Is My Fuse Box Safe – or Does It Need Upgrading?

Across Beverley and the East Riding of Yorkshire, many homes still have older fuse boxes that were installed decades ago. While they may appear to be working fine, they often lack the safety features required for modern living.

What Does a Modern Fuse Box Look Like?

A modern consumer unit is usually housed in a metal enclosure and contains RCDs or RCBOs. These devices automatically disconnect the power if a fault is detected, helping to protect against electric shock and fire.
Many newer consumer units also include surge protection devices (SPDs), which help protect sensitive electronics such as televisions, computers, and smart home systems.

Modern metal consumer unit fitted with individual RCBOs and surge protection.

What Are RCBOs and Why Are They Better?

RCBOs protect individual circuits rather than groups of circuits. This means that if a fault occurs, only the affected circuit will switch off instead of half the house losing power.
This is particularly useful in homes with EV chargers, freezers, home offices, or medical equipment where loss of power can be disruptive.

Warning Signs Your Fuse Box May Be Unsafe

During electrical inspections across Beverley, Cottingham, Walkington, and surrounding villages, some of the most common warning signs we see include:

• Rewireable fuse wire fuse boxes
• Plastic consumer units
• Burn marks or signs of overheating
• Loose or missing covers
• No RCD or RCBO protection
• Frequent tripping or blown fuses
  
   

Old fuse wire fuse box – no RCD protection and increased fire risk.

Another example of an outdated plastic fuse box commonly found in older East Riding properties.

Why Older Fuse Boxes Are a Risk

Many homes in Beverley and the East Riding were built long before modern electrical demand. Older fuse boxes were never designed to cope with today’s usage, increasing the risk of overheating, electric shock, and fire.

A significant number of electrical fires start at the consumer unit, particularly where modern protective devices are missing.

Does My Fuse Box Have to Be Upgraded?

Your fuse box does not legally have to meet the latest regulations unless electrical work is being carried out. However, during an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), issues such as lack of RCD protection or fire risk are commonly identified.

The Benefits of Upgrading Your Fuse Box

Upgrading your fuse box provides improved protection against electric shock, reduces fire risk, improves reliability, ensures compliance with modern safety standards, and future-proofs your home for EV chargers, solar panels, and modern appliances.

Want to upgrade your fuse box? Contact us today