Message Lumiel on WhatsApp
Your fuse box (also known as a consumer unit) is the heart of your home’s electrical system—and one of the most important parts of keeping your property safe, legal, and insurable.
But is yours compliant with current UK electrical standards?
If you live in South West London—in areas like Wimbledon, Fulham, or Clapham—chances are your home may still have an outdated fuse box that needs attention.
In this guide, the certified electricians at Lumiel explain:
- What a compliant fuse box looks like
- How to spot signs of an outdated or dangerous system
- Why compliance matters (for safety and the law)
- What to do if your system needs upgrading
⚡ What Is a Fuse Box (a.k.a. Consumer Unit)?
The consumer unit is where all your circuits are controlled and protected. It distributes power throughout your home and automatically cuts electricity when there’s a fault.
A modern consumer unit includes:
- MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers) to protect individual circuits
- RCDs (Residual Current Devices) or RCBOs to protect you from electric shocks
- Clear labelling and accessible test buttons
If your fuse box lacks these, it may not meet current standards.
🧾 What Are the Current UK Standards?
The 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) is the latest version that all electrical systems must follow. It includes requirements such as:
✅ RCD protection on most circuits
✅ Proper earthing and bonding
✅ Use of fire-resistant consumer units (metal enclosures)
✅ Correct labelling and circuit segregation
✅ Surge protection (mandatory in most homes since 2022)
All new or altered electrical installations must comply with these rules.
📍 Real Case: Fuse Box Upgrade in Fulham
A homeowner in Fulham SW6 was installing a new kitchen and EV charger. We found a 1990s plastic fuse board with no RCD protection.
We replaced it with a modern metal consumer unit with RCBOs and surge protection in just one day.
✅ Fully compliant, certified, and future-ready.
🧾 How to Officially Check for Compliance
- EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report)
- Mandatory every 5 years for landlords
- Recommended every 10 years for homeowners
- Identifies faults, risks, and compliance issues
- Lumiel provides same-day EICRs with digital reports
- Consumer Unit Inspection
- Book a certified electrician to:
- Open and inspect your fuse box
- Test RCDs or RCBOs
- Verify bonding, labelling, and wiring condition
- Recommend upgrades if required
Lumiel includes this inspection in all rewire assessments and EV charger installations.
🔒 Why Fuse Box Compliance Matters
💷 How Much Does It Cost to Upgrade a Fuse Box?
All Lumiel fuse board replacements include:
- NICEIC-certified installation
- Full testing and labelling
- Part P Building Control notification
- Certificate of installation and safety
✅ Why Choose Lumiel?
We’re trusted by homeowners and landlords across South West London to deliver safe, compliant upgrades with care.
- NICEIC Approved & ECA Members
- Fast service in Wimbledon, Fulham, Clapham, Putney
- Clear pricing, friendly engineers
- Full compliance guaranteed
- Certificates issued same day
“One of the best company I have ever come across. Efficient job and quick at response and after sales service is amazing”
“Fantastic service and a very experienced and knowledgeable team! Highly recommended.”
“We have used Lumiel several times. They are always professional, booking is straightforward and they want to make sure you are entirely happy before issuing a bill. We have used them to identify faulty electrical equipment, update bulbs to LED, install external sensor lights and change light switches. Happy to recommend”
📞 Ready to Check or Upgrade Your Fuse Box?
Don’t wait for a failed inspection or power cut. If your fuse box is more than 15–20 years old, it’s time to have it checked.
📍 Book your compliance inspection or consumer unit upgrade with Lumiel today.
We’ll make sure your home is safe, legal, and future-ready.