Changing consumer unit

robhav

I had an estimate of £300 from an electrician to change my consumer unit. The house is a 2 bed terrace with an old 6-way fuse wire unit - he is going to put in a 12-way MCB with RCD. I am having some extension work done shortly so need the extra space. He says I don't need a Certificate for changing the unit as it is not covered by Part P. He said he can give me a certificate but he will have to run tests on every ring main to check they are ok as he will be responsible for the whole house wiring system if he issues the cert. Is this correct?

Cheers

[Deleted User]

I had a new consumer unit installed and I was quoted £250.00 - but he is a qualified electrician and a family friend. I don't know about not requiring a certificate, but he gave me one anyway. My advise is that it is best for you to have a certficate.

Mr_Grumpy_7

A certificate is required if you install a new circuit going back to the consumer unit. Therefore, if you replace the consumer unit, I would think you will need a certificate. I would also have thought that any good electrician would then test ALL of the circuits attached to the consumer unit.

roger56

Consumer unit is definately notifiable and will require a certificate - Part P of the building regulations states so.

Edited:
Part P 6th April 2006 edition - see table 1 additional note c on page 8

Download Part P here:
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115314110382.html

Mr Grumpy is also correct that all circuits should be re-tested and it's worth noting if there are any safety issues, they will need rectifying also.

TallTree

If you are having an extension later on then my advice is to get whoever is doing the electrics to fit the new CU when they do the new wiring, then everything is done in one hit.
Also make sure you have a bit of budget for any additional rectification the sparky may have to make to your existing wiring if there is a problem.

We had an extension done recently to our 30's semi, several wiring issues were found and we ended up rewiring the whole lot whilst the building works were going on, expensive stuff.

trops

The changing of a consumer unit is notifiable under the Building Regulations Part P.

Also, when the consumer unit is upgraded the electrician will be installing new cabling from the electricity meter to the unit. These are called tails. Together with this an earth cable will be installed that should be connected to the terminal provided by the electricity supplier. If there is not one present then you need to apply for a PME terminal.

The earthing arrangements within your home will need to be upgraded, these are the cables to the main incomming gas and water services, providing they have not already been.

The earthing arrangements within your bathroom and kitchen will need to be upgraded as well.

All circuits should be tested and a full NICEIC or similar accreditation body certification be issued, as well as the electrician notifying the works under Part P.

If you fail to get Part P notification then you are as liable under the law as the electrician doing to works for you.

flang

part P is just yet another TAX! get somebody that knows enough about electrics to replace it!
Im a confident DIYer and know lots about electrics and i would do this myself!

weekendwarrior

You could upgrade your earthing and bonding ready for when the sparks comes to fit the new unit, this will save you some money.

Instructions on how to do this are here-

Earthing & bonding

Alan50

you will be require to notify the replacement of the consumer unit with building control. Ask your electician if he belongs to a 'Part P approval scheme'
the certification and notification will be carried out by your electrician.

Old Terrace? From my experiance the Electric Co. supply cable can corrode over the years, so ask your electrician to carry-out an, 'Earth fault-loop impedance test' at the origin of the installation, and confirm that it is within the correct value.

Alan (NICEIC domestic electrical installer)

See https://www.NICEIC.com for electrical safety advice

trops

flang wrote:

part P is just yet another TAX! get somebody that knows enough about electrics to replace it!
Im a confident DIYer and know lots about electrics and i would do this myself!

Part P may be just another tax, but it is law and to flaunt it could lead to prosecution. I know plenty of 'I'm good at electrics' people, and normally they don't

Remember, electricity can kill you - simple as that

flang

trops wrote:

Part P may be just another tax, but it is law and to flaunt it could lead to prosecution. I know plenty of 'I'm good at electrics' people, and normally they don't

Remember, electricity can kill you - simple as that

The problem is to many people that didnt have a slightest clue about electrics tempted this kind of work.
Electricity can kill but providing you can get a part P without actually being an electrician its pretty much rubbish especially as everyones backdates their work anyway

If your confident in doing electrics then do it, however if your in any doubt always get a qualified electrician!