New Fuse Box Regulations What Are They?

Has your fuse box been replaced since 1990? If not then it could contravene the new fuse box regulations and become a major problem. Outdated panels and fuse boxes are unsafe and a major cause of house fires.

Many of us make the mistake of taking for granted things that are unproblematic, such as our electricity supply but sometimes we need protection from ourselves. The new fuse box regulations, backed strongly by the Fire Service and introduced in 2005, did just that.

These regulations stipulate the best locations for a panel is on an exterior wall of your home or business premises as any malfunction causing a fire to ignite can then be easily dealt with by the Fire Service who can quickly and easily extinguish it. Additionally, and most importantly, they can turn off the electrical supply without having to first enter the building.

Your fuse box connects to the main power grid and manages the way electricity is distributed throughout your property so, if there is any doubt about meeting current regulations, the question of upgrading is one you should seriously consider.

Fuse boxes can be outdated on a property which is 44 years old as the way we use electricity has changed so much over the years, we had far fewer electrical appliances back then and our fuse boxes were able to cope with the load we placed on them. Today, almost every home is full of appliances and gadgets that run on electricity and a fuse box or panel older than 12 years may simply not be able to handle the demands placed on it.

Because electricity is dangerous, we build mitigations into our electrical infrastructure. These take the form of fuses or circuit breakers that can shut off supply to an area where there may be a problem. However, if the fuse box or wiring are old, these safety mechanisms may not work. Today circuit breakers have replaced fuses in panels so, if your box is full of fuses, the answer to the question should I upgrade my electrical panel is yes.

The new regulations also apply to commercial properties where the consumption of electricity may be much greater than in a domestic setting. In order to protect your business and the people working in it commercial electrical maintenance is crucial.

A qualified electrician will tell you at a glance whether your panel is in contravention of the new fuse box regulations. Whether it needs a major overhaul or even replacing it is worth the relatively small fee you may be charged for an assessment to know that your family and the investment you have made in your home are safe. If you are in any doubt about the suitability of your panel please contact us.