need to move electrical consumer unit

pjb0150

i need to move--- it seems my consumer unit which is in bathroom --- just a few feet so it is outside bathroom and in hallway.
house was built 1974 and old type consumer unit is in there .no rcb-- just fuses
what do i need to do
what will i need to upgrade. --17 ed electrics
what will need to be tested and what if it fails

house electrics are perfectly fine at moment

thanks in advance

DVardysShadow

How did it get into the bathroom????

Is it rewireable fuses or cartridge?
Is it possible to fix it in the same position on the other side of the wall?

Igol

Mate, who's a spark, recently viewed a new build house with the consumer unit in a cloakroom, you could easily touch it while you were at the sink. He obviously asked about this as to him, who isnt registered for domestic work (though he used to rewire houses before it came in), it didnt appear very safe. Apparently well within the regs.

OP you'll need a spark whos got the appropriate bit of paper for domestic work to shift it for you I'd imagine.

Mankysteve

Do you need the eleci meter moving as well. I would find a sparky and find out if a waterproof lockable cabinet would be appropriate instead cos it cost you a fortune to get the meter moved.

Homersimpson

It depends where in the bathroom it is, its not the sink thats important or the toilet, its the shower or bath. It comes under section 701 of the IEE wiring regulations. Check out the link below and all should become clear when you look at the zone diagram:-

http://www.snipef.org/downloads/Electrical%20safety%20of%20gas%20appliances%20in%20rooms%20containing%20a%20bath%20or%20shower.pdf

I'm wouldn't suggest by this that anyone ever considers installing a consumer unit in a bath/shower room but if it complies with the regulations then I personally wouldn't move and would construct some form of cupboard/accessable boxing around it to prevent accident contact.

As an interesting point on the IEE wiring regulations, they do not insist that older installations are brought up to current standards when a new edition of the regulations is issued. Its only when you start to modify the installation that you have problems. That said, if something wouldn't have complied to the old 16th edition I would personally change it but as far as I understand it you have no legal obligation to do so.