Consumer Unit Upgrade Guide 2026: Costs, Rules, Safety & What Homeowners Must Know

December 8, 2025

Consumer Unit Upgrade Guide 2026 (Costs, Rules, Safety & What Homeowners Must Know)

Thinking about upgrading your consumer unit (fuse board) in 2026? This guide breaks down everything — costs, safety rules, recent regulation changes, signs your fuse board is outdated, and what happens during installation.

⚡ What Is a Consumer Unit? (Simple Explanation)

A consumer unit — also known as a fuse board or fuse box — is the central hub that distributes electricity safely around your home. It protects you and your property from:

Electric shocks
Overheating and electrical fires
Overloaded circuits
Faulty appliances
Dangerous wiring faults

A modern consumer unit usually contains:

Main switch – turns the whole board on and off.
MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers) – protect individual circuits from overloads and short circuits.
RCDs (Residual Current Devices) – protect you from electric shock and certain faults to earth.
RCBOs – combine the jobs of an MCB and an RCD in one device.
SPD (Surge Protection Device) – protects against damaging voltage spikes and surges.

🔥 Why Consumer Unit Upgrades Matter in 2026

Safety standards in the UK have moved on dramatically. Older fuse boxes and consumer units often:

Provide little or no protection against electric shock.
Use rewireable fuses instead of modern breakers.
Have no RCD or RCBO protection.
Were not designed for modern loads like EV chargers, power showers and induction hobs.
Are more prone to overheating, buzzing, burning smells and loose connections.

Many properties still have consumer units that are 20–40 years old. Upgrading your consumer unit in 2026 provides:

Much better protection from fire and electric shock.
Improved reliability – fewer nuisance trips, clearer labelling.
Compliance with current wiring regulations and insurance expectations.
Peace of mind if you’re selling or renting the property.

🚨 Signs Your Fuse Board Needs Replacing

If you notice any of the following, it’s time to seriously consider a consumer unit upgrade:

1. Rewireable fuses

If your fuse box has old-style rewireable fuses (often with brown or ceramic carriers), it’s a strong sign the board is outdated and lacking modern safety features.

2. No RCD protection

If there are no test buttons on your fuse board, you may have no RCD protection at all, which is a major safety shortfall by today’s standards.

3. Burning smell or scorch marks

Any burning smell or visible scorching around the consumer unit suggests overheating or loose connections that need urgent attention.

4. Constant tripping

RCDs or MCBs that trip repeatedly could be picking up faults that an older fuse box would ignore. This might mean:

Old wiring faults
Damaged accessories
Overloaded circuits

5. Buzzing or humming sounds

A buzzing, humming or crackling consumer unit is never normal. It may indicate loose connections, arcing or overloaded parts.

6. Wooden or very old plastic boards

Boards made from wood or older plastic designs, especially pre-2016, are more of a fire risk and fall short of current expectations.

7. Major home improvements

If you are installing or planning:

An EV charger
A new electric shower
A kitchen rewire or extension
Hot tub, garden office, or outdoor power

Then upgrading your consumer unit is often strongly recommended or required.

Old fuse box compared with new metal consumer unit

📘 2026 Rules for Consumer Units (18th Edition & Amendment 2)

Consumer unit upgrades in 2026 are guided by the current Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2018 with Amendment 2). Your electrician will design the board to comply with these standards, which generally require:

Metal consumer units – plastic boards are no longer acceptable for new installs in most domestic settings.
RCD protection on most circuits – especially sockets and circuits where there is a risk of shock.
RCBOs recommended – individual protection per circuit reduces nuisance trips.
SPDs (Surge Protection Devices) – now required unless a formal written risk assessment shows they are not needed.
Correct circuit separation – lighting, sockets, showers, cookers and special locations need appropriate protective devices.

You do not need to fully understand the regulations yourself — but you do want to know that your new consumer unit has been installed to the latest standards by a qualified electrician.

🔧 Types of Modern Consumer Units Explained

1. Dual RCD Consumer Unit

This is a popular and affordable choice. The circuits are split across two RCDs, with MCBs used for each circuit.

Pros: Cheaper than RCBO-only boards, a common solution for many homes.
Cons: If one RCD trips due to a single fault, it can take out multiple circuits at once.

2. RCBO Consumer Unit (Often the Best Choice)

In an RCBO consumer unit, each circuit has its own RCBO, which combines the protection of an RCD and an MCB.

Pros: Better discrimination, fewer nuisance trips, easier fault-finding, higher safety.
Cons: More expensive than dual RCD boards.

3. High Integrity Consumer Unit

A high integrity board allows a mix of:

RCBOs
MCBs on RCD-protected sections
Non-RCD ways (for specific applications where needed)

4. Consumer Unit with SPD (Surge Protection Device)

Modern consumer units often include a built-in SPD to protect against voltage surges from:

Lightning strikes
Grid switching
Large inductive loads and faults

This helps protect sensitive electronics (TVs, computers, chargers, boilers, EV chargers, etc.).

🧩 RCD, RCBO, MCB & SPD — Simple Breakdown

MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker)

The MCB protects the wiring from overload and short-circuit faults. Each circuit (sockets, lights, cooker etc.) usually has its own MCB.

RCD (Residual Current Device)

The RCD protects you from electric shock and certain earth leakage faults. If it detects an imbalance between live and neutral, it trips very quickly.

RCBO (RCD + MCB Combined)

An RCBO does the job of both an MCB and an RCD on a single circuit. This means:

Better protection
Less nuisance tripping
Easier fault finding

SPD (Surge Protection Device)

The SPD protects against voltage surges. It helps prevent damage to:

Boilers
White goods
TVs and computers
EV chargers and smart devices

💷 Consumer Unit Upgrade Costs in 2026 (UK Guide)

The cost of upgrading your consumer unit in 2026 depends on several factors:

Number of circuits in your property
Dual RCD vs RCBO-only board
Whether an SPD is included
Condition of the existing wiring
Location and access to the board

Typical Price Ranges (Guide)

Type of Upgrade	Typical Price Range
Dual RCD consumer unit (standard home)	£380 – £520
RCBO-only consumer unit	£520 – £720
Consumer unit with SPD included	£560 – £780
Upgrade of meter tails / main earth (if required)	+£60 – £120

Prices above normally include:

Removal of the old fuse box/consumer unit
Supply and installation of the new consumer unit
Testing of circuits connected to the new board
Issuing an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)

🔧 What Happens During a Fuse Board Upgrade?

1. Safe Isolation & Power Down

The electrician will safely isolate the supply at the main switch or service head. The power will be off for the duration of the work.

2. Removal of the Old Fuse Board

The old board is carefully removed, and the existing wiring is checked as it is disconnected.

3. Fitting the New Consumer Unit

The new metal consumer unit is mounted and prepared. Incoming tails, main earth and protective devices are installed.

4. Circuit-by-Circuit Testing

Each circuit is tested to confirm:

Correct polarity
Earth continuity
Insulation resistance
Fault loop impedance (Zs) values within limits

5. Labelling & Circuit Identification

Each circuit is clearly labelled (e.g. upstairs sockets, kitchen ring, shower, cooker, lights etc.). This makes it easier to identify and isolate circuits in the future.

6. Certification & Notification

After the work is complete, you should receive:

An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)
Building Control notification via the electrician’s scheme (e.g. NAPIT, NICEIC etc.), where applicable

⏱️ How Long Does a Consumer Unit Upgrade Take?

Most consumer unit upgrades in typical UK homes take around:

3–5 hours for straightforward dual RCD boards
5–8 hours for RCBO-only boards and more complex installations

If faults are discovered during testing, some additional remedial work may be required, which can add time and cost.

📄 Do I Need an EICR Before a Consumer Unit Upgrade?

It is not always legally required to have a full Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) before a consumer unit upgrade, but it is strongly recommended.

The new consumer unit can only be connected to wiring that is in a safe and satisfactory condition. Your electrician may:

Perform a full EICR before the upgrade; or
Carry out a series of inspection and tests (similar to an EICR) as part of the upgrade process

If serious faults or deteriorated wiring are found, these may need to be dealt with before the new board can be fully energised.

For more detail on inspections, see our full guide: EICR Certificate Full Guide 2025–2026.

Consumer Unit Upgrade FAQs (2026)

Is my old fuse box dangerous?

If it has rewireable fuses, no RCD protection, scorch marks or obvious age, then it may well be unsafe by modern standards. A new consumer unit provides far better protection.

Do I need surge protection (SPD)?

Under the current regulations, SPDs are generally required unless a formal risk assessment proves they are not needed. In practice, most modern consumer units will include an SPD as standard.

Can I replace a consumer unit myself?

No. Consumer unit upgrades are not DIY work. They require full testing, certification and notification. You should always use a qualified electrician.

Will my power be off all day?

Usually, the power is off for a few hours while the old board is removed, the new one is fitted and testing is carried out. Your electrician should explain the expected time frame before starting.