Consumer Unit Upgrade Manchester
Replace your old fuse board with a modern consumer unit featuring RCD and MCB protection. NICEIC approved electricians, full testing, certification, and a 6-year guarantee. From £850 + VAT.
What Is a Consumer Unit Upgrade?
A consumer unit upgrade (fuse board replacement) replaces your old fuse box with a modern unit featuring RCDs and MCBs for improved safety. Manchester Compliance installs consumer units from £850 + VAT including full testing, certification, and NICEIC guarantee.
What Is a Consumer Unit?
Understanding your home's electrical distribution board
Your Home's Electrical Hub
A consumer unit (also called a fuse board or fuse box) is the central distribution point for your home's electrical system. It receives the incoming electricity supply and distributes it to individual circuits throughout your property — lighting, sockets, cooker, shower, and more. It also provides critical safety protection via circuit breakers and RCDs.
Old vs Modern Units
Older fuse boards use rewirable fuses that offer basic overcurrent protection but no protection against electric shock. Modern consumer units use MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers) for overcurrent protection and RCDs (Residual Current Devices) that trip in milliseconds if they detect current leaking to earth — significantly reducing the risk of electric shock and electrical fire.
Signs You Need a Consumer Unit Upgrade
If any of these apply to your property, it's time to upgrade
Old Rewirable Fuses
If your fuse board still has rewirable wire fuses, it is seriously outdated. These fuses provide no protection against electric shock and can be incorrectly rewired with the wrong fuse rating, creating a fire risk.
No RCD Protection
If your consumer unit has no RCD (Residual Current Device), your electrical system offers no protection against earth faults. An RCD trips in milliseconds to prevent fatal electric shock and reduce the risk of electrical fire.
Failed EICR
If your property has received an unsatisfactory EICR result, a consumer unit upgrade is often recommended as part of the remedial works. Outdated consumer units are one of the most common reasons for EICR failures.
Wooden-Backed Board
Older fuse boards with wooden backs are a fire hazard. Modern consumer units must be manufactured from non-combustible material (metal or flame-retardant plastic) to comply with 18th Edition regulations.
Over 25 Years Old
If your consumer unit is more than 25 years old, it is likely non-compliant with current regulations and may not provide adequate protection. An upgrade ensures your home meets modern safety standards.
Frequent Tripping
If your fuses regularly blow or circuit breakers frequently trip, it could indicate an overloaded or faulty consumer unit. An upgrade with correctly rated MCBs and sufficient circuits resolves this.
What's Included in Our Consumer Unit Upgrade
Everything you need for a safe, compliant consumer unit replacement
18th Edition Consumer Unit
New metal consumer unit with dual RCD protection and individual MCBs for every circuit, fully compliant with BS 7671
RCD & MCB Protection
Split-load board with RCDs providing earth fault protection and MCBs for overcurrent protection on every circuit
Full Testing
Complete testing of all circuits including insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, RCD trip times, and polarity checks
Electrical Installation Certificate
Full EIC issued upon completion, documenting all test results and confirming compliance with BS 7671
Building Regs Notification
NICEIC Building Regulations Compliance Certificate submitted to your local authority — no need for a separate building control inspection
6-Year NICEIC Guarantee
All work covered by the NICEIC Platinum Promise — a 6-year guarantee backed by NICEIC, giving you complete peace of mind
Our Consumer Unit Upgrade Process
A straightforward process from survey to certification
Survey & Quote
We assess your current consumer unit, check your circuits, and provide a clear fixed-price quote with no hidden extras
Book a Date
Choose a date that works for you. We recommend being available as electricity will be off for 4-6 hours during the upgrade
Installation
Our NICEIC-approved electrician removes the old unit, installs the new consumer unit, and connects all circuits with appropriate protection
Test & Certify
Full testing of every circuit, EIC issued, and NICEIC Building Regulations notification submitted to your local authority
Consumer Unit Upgrade Prices
Transparent pricing. All prices include supply, installation, testing, certification, and guarantee.
Consumer Unit Upgrade
+ VAT | Supply, Install & Certify
- ✓ 18th Edition metal consumer unit
- ✓ Dual RCD protection
- ✓ Individual MCBs for all circuits
- ✓ Full circuit testing
- ✓ Electrical Installation Certificate
- ✓ NICEIC Building Regs notification
- ✓ 6-year Platinum Promise guarantee
Consumer Unit Upgrades Across Greater Manchester
We install and upgrade consumer units across the entire Greater Manchester region
Consumer Unit Upgrade FAQ
Common questions about fuse board replacement and consumer unit upgrades
How much does a consumer unit upgrade cost in Manchester?
A consumer unit upgrade with Manchester Compliance starts from £850 + VAT. This includes the supply and installation of a new 18th Edition consumer unit with RCD and MCB protection, full electrical testing, an Electrical Installation Certificate, NICEIC Building Regulations notification, and a 6-year Platinum Promise guarantee.
How long does a consumer unit upgrade take?
A standard consumer unit upgrade typically takes 4-6 hours to complete. This includes isolating the supply, removing the old unit, installing and wiring the new consumer unit, full testing of all circuits, and issuing certification. Your electricity will be off for most of this time, so we recommend planning accordingly.
How do I know if I need a consumer unit upgrade?
You likely need an upgrade if: your fuse box still has rewirable fuses, you have no RCD protection, your EICR has returned unsatisfactory results, you have a wooden-backed fuse board, your consumer unit is over 25 years old, you are adding new circuits (e.g. for an EV charger or extension), or you experience frequent tripping or blown fuses.
What is the difference between a consumer unit and a fuse board?
They serve the same purpose — distributing electricity and providing overcurrent protection. The term 'fuse board' typically refers to older units using rewirable fuses, while a modern 'consumer unit' uses MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers) and RCDs (Residual Current Devices) that offer much better protection against electric shock and fire.
Do I need Building Regulations approval for a consumer unit upgrade?
Yes. A consumer unit replacement is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. It must be carried out by a registered electrician (such as an NICEIC Approved Contractor) who can self-certify the work and notify your local building control. Manchester Compliance handles all Building Regulations notification as part of our service — there is no additional cost or hassle for you.
Ready to Upgrade Your Consumer Unit?
Contact us today for a free quote. We upgrade consumer units across Greater Manchester with full certification and a 6-year NICEIC guarantee.