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New Consumer Unit Necessary?

Robert Garrett

We are having our conservatory replaced with a more substantial "garden room". The electricity in the conservatory was a spur off a current ring main, and the new room will be the same. The electrician says we must have the current consumer unit (which is plastic and has no RCDs being ~30 years old) replaced in order for the work to be certified. We had the system checked a few years ago and although advised a new consumer unit would be better, told it was not a legal requirement.

So do regulation require a new consumer unit with RCDs for this ring spur to be re-added, or is he being over cautious?

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    No, I do not think that your sparks is being over-cautious. Updating the CU to a safer option is sensible just as, to use Mike's analogy, a modern car would be safer than a 70s (or in fact 60s) classic. Both cars may get you there in the same time and in equal comfort, but it is when things go wrong that the modern one is beneficial.

    Doubtless you bear in mind that the sparks will make a profit from the installation of a new CU.

    Extending a ring is not notifiable and there is no legal requirement to issue any form of certificate. However, a minor electrical installation works certificate is appropriate. This would mention the absence of RCD protection.

    If your "garden room" will have sockets which could be used for equipment to be used outdoors, having RCD-protected sockets would be wise and if the do not have it in the CU, they can have it built in. (The latter would have satisfied the 15th Edition of BS 7671, which was current in the 1980s.)

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  • 0

    No, I do not think that your sparks is being over-cautious. Updating the CU to a safer option is sensible just as, to use Mike's analogy, a modern car would be safer than a 70s (or in fact 60s) classic. Both cars may get you there in the same time and in equal comfort, but it is when things go wrong that the modern one is beneficial.

    Doubtless you bear in mind that the sparks will make a profit from the installation of a new CU.

    Extending a ring is not notifiable and there is no legal requirement to issue any form of certificate. However, a minor electrical installation works certificate is appropriate. This would mention the absence of RCD protection.

    If your "garden room" will have sockets which could be used for equipment to be used outdoors, having RCD-protected sockets would be wise and if the do not have it in the CU, they can have it built in. (The latter would have satisfied the 15th Edition of BS 7671, which was current in the 1980s.)

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