected)
Non say does not comply with current edition, as to if it complies depends on design date, not the date installed, but date designed, so if it was designed to have an old Wylex fuse box, it still can.
But there was a change at some point, and installations in the control of an ordinary person need to use type tested equipment, I have not actually found this in the electrical regulations, so would assume in building regulations or heath and safety regulations, and some of these are retrospective. A type tested fuse board is called a consumer unit, although today they normally don't have fuses, but either a MCB (miniature circuit breaker) and a RCD (residual current device) or a combination of the two called a RCBO.
The big question is without them is it "Potentially Dangerous"? We have been told in every set of regulations I have read except for very latest, "Manufacturers' instructions shall be complied with." and "and shall take account of manufacturers' instructions." and "in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations" so when you install new equipment often the manufacturer states "Should be protected with a type A RCD" so after all I say about regulations not being retrospective, because modern equipment is used a RCD is still required by the regulations. As the user how do we don't know what dangers may exist if the manufacturers instructions are not followed?
I think it is highly unlikely to be "Potentially Dangerous" but it is down to the person doing the EICR. So until upgraded you stand the chance with each report that the inspector will consider it as "Potentially Dangerous".
The problem lies with rest of the installation, the installer should use both an insulation tester and a clamp-on ammeter to work out if a RCD is likely to trip, and based on the leakage measured with the clamp-on ammeter how many RCD's are required so less than 9 mA flows to earth through any one device and if the device trips, it will not present a danger, if one is unlucky enough to get a belt for a socket circuit, you clearly don't want lights to go out as well.
So fitting a RCD can cause further problems, so normally we test first before changing the fuse box, I was lucky I swapped my parents back in 2003 when RCD's were not required, only recommended for most circuits, so when it was found the leakage was too great, I was able to omit the RCD until the house was re-wired. Fitting a modern consumer unit is a design change, so once fitted current regulations come into play, so no option to return to non protected by RCD.
A type A curve B RCBO made by CP Fusebox is around £15, and a MCB around £2 and a RCD £20 (normal to fit 2) so for a 4 way box so it is £12 more expensive to have all RCBO it is simply not worth the hassle not to fit all RCBO's.
So parts for all RCBO with SPD around £140, half a day to fit it, but also need an EICR so I would think around £400 is the cheapest. Depends where you live, if fitting a better make, then the price Wilex RCBO is around £32 each the box with main isolator another £52 and a SPD £74 so it jumps to £254 for parts instead of £140. It is possible that it is considered you don't need a SPD (Surge protection device) but wanted to compare like with like. You can buy a populated BG consumer unit from
Screwfix for £60, it does not have a SPD and it used two RCD's not RCBO's if you need to call an emergency electrician rather than wait until morning because the RCD will not reset that would quickly eat into the £80 saved.
