Consumer Units

At the heart of any commercial enterprise is electrical power, everything depends on it from machinery and lighting to computers and alarms. This means the efficiency of the electrical infrastructure within a business is key as poorly maintained systems can result in failure, fire, or theft, the costs of which can be devastating.

The consumer unit is an essential piece of equipment and is the most integral element of any electrical system, being the point at which the mains electricity supply enters the building and is distributed throughout.

Switches

Every consumer unit is fitted with a mains switch to enable power to be cut-off immediately in the case of emergency. New consumer units also now contain a set of switches called Residual Current Devices (RCD’s) which monitor the electrical current and will cut-out automatically if a fault is detected, these have become essential in helping to minimise the risk of electric shocks and fire. RCD protection is required on most new or re-wired circuits and mandatory on ground-floor sockets or those which supply exterior equipment.

Circuit Breakers

Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB’s) are another failsafe mechanism which will cut-out if a power overload is detected, this can be triggered when too many appliances are connected to a single socket. MCB’s will also cut-out if they detect an overcurrent, this can be caused by damage such as a live cable coming loose.

Surge Protection Devices (SPD’s) are also commonly used but different types and model of consumer unit have different features installed so it is important to check what you are covered by.

If your electrical system is dated, or you would like a new installation, our team of NICEIC accredited electricians will be glad to survey your current system and suggest which measures you would be suitable for. For ongoing maintenance see our facilities management services to ensure your electrical system is safe and reliable.