I don't know if you have done this job yet and the new regulations have been published since your original post. 


There is a culture of installing more circuits than are required in consumer units that don't really serve any purpose. Consumer units and MCBs are cheap as chips leading to more MCBs than being installed than is actually required.


If you follow the recommendation to install arc fault detection devices at around £120 each then the consumer unit you are proposing will cost over a thousand pounds, I'm sure that will really focus your mind on how many circuits you really need. 


You also need to ensure that you install type A RCDs and as a absolute minimum on the kitchen socket circuit or else you may have issues with a washing machine. 

Regards the regulations book, it is not a how to guide book and if you have a copy it won't give you an answer to the question asked here.


Remember installing and replacing consumer units is a regulated practice, so those who are deemed capable of undertaking the work should have the knowledge and skills to design and install a consumer unit. It is not something that should be undertaken by someone who has Googled how to do it to find a set of instructions. 


I have some gripe with the current system and I'm expecting changes, but the publishing of the electrical regulations on the internet as a free to view is not something I can envisage happening. 


It would make more sense for the DCLG to publish a domestic electrical installation compliance guide to run alongside of part P of the building regulations, but domestic installations are getting too involved with equipment such as solar PV, storage batteries and vehicle charging for a simple guide book to be published. Some of the domestic installations are very involved. 


Andy Betteridge.

I don't know if you have done this job yet and the new regulations have been published since your original post. 


There is a culture of installing more circuits than are required in consumer units that don't really serve any purpose. Consumer units and MCBs are cheap as chips leading to more MCBs than being installed than is actually required.


If you follow the recommendation to install arc fault detection devices at around £120 each then the consumer unit you are proposing will cost over a thousand pounds, I'm sure that will really focus your mind on how many circuits you really need. 


You also need to ensure that you install type A RCDs and as a absolute minimum on the kitchen socket circuit or else you may have issues with a washing machine. 

Regards the regulations book, it is not a how to guide book and if you have a copy it won't give you an answer to the question asked here.


Remember installing and replacing consumer units is a regulated practice, so those who are deemed capable of undertaking the work should have the knowledge and skills to design and install a consumer unit. It is not something that should be undertaken by someone who has Googled how to do it to find a set of instructions. 


I have some gripe with the current system and I'm expecting changes, but the publishing of the electrical regulations on the internet as a free to view is not something I can envisage happening. 


It would make more sense for the DCLG to publish a domestic electrical installation compliance guide to run alongside of part P of the building regulations, but domestic installations are getting too involved with equipment such as solar PV, storage batteries and vehicle charging for a simple guide book to be published. Some of the domestic installations are very involved. 


Andy Betteridge.