Your consumer unit looks fine — why the EICR still flagged it

At a glance a consumer unit (fuseboard) can look perfectly serviceable: the cover is intact, breakers reset normally, there’s no obvious heat damage, and the installation appears to run without nuisance tripping. So when an EICR highlights the board — sometimes with a C2 — it’s reasonable to ask why.

The key point is this: an EICR is not a “does the power work?” check. It’s a safety assessment of condition, protection and how the installation behaves under fault conditions. A fuseboard can supply power day-to-day while still having defects or missing protections that increase the risk of electric shock or fire.

If you need an EICR in Colchester or North Essex (or you’ve been told your consumer unit “failed” and want a clear plan), bookings are handled via Gray Logic Electrical.

This comes up a lot around Colchester and across Essex because properties change over time. Circuits get extended, outbuildings get fed, kitchens get refitted, and "small additions" build up over the years. The board can still look fine — but the protection and internal condition may not match what the installation is actually doing today.

1) What the EICR codes mean (and what counts as a "fail")

EICR observations are coded to show severity. This matters, because not every comment means “unsafe” and not every observation means “replace the consumer unit”.

• C1: Danger present — immediate action required.
• C2: Potentially dangerous — urgent remedial action required.
• C3: Improvement recommended.
• FI: Further investigation required.

An EICR is classed as unsatisfactory if it contains at least one C1, C2 or FI. A report made up of C3 items can still be satisfactory.

2) "Grandfathering": older equipment can be non-current but still safe

Wiring standards change over time. Existing installations are not automatically unsafe just because they don’t match the latest edition of BS 7671 in every detail. In practice, older consumer units can remain in service where their condition is good and the safety fundamentals are sound.

This is where confusion often starts. People hear “not to current regs” and assume it means “must be replaced”. Often it simply means “this could be improved”, which is exactly what C3 is for.

The important distinction is this: outdated is not the same as unsafe. EICR coding is based on risk — danger present, potential danger, or improvement — not on age or appearance alone.

3) Why a consumer unit can legitimately receive a C2

A C2 means there is a realistic safety concern. Not “it will fail tomorrow”, but “if a fault occurs, the installation may not protect people or property as it should”.

These are the most common fuseboard-related reasons a C2 is justified:

A) Potential access to live parts

Missing or insecure blanks, damaged cover fixings, openings in the enclosure, or poor cable entries can all create a realistic risk. A board can look tidy from the outside but still present a problem once inspected properly.

B) Evidence of overheating or thermal damage

Loose terminations and stressed connections cause heat. Signs can include discolouration, melted insulation, heat-damaged devices, or overheating around busbar/neutral connections. These are not "cosmetic" findings — they're early warning signs.

C) Protective devices not operating correctly

If an RCD/RCBO or other protective device does not operate as it should, it cannot be relied upon for safety. That becomes a real problem under fault conditions. A device that doesn't perform properly is not something you ignore because "everything seems to work".

D) Earthing and bonding concerns linked to safety

A consumer unit doesn't exist in isolation. If the earthing arrangement is questionable, the main earthing conductor is inadequate, or bonding is missing/poor in a way that creates a realistic risk, that can drive urgent remedial action.

4) RCD/RCBO protection: what matters in the real world

Customers often assume RCDs are just a “new regs thing”. They aren’t. They’re a life-safety measure designed to reduce the risk of fatal shock when something goes wrong.

The practical problems I see are usually one of these:

• No additional protection where it’s realistically needed: for example where socket circuits are likely to supply outdoor equipment, or where cables are concealed in walls in typical domestic situations.
• Protection present but not dependable: devices that fail testing or show signs of incorrect operation.
• Everything on one device: not automatically unsafe, but it can be a weakness (one trip takes out lighting, heating, refrigeration, etc.).

A competent EICR should explain the risk being addressed — not simply state "needs RCD because regs".

5) When the breaker doesn't match the cable (protection mismatch)

One of the most common hidden problems is where the protective device rating no longer matches the cable size, cable route, or how the circuit now behaves after years of alterations. The installation can still “work” — but protection may not be doing its job when it matters.

This typically appears after changes such as kitchen refits, garage conversions, added outdoor supplies, outbuildings, or general "small additions" over the years.

• Oversized protection: a device rated too high for the cable or installation method, increasing the risk of overheating under overload/fault.
• Altered circuits: changes over time that affect how the circuit shares load or how it’s installed (and therefore what protection is appropriate).
• Extensions without design review: additions made without checking the protective device, cable capacity and fault protection requirements.

Customers often ask: "Can't you just fit a smaller breaker?" Sometimes that is the correct fix. Sometimes it isn't possible or isn't sensible.

• Compatibility: older consumer units may have obsolete device ranges, meaning the correct protective device simply isn’t available for that board.
• The wiring is the real limitation: if the circuit can’t reliably support normal use at a lower rating, “downrating” can lead to constant tripping without solving the underlying design issue.
• The right fix may be on the circuit: splitting a circuit, correcting alterations, or installing a new circuit can be the correct remedy.

The right approach is always: identify the reason for the mismatch and select the cleanest remedy. It is not automatically "new consumer unit", and it should not be presented that way.

6) Why a photo of a fuseboard proves very little

A photo can show a tidy installation, but it cannot show what an EICR is actually assessing: internal condition, correct termination, overheating signs, correct protective arrangements, and whether safety devices operate correctly.

That's why "it looks fine" doesn't settle it either way. Inspection and testing do.

7) When replacement is sensible (and when it isn't)

Many issues can be resolved without changing the entire consumer unit — for example correcting terminations, replacing a faulty device, reinstating blanks, improving identification, or correcting specific circuit defects.

Replacement becomes a sensible recommendation where:

• there is thermal damage affecting the assembly
• the enclosure integrity is compromised
• devices are obsolete and suitable replacements aren’t available
• the board cannot be upgraded safely without creating an unreliable “patchwork” outcome
• the overall design needs a proper reset to bring protection up to a safe standard

In short: replacement should be linked to condition, safety function and suitability — not simply to age or appearance.

8) Landlords and tenanted properties

If the property is rented, an EICR isn’t just “useful information” — it forms part of your electrical safety obligations. Where an EICR is unsatisfactory (C1/C2/FI), remedial work or further investigation is required and should be documented properly.

If you're a landlord and you've been handed an unsatisfactory report, the correct next step is to address the coded items promptly and keep the paperwork trail (report, remedials and certification).

9) What a consumer unit replacement involves (plain English)

A fuseboard change is not a "quick swap". Done properly, it's planned work with testing and certification at the end.

A) Checks before anything is changed

Before a new consumer unit is fitted, the supply and safety fundamentals are confirmed: earthing arrangement, main bonding, the condition of tails and connections, and whether any existing faults would make reconnection unsafe.

B) Safe isolation and installation

The supply is isolated safely, the new consumer unit is installed, and each circuit is re-terminated correctly. Entries and blanks are finished properly, labeling is updated, and the installation is left robust and serviceable.

C) Verification and certification

The installation is then tested and verified to confirm safety and correct operation. You should receive the correct certification for the work (typically an Electrical Installation Certificate for a consumer unit change).

D) Building Regulations notification (England & Wales)

Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable work under Building Regulations. When carried out by a registered electrician, it is normally notified through their scheme and you receive the relevant compliance confirmation.

10) What to do if your fuseboard has been flagged

1. Read the observation, not just the headline. What exactly was coded and why?
2. Check the code. C3 is an improvement; C2/FI needs action.
3. Ask for a clear explanation. What is the actual risk: shock, fire, device failure, access to live parts?
4. If it’s rented, keep the paperwork trail. Report, remedials and certificates.
5. If it’s not clearly explained, get it reviewed. A competent electrician should be able to justify the coding.

The bottom line

A consumer unit can look fine and still be flagged on an EICR — because safety is about condition and protection under fault conditions, not how tidy the cover looks.